Office of the Auditor General of Canada2023–24 Departmental Plan

Supplementary information table

Gender-based analysis plus

Introduction

Each organization is responsible for conducting its own analysis, under the gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) framework, to support this government-wide reporting requirement.

In 2018, Parliament passed the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act. The departmental plans and departmental results reports are being used to fulfill the President of the Treasury Board’s obligations to make public analysis on the effects of expenditure programs on gender and diversity.

Applicability

All departments must complete the GBA Plus supplementary information table. Even if GBA Plus is deemed not relevant to a department’s programs, the department must complete the table and explain how GBA Plus is not relevant.

General information

Institutional GBA Plus capacity

The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) is committed to ensuring that GBA Plus considerations are integrated into its audit work in order to provide elected officials and all Canadians with objective information on the government’s progress on its gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion priorities. This work is supported by a refined audit methodology and increased awareness and knowledge of our audit professionals. Diversity and inclusion are central to the identity and activities of the entire office, both in terms of audit products and internal operations.

An executive-level employee was selected to act as Executive Sponsor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and as Champion of GBA Plus. The Executive Sponsor not only ensures that GBA Plus is factored into the OAG’s work but also acts as a liaison to the Executive Committee on matters related to diversity and inclusion.

Planned activities to support the advancement of Canada’s GBA Plus commitments are as follows:

• In all of our audit work, the OAG is committed to examining how government departments, agencies, Crown corporations, and territorial organizations are progressing toward their gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion commitments, including the use of the GBA Plus tool. A team within the OAG provides technical advice to audit teams. This team will deliver training, make guidance available internally, and develop tools to build capacity and ensure that all audit products produced by the OAG consider a GBA Plus lens.

The following major initiatives are underway to support equity, diversity, and inclusion within the OAG:

• Recognizing the importance of equity and diversity in creating an inclusive workplace: In achieving our vision and mission, the OAG will develop an equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy. The scope and focus of the strategy will be
  • leadership accountability
  • data-informed decision making
  • education and awareness
  • the identification and reduction of barriers to increase diversity and inclusion
• Increasing awareness and education: The OAG training curriculum for our employees was modified to incorporate elements on diversity, employment equity, GBA Plus, Indigenous issues, creating a respectful workplace, understanding and overcoming unconscious bias, and workplace accommodations.
• Identifying and reducing barriers: The OAG policies are being reviewed to ensure that they reflect diversity and inclusion and GBA Plus perspectives.
• Increasing diversity and inclusion: A number of actions are being taken related to staffing and participation in professional development programs.

Highlights of GBA Plus results reporting capacity by program