Canada Energy Regulator – 2023–24 Departmental Plan – Supplementary information tables – Gender-based analysis plus

Initiatives to advance implementation of GBA Plus governance within the Canada Energy Regulator (CER):

The CER is continuing to work on developing 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:

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The CER is developing a GBA Plus framework that will take a holistic view of GBA Plus desired outcomes that will support regulatory programs and internal services functions.
• Efforts to consider the needs of diverse groups of employees continue as we adapt to the parameters of the hybrid workplace. Lessons learned from this work will be used for continual improvement in how GBA Plus is applied throughout the CER.
• 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 is leveraging 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 process, including company applications, participant comments and evidence, and in the Commission’s decisions 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 diverse 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.

New Initiatives:

• The CER expects proponents to apply a GBA Plus lens in the design phase, and indeed throughout the lifecycle of a project. In fiscal year 2023–24, the CER will launch a process to update the Environment and Lands section of the Filing Manual; the guidance for proponents regarding information required to assess projects. 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:

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 enforced in subsequent oversight activity and the CER will assess the need to address data gaps related to gender disaggregated data.

Very little GBA Plus specific data is available related to the outcomes of the CER’s safety and environment oversight core responsibility and programs. This data does not exist because the data and the CER measures for safety and environmental oversight serves as a proxy indication as to how safely that infrastructure is being operated.

The CER does not intend to collect specific GBA Plus data in this area because there are no differential impacts association with the operation of CER regulated infrastructure, it is either operated safely and benefits all Canadians or it does not.

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

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 enforced in subsequent oversight activity and the CER will assess the need to address data gaps related to gender disaggregated data.

Very little GBA Plus specific data is available related to the outcomes of the CER’s safety and environment oversight core responsibility and programs. This data does not exist because the data and the CER measures for safety and environment oversight serves as a proxy indication as to how safely that infrastructure is being operated.

The CER does not intend to collect specific GBA Plus data in this area because there are no differential impacts association with the operation of CER regulated infrastructure, it is either operated safely and benefits all Canadians or it does not.

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

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 enforced in subsequent oversight activity and the CER will assess the need to address data gaps related to gender disaggregated data.

Very little GBA Plus specific data is available related to the outcomes of the CER’s safety and environment oversight core responsibility and programs. This data does not exist because the data and the CER measures for safety and environment oversight serves as a proxy indication as to how safely that infrastructure is being operated.

The CER does not intend to collect specific GBA Plus data in this area because there are no differential impacts association with the operation of CER regulated infrastructure, it is either operated safely and benefits all Canadians or it does not.

Data collection and reporting on Program impacts by gender and diversity capacity: Ongoing Initiatives:

• The Regulatory Framework program continues to build tools and processes that facilitate the application of GBA Plus to the full lifecycle of regulatory improvement initiatives, from development to monitoring and/or reporting.

New Initiatives:

• In 2022, the CER initiated a comprehensive review of the Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR Review). A GBA Plus lens was applied during the first phase of engagement. 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 support our GBA Plus analysis and data collection efforts. Analysis of the feedback will be undertaken and integrated into the OPR Review in the 2023–24 fiscal year.

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. In 2022–23, the program conducted its first discussion paper for a flagship product, the Canada’s Energy Future report, and gathered over 60 responses from academia, ENGOs, government, and industry (read the results here). It also conducted user experience interviews with a sample of participants taken from the discussion paper and continued to conduct pre- and post- engagements all on the same flagship product.
• This program collects data from web pages. It does this using pilot tools that can measure accessibility against internationally recognized standards and collects 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 Update, and Market Snapshots.

New Initiatives:

• The program will investigate the establishment of a demographic evaluation tool, working with internal service partners and other Federal departments on an ethical approach.
• The program will contribute to an institutional-wide Accessibility Plan by reporting on barriers identified in email inquiries and what accessibility improvements are made to web products.

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 and user experience research regarding program materials. In 2022–23, two user experience research studies were conducted that identified key audience needs for Indigenous Peoples, environmental non-government organizations, and government. These studies also helped establish a strategy to consistently apply this practice to product improvement.
• This program collects data from web pages. It does this using pilot tools that can measure accessibility against internationally recognized standards and collects 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 program will investigate the establishment of a demographic evaluation tool, working with internal service partners and other Federal departments on an ethical approach.
• The program will contribute to an institutional-wide Accessibility Plan by reporting on barriers identified in email inquiries and what accessibility improvements are made to web products.

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

The Stakeholder Engagement Program does not collect sufficient data to monitor program impacts by gender or diversity. The Program is actively considering ideas to improve data collection through new initiatives.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The CER has recently approved a National Engagement Strategy which includes objectives that focus on dismantling barriers to engagement in a way that recognizes and responds to unique needs of our audiences. Measuring progress on the National Engagement Strategy’s outcomes will be critical to determining the strategy’s success and identifying where to improve and course correct.
• A review and renewal of the Stakeholder Engagement Program indicators is required to align with the outcomes of the National Engagement Strategy. The CER will continue this work over the next year to increase diversity of participants by using different approaches.

New Initiatives:

• The Stakeholder and Indigenous Engagement programs intend to launch an updated engagement survey in 2023–24. The purpose of the survey is to measure the meaningfulness for and satisfaction of diverse audiences in CER engagement activities. Through this survey, the CER intends to analyze results on a quarterly basis to identify barriers to participation in the CER’s engagement activities.

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

The Indigenous Engagement Program does not collect sufficient data to monitor program impacts by gender or diversity. The Program is actively considering ideas to improve data collection through new initiatives.

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:

• A National Indigenous Engagement Plan is being developed as a subset of the National Engagement Strategy. The National Indigenous Engagement Plan is intended to guide program-specific engagement, applying a distinctions-based and regionally tailored approach. This includes renewing our relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership.
• A review and renewal of the Indigenous Engagement Program indicators is required to align with the outcomes of the National Engagement Strategy. The CER will continue with this work over the next year to increase diversity of participants by using different approaches.

New Initiatives:

• The Indigenous and Stakeholder Engagement programs intend to launch an updated engagement survey in 2023–24. The purpose of the survey is to measure the meaningfulness for and satisfaction of diverse audiences in CER engagement activities. Through this survey, the CER intends to analyze results on a quarterly basis to identify barriers to participation in the CER’s engagement activities.

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

There are multiple internal services programs which have varying levels of maturity relating to GBA Plus data collection and reporting.

Below are initiatives to enable collection and monitoring of data to report on program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus):

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The CER will continue to conduct GBA Plus as part of all Treasury Board submissions, Budget Proposals and Memoranda to Cabinet in compliance with the evolving expectations from central agencies.
• GBA Plus analysis is conducted as a critical component toward supporting CER’s return to the workplace hybrid pilot.
• GBA Plus data collected from the annual Public Service Employee Survey will be considered for continuous improvements of people and workplace practices, as appropriate.
• Human Resource policies review continues and includes a GBA Plus analysis. This data and research will enable the CER to consider appropriate policy updates to ensure equity and inclusion outcomes are met.
• The CER will continue to review and identify requirements in GBA Plus data needs at programs level and explore solutions to address gaps where it can.

New Initiatives:

• Metrics set for gauging progress of the Diversity and Belonging Roadmap will inform decisions relating to improved organizational culture of inclusion and belonging.
• The CER will be conducting a self-identification campaign beginning in January 2023, with a goal of increasing the self-identification response rate from 61% to 80%. This data should provide the CER concrete evidence about employment equity gaps that will be mitigated to improve employment fairness and equity.
• The CER is implementing its three-year Employment 2021–24 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan which includes GBA Plus measures. These measures will be monitored and inform decision-making during and after implementation.
• Through the implementation of the CER Accessibility Plan, published in December 2022, the CER will be conducting assessments of its IT applications and physical facilities to determine the level of accessibility for users. The data collected from these assessments will enable the organization to understand where barriers exist for diverse groups of people and how to address them.