The government has not met its commitment to take gender differences into account

(Chapter 1—Gender-Based Analysis - Spring 2009 Report of the Auditor General)

Ottawa, 12 May 2009—Although the government made a commitment in 1995 to take gender differences into account when designing public policies, most government departments do not identify the different impacts on women and men, says the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, in her Spring Report tabled today in the House of Commons.

Gender-based analysis can be used to assess how spending initiatives and policy proposals might differ in their impact on men and on women. The federal government committed in 1995 to implement this tool throughout its departments and agencies but has not made it mandatory.

“Despite the fact that some departments and the central agencies are making efforts to consider gender differences in designing their programs, the 1995 commitment has still not been implemented,” said Ms. Fraser.

The audit of seven departments’ progress in implementing gender-based analysis shows a wide variety of practices. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is clearly a leader, as the only department that has fully implemented the elements of a sound GBA framework. However, Transport Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada have no framework.

The audit also found that very few of the departments that perform gender-based analysis can show that the analyses are actually considered in designing public policy. Also, their proposals to Cabinet and the Treasury Board did not always include information about how initiatives and policies might affect women and men differently.

“The government has recognized that policy decisions can affect men and women differently. It should keep its longstanding commitment to consider these differences in developing its policies and programs,” said Ms. Fraser.

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The chapter “Gender-Based Analysis” is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.

For more information, please click here.