Canada Energy Regulator – 2024–25 Departmental Plan – Supplementary information tables – Gender-based analysis plus

As described in the Capacity section, the CER will assess required governance through ongoing work to develop a Gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) framework.

The CER participates in the interdepartmental working group on Environment and Science and collaborates with GBA Plus teams from the Natural Resources Canada portfolio departments.

The CER continues to increase staff capacity and results in applying GBA Plus commitments internally and externally.

Planned process improvements are occurring as the CER operationalizes Diversity and Belonging Roadmap-related recommendations, including preparing a CER career development framework, formalizing diverse hiring panels, and clarifying processes and tools for reporting and responding to misconduct occurrences.

The CER is also implementing the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Strategy and Action Plan to cultivate an Indigenous-inclusive workforce and recruit, retain, and advance Indigenous employees. The organization will also increase the availability and accessibility of external communications and expand our reach to diverse audiences.

Initiatives to advance implementation of GBA Plus governance within the CER:

The CER is continuing to develop a framework for advancing GBA Plus practices within the organization. Included in this framework will be an assessment of required governance and resources at appropriate levels in the organization to support capacity building, monitoring, reporting and application of GBA Plus practices in the organization.

There are ongoing and new initiatives to help advance GBA Plus departmental capacity. Key initiatives include:

• The CER is developing a GBA Plus framework that will take a holistic view of GBA Plus desired outcomes to support regulatory programs and internal services functions.
• Efforts to consider the needs of diverse groups of employees continue as we adapt to a hybrid workplace. Lessons learned from this work will be used for continual improvement in how GBA Plus is applied throughout the CER.
• The CER will continue to support activities related to inclusion and belonging through engagements with employees, specific equity-seeking groups, and the CER’s Leadership Community of Practice, aiming for a culture of belonging for all employees.
• To become a more digital and data-driven organization, the CER continues to work with designers and data experts to analyze and improve our systems; this includes using data and user research to conduct GBA Plus analysis to increase accessibility to our services based on disaggregated data, measuring and correcting bias.

New Initiatives:

• GBA Plus capacity needs are being considered to provide support and advice to the organization on GBA Plus.
• The CER may leverage external subject matter experts to provide specific guidance and support for GBA Plus analysis when capacity of internal subject matter expertise is limited.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

The Commission considers the health, social and economic effects of a project, including with respect to the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors. The CER collects GBA Plus data related to energy adjudication through our regulatory processes, including company applications, participant comments and evidence, and in the Commission’s decision and recommendation reports. All this information is publicly available and can be found on a project-specific basis through the CER’s regulatory database, REGDOCS. While embedded in our adjudication processes, we do not currently collect data in such a manner that would allow us to report impacts by various GBA Plus factors.

This program supports greater public participation and access to adjudicative proceedings tied to energy reviews. It also requires companies to submit plans relating to the particular energy project under review that enhance benefits for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• As with project design, the CER expects proponents to take a GBA Plus lens when designing early engagement activities. As described in the CER’s Early Engagement Guide, companies should conduct early engagement activities in a manner that facilitates the involvement of all relevant identifiable groups of people.

• By examining GBA Plus evidence provided in project applications, the Commission can better understand the possible disproportionate effects of a project on distinct groups of people, including on vulnerable populations and populations identified by gender.

• The CER expects proponents to apply a GBA Plus lens in the design phase, and throughout the lifecycle of a project. The CER is continuing a comprehensive review of sections of the Filing Manual pertaining to environment and socio-economic assessment and land matters to reflect changing requirements, conditions, regulations, and industry practices. As part of this work, over the next year, the CER will engage with Indigenous Peoples, regulated industry, landowners, and other stakeholders. This will involve broad and targeted public engagement on the filing requirements for GBA Plus considerations.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

The CER expects regulated companies to apply a GBA Plus lens throughout the lifecycle of a project. Oversight activities are not expected to negatively impact Canadians from identifiable groups. Specific conditions placed on an applicant relating to GBA Plus matters in the application assessment process (through the Energy Adjudication core responsibility) will be assessed as part of condition filings that will be followed up on if issues are identified.

Very little GBA Plus-specific data is available related to the outcomes of the CER’s Safety and Environment Oversight core responsibility and programs. The CER does not intend to collect specific GBA Plus data in this area. The CER’s Departmental Results Framework measures for safety and environment oversight serve as a proxy indication as to how safely infrastructure is being operated.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

The CER expects regulated companies to apply a GBA Plus lens throughout the lifecycle of a project. Oversight activities are not expected to negatively impact Canadians from identifiable groups. Specific conditions placed on an applicant relating to GBA Plus matters in the application assessment process (through the Energy Adjudication core responsibility) will be assessed as part of condition filings that will be followed up on if issues are identified.

Very little GBA Plus-specific data is available related to the outcomes of the CER’s Safety and Environment Oversight core responsibility and programs. The CER does not intend to collect specific GBA Plus data in this area. The CER’s Departmental Results Framework measures for safety and environment oversight serve as a proxy indication as to how safely infrastructure is being operated.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

The CER expects regulated companies to apply a GBA Plus lens throughout the lifecycle of a project. Oversight activities are not expected to negatively impact Canadians from identifiable groups. Specific conditions placed on an applicant relating to GBA Plus matters in the application assessment process (through the Energy Adjudication core responsibility) will be assessed as part of condition filings that will be followed up on if issues are identified.

Very little GBA Plus-specific data is available related to the outcomes of the CER’s Safety and Environment Oversight core responsibility and programs. The CER does not intend to collect specific GBA Plus data in this area. The CER’s Departmental Results Framework measures for safety and environment oversight serve as a proxy indication as to how safely infrastructure is being operated.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The Regulatory Framework program continues to integrate GBA Plus and build tools and processes that facilitate the application of GBA Plus to the lifecycle of regulatory improvement initiatives.

New Initiatives:

• A GBA Plus lens was applied during the first phase of engagement on the review of the Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR). Indigenous Peoples and other stakeholders were asked how they wanted to be involved in the OPR review, and engagement was adapted accordingly. Input was also received on GBA Plus matters through direct questions in a Discussion Paper. This input will guide the CER’s approach to the second phase of the OPR engagement process and will also inform potential improvements to the Regulatory Framework.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

This program does not collect sufficient data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity; however, it will investigate ways to collect new data using ongoing initiatives.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• This program collects data from people through surveys, user experience research, and engagement activities regarding program materials. After the release of Canada’s Energy Future in June 2023, over 50 post-release engagements were conducted this fiscal with a variety of stakeholders, including government departments, regulatory bodies, industry, municipal trade shows, universities, and non-governmental organizations. These engagements provided opportunities for diverse feedback, inspiring the next iteration of the report.
• The program collects data from web pages, including some demographic data (e.g., city) on users of program information. Other guidelines and practices are used to improve access for diverse audiences but are not currently measured, including the Canada.ca Style Guide and choosing diverse imagery. Primary examples where these tools and guidelines are applied include Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles, Canada's Energy Future 2023, and Market Snapshots.

New Initiatives:

• The CER will develop a user experience framework to define existing user needs for the benefit of future program development. This framework will be informed and validated through a variety of engagements and analysis, including prior user research conducted for our Provincial and Territorial Profiles, Market Snapshots, Pipeline Profiles, and Canada’s Energy Future. It will also consider user experience studies from third parties and federal partners.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

This program does not collect sufficient data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity; however, it will investigate ways to collect new data using ongoing initiatives.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• This program collects data from people through surveys, user experience research, and conference and trade show attendance regarding program materials. In 2023–24, the program will have attended four conferences and trade shows across Canada and recorded a variety of feedback for improvements to maps and other content. This included engagements with Indigenous participants, who provided feedback on the incorporation of traditional territory information into interactive maps and positive affirmations from conference attendees at seeing both federally and provincially regulated pipelines together on interactive maps. Numerous requests to integrate their own datasets into maps also influenced the introduction of a new feature for users to upload their own data.
• The program collects data from web pages, including some demographic data (e.g., city) on users of program information. Other guidelines are used to improve access for diverse audiences but are not currently measured, including the Canada.ca Style Guide. Primary examples where these tools and guidelines are applied include A look at pipeline flow and capacity and Pipeline Profiles – in particular, the alternative descriptions provided for new interactive maps (as seen on the Trans Mountain profile).

New Initiatives:

• The CER will develop a user experience framework to define existing user needs for the benefit of future program development and improvement. This framework will be informed and validated through a variety of engagements and analysis, including prior user research conducted for our Provincial and Territorial Profiles, Market Snapshots, Pipeline Profiles, and Canada’s Energy Future. It will also consider user experience studies from third parties and federal partners.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

The Stakeholder Engagement program will continue to improve data collection to reflect regional context and diversity.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The CER’s National Engagement Strategy and Framework will be updated to align with the 2024–25 Strategic Plan and Priorities. It will include objectives that:
  • focus on dismantling barriers to engagement in a way that recognizes and responds to unique needs of our audiences;
  • includes collaboration and consultation with targeted and diverse audiences and communities to better understand the diverse perspectives, interests and concerns; and
  • leverage relationships established at the regional and national levels.
• The Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement programs implemented a new approach to measuring meaningfulness for engagement events. This reporting approach has been designed to streamline the reporting process. The CER will be able to track audience and regional inclusion, along with key accomplishments and learnings from engagement efforts.
• The Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement programs will continue to improve engagement processes to encourage CER staff and leadership who engage to identify sensitivities and implement mitigation measures to increase diversity and maximize participation.

New Initiatives:

• The Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement program indicators are being updated to better reflect the regional and national context, and increase the diversity of views from our targeted audiences across the country.

Data collection and reporting on program impacts by gender and diversity capacity:

The Indigenous Engagement program will continue to improve data collection to reflect regional context and diversity.

The CER is guided in our Indigenous engagement activities by our Reconciliation statement and commitment to implementing the UN Declaration. We tailor engagement to reflect the unique relationships we have with Indigenous peoples impacted by our work.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The CER will implement the National Indigenous Engagement Blueprint, which is in development, as a subset of the National Engagement Strategy. The National Indigenous Engagement Blueprint is intended to guide program-specific engagement, applying a distinctions-based and regionally tailored approach to engagement. This includes building, renewing and maintaining our relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership.

• The Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement programs implemented a new approach to measuring meaningfulness for engagement events. This reporting approach has been designed to streamline the reporting process. The CER will be able to track audience and regional inclusion, along with key accomplishments and learnings from engagement efforts.
• The Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement programs will continue to improve engagement processes to encourage CER staff and leadership who engage to identify sensitivities and implement mitigation measures to increase diversity and maximize participation.

New Initiatives:

• The Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement program indicators are being updated to better reflect the regional and national context, and increase the diversity of views from our targeted audiences across the country.