Gender-based analysis plus

Introduction

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, every year, analysis on the impacts of expenditure programs on gender and diversity.

Each organization is responsible for conducting their own Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus).

The Policy on Results indicates that Program officials, as designated by deputy heads, are responsible for ensuring data collection for meeting policy requirements.

Section 1: Institutional GBA Plus governance and capacity

Governance

The CNSC established a GBA Plus Responsibility Centre within its Corporate Planning Division. Throughout the year, CNSC staff participated in the GBA Plus Interdepartmental Working Group on Environment and Science led by Environment and Climate Change Canada. In 2023–24, the Departmental GBA Plus Champion position was held by the Technical Services Branch Vice-President.

Capacity

The CNSC continued to integrate GBA Plus into work-related areas where the Government of Canada has established GBA Plus requirements. These areas are:

• the development, implementation and review of regulations
• the conduct of evaluations
• the development of cabinet proposals (such as Treasury Board submissions and memoranda to Cabinet)

The CNSC may expand the application of GBA Plus beyond the mandated areas to other activities where its application would be beneficial, such as its hybrid workforce, the regulatory framework, Indigenous engagement and communication activities. The decision to undertake a GBA Plus assessment on corporate projects is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus

The CNSC’s Corporate Planning Division serves as the CNSC’s GBA Plus Responsibility Centre. The Responsibility Centre acts as a center of expertise by proving advice related to GBA Plus, liaising with other departments and agencies and leading the integration, promotion, monitoring and reporting of GBA Plus activities. In 2023–24, the CNSC had 0.25 FTEs dedicated to working on GBA Plus.

Section 2: Gender and diversity impacts, by program

Core responsibility: Nuclear regulation

Program name: Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information Program    

Program goals: The Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information Program aims to inform the Canadian public – including Commission members, CNSC staff, Canadian nuclear licensees, vendors, academic community, special interest groups, Indigenous Nations and communities, other government departments, other jurisdictions and international organizations, in adherence with our mandate, our regulatory requirements and best available scientific information. This program is realized through the processes of generating and collecting scientific information, institutionalizing the information within the regulatory framework, and disseminating the information through a variety of channels and engagement practices.

Target population: All Canadians

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: The CNSC is committed to building trust and advancing reconciliation by being a culturally sensitive and respectful organization that actively listens to and learns from Indigenous Nations and communities. Launched in May 2023, the CNSC’s Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund will help reduce financial and capacity barriers, so that Indigenous Nations and communities can engage in the full lifecycle of CNSC regulatory processes and build long-term relationships with the CNSC and the nuclear sector. Indigenous Nations and communities are not stakeholders and because of their unique relationship to the Crown, the CNSC spends extensive time working often in partnership with Nations on key documentation that gets submitted to the Commission. In 2023–24, the CNSC continued to work with Indigenous partners and other federal departments and agencies to support the development of the 2023–28 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) Action Plan. The CNSC is committed to continuing to support the implementation of the UNDA Action Plan, and to evolving consultation and engagement processes to align with new guidance and best practices that emerge through UNDA implementation activities.

In 2023–24, the CNSC signed an arrangement with the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities (CANHC) for collaboration and engagement, and to help CANHC members build capacity in the field of nuclear knowledge. The terms of reference outline a framework for future engagement and collaboration between the CNSC and CANHC on matters of mutual interest related to the development, production and use of nuclear energy and nuclear substances.

In 2023–24, the CNSC also continued to advance collaborations between the CNSC and civil society organizations through its Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs) Forum. The Forum is an opportunity for the CNSC and interested ENGOs to come together, independently of formal regulatory proceedings and comment periods, to exchange information on issues of mutual interest. The Forum aims to improve the functionality, accountability and effectiveness of CNSC’s work in collaboration with ENGOs.

The CNSC’s Women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiative was launched in 2019 to encourage girls and women to pursue a STEM education and career, to support women in STEM careers at the CNSC, and to raise awareness in collaboration with interested partners such as government, industry and academia. Former CNSC president Rumina Velshi was the Chair of the International Gender Champions Impact Group on Gender Equality in Nuclear Regulatory Agencies until fall 2023. The CNSC continues to be an active member of the NEA High-Level Group on Improving Gender Balance in the Nuclear Sector, and the co-chair of Data Taskforce.

In May 2023, the CNSC hosted Canada’s first Nuclear Energy Agency International Mentoring Workshop. This workshop brought together Grade 9 Indigenous girls and accomplished mentors, weaving together Indigenous knowledge and western science to provide an empowering and inspiring experience for young Indigenous women. In October 2023, the CNSC initiated a sector-wide social media campaign to promote gender diversity in the nuclear field by showcasing industry CEOs hanging limited-edition canvas prints of Canadian physicist Harriet Brooks in prominent places within the headquarters of Canadian nuclear organizations. The CNSC also launched a WISTEM Coaching Skills Training Series and a WISTEM mentoring program for CNSC staff to help them develop and navigate their STEM careers.

Program name: Internal Services

Program goals: Internal services are the services provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs.

Target population: CNSC staff

Key program impacts on gender and diversity: At the CNSC, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are fundamental to strengthening a healthy safety culture, encouraging innovation and collaboration, and supporting better decision making. As such, in the coming year, the CNSC will develop a new EDI strategy and continue its efforts with its newly formed Advisory Council on Inclusion (ACI). The purpose is to ensure that efforts in this area are thoughtful, inclusive, and strategic. The ACI represents the voices and interests of members of equity-seeking groups, employee networks and CNSC staff.

The publication of the CNSC’s Accessibility Plan in 2022 was a starting point to address barriers known to the organization at the time of the plan’s inception. In 2023–24, the CNSC continued to work towards addressing and removing varied, unique and nuanced barriers faced by persons with disabilities and published a progress report in 2023. The Accessibility Plan seeks to advance awareness and drive positive action towards making the CNSC a more accessible and equitable workplace for persons of all abilities.

The CNSC also participated in and promoted GBA Plus Awareness Week activities in 2023–24. Additionally, employee pulse surveys and listening activities continued to incorporate a GBA Plus lens.