2024–2025 Departmental Plan: Gender-based analysis plus

General information: Institutional GBA Plus capacity

Governance

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) approach to ensure that Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) Plus is integrated into departmental governance and decision-making processes during the 2024–25 fiscal year includes:

  • Departmental Policy Statement on GBA Plus: AAFC's GBA Plus policy statement is included in the Department's GBA Plus Policy, which includes an updated commitment to GBA Plus and intersectional considerations. The policy outlines the roles and responsibilities of all AAFC employees to apply GBA Plus to their work.
  • GBA Plus Champion: The Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy Branch is the Department's GBA Plus Champion and provides leadership and coordination in the promotion, implementation, and monitoring of GBA Plus in the development of effective policies, programs, and legislation.
  • GBA Plus Responsibility Centre: The Sector Diversity Policy team in Strategic Policy Branch houses the Department's GBA Plus Responsibility Centre and GBA Plus Focal Points. This team provides guidance and builds capacity across the portfolio on the application of GBA Plus within the Department, acts as a challenge function to ensure robust analyses, and contributes to departmental planning and reporting on GBA Plus. In their work, they ensure key GBA Plus considerations are reflected throughout the policy and program development cycle. The Responsibility Centre also acts as departmental representatives on GBA Plus collaboration with other government departments, including Women and Gender Equality Canada.
  • Development of GBA Plus Data Collection and Reporting Plans: AAFC's Financial Management and Strategic Reporting Directorate oversees the Treasury Board submission process to ensure completion of all components, including the development of GBA Plus Data Collection and Reporting Plans, to assess the impact of proposed policies and programs on underrepresented and marginalized groups.
  • GBA Plus Data and Analysis Working Group: This intradepartmental working group engages analysts across the Department to increase the data capacity and application for GBA Plus within the Department. Through the efforts of the working group, a series of intersectional statistical profiles on data characteristics of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food value chain are maintained and promoted to staff. The profiles are a key tool for GBA Plus assessments and knowledge sharing. They strengthen AAFC's analysis of how, and to what extent, its initiatives may impact diverse groups across the value chain. Ongoing collaborative efforts within the Department and with Statistics Canada are enhancing the range of gender- and diversity-disaggregated data available to support GBA Plus. This includes reviewing the AAFC-funded data projects as part of the renewal of the five-year AAFC-Statistics Canada Memorandum of Understanding (2024–2029). This collaboration also includes ongoing data innovation and sharing of expertise between the two organizations, such as that related to the use of Statistics Canada's Business Linkable File Environment for detailed GBA Plus analysis of the state of the sector, as well as program impact.
  • GBA Plus Network of Advisors: The Network of Advisors, consisting of members from across AAFC, functions as a collaborative body that advances the incorporation of robust GBA Plus within policy and program development, facilitates GBA Plus training and tools for analysts, and supports the identification of data needs for GBA Plus assessments. Members act as GBA Plus contact points for their respective branches to guide the development of GBA Plus assessments early in the proposal process.
  • Senior Management: A Director General, Assistant Deputy Minister, and Deputy Minister are responsible to approve GBA Plus information included in Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions, and Budget proposals.
  • AAFC's Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board and Budget proposal submission processes: The GBA Plus assessment questionnaire serves as a mandatory element in the development of Memoranda to Cabinet and policy and program proposals (for example, Treasury Board submissions and Budget proposals). It also provides a framework to guide analysts in the consideration of possible diversity impacts related to proposed initiatives and identification of mitigation strategies to ensure all policies and programs are as effective as possible. Key considerations are reflected in Cabinet and other policy and program documents.

Capacity

Initiatives to advance AAFC's GBA Plus capacity during 2024–25 include:

  • Dedicated resources to support GBA Plus: The Department's Sector Diversity Policy team will continue to enhance capacity and focus efforts to advance GBA Plus and support for underrepresented and marginalized groups in the sector. In 2024–25, the team (which includes the GBA Plus Responsibility Centre) will continue to focus on relationship-building in order to advance key initiatives, including mainstreaming GBA Plus across the Department, develop tools and resources to support GBA Plus, and implement the Framework for Supporting Underrepresented and Marginalized Groups in the Sector.
  • Recommended training: Completion of Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada's GBA Plus online course is recommended to all employees, including subject matter experts that lead the development of, for example, Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions, and Budget proposals. Ongoing promotion of and participation in skills building also takes place throughout the year, including as related to GBA Plus capacity enhancement training and GBA Plus boot camp. The GBA Plus Responsibility Centre will continue regular engagement with WAGE and the Canada School of Public Service in their efforts to revamp existing training tools and resources aligned with WAGE's response to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology report, "All Together — The Role of GBA Plus in the Policy Process: reducing barriers to an inclusive intersectional policy analysis".
  • Established GBA Plus guidance: In addition to established guidance provided through the GBA Plus Responsibility Centre to departmental leads on GBA Plus, AAFC will develop and refine a GBA Plus resource hub. The hub will serve as a central location for the entire Department, offering GBA Plus tools and resources, alongside materials focusing on underrepresented and marginalized groups in the agriculture and agri-food sector.
  • A Framework to Support Underrepresented and Marginalized Groups in the Sector: AAFC will implement its Framework to Support Underrepresented and Marginalized Groups in the Sector as a means to identify barriers and establish goals and objectives that guide efforts in enhancing accessibility and equitable outcomes of AAFC services and initiatives. In 2024–25, AAFC will finalize an action plan with specific commitments to advance the goals and objectives set out in the Framework.
  • Mainstreaming GBA Plus considerations across AAFC activities: The GBA Plus Responsibility Center collaborates with all AAFC branches to identify internal mechanisms to embed GBA Plus considerations into a broad range of day-to-day processes and departmental initiatives at all levels. A mainstreaming toolkit was presented to AAFC Branch Executive Committees in 2022–2023. Feedback from this engagement is being analyzed and used to inform the final toolkit product and its implementation across the Department. These efforts will help to integrate GBA Plus as a common and regular practice outside of mandatory processes.
  • Sector Engagement Tables (SETs): Diverse representation is an important consideration in the composition of all Sectoral Engagement Tables and Councils to support the inclusion of a diversity of perspectives in resulting advice, recommendations, and initiatives. The Department is also exploring opportunities to leverage existing fora to hear perspectives from women in the agri-food system on Government of Canada policies, programs and initiatives and to better understand the challenges and opportunities they face. Additionally, the Department is developing a critical path and timeline to establish a platform to engage with Indigenous Peoples directly on agriculture and agri-food policy and program development, and to better understand the hurdles and prospects in front of Indigenous Peoples while addressing their unique issues. The engagement structure also includes the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council as a consultative body to ensure the perspectives of youth in agriculture are well understood and directly inform policy, programs, planning, and decision-making for the agriculture and agri-food sector.
  • Indigenous Policy Framework: Developed in 2018, the Framework provides an evolving outline that guides the Department's efforts at contributing to reconciliation. This includes support for the advancement of Indigenous-led agriculture and food systems, as well as increased Indigenous representation within the Department. Building on these efforts, work will continue in 2024–25 to update the Framework and develop an action plan to ensure that the Framework takes into account new branch-led Indigenous strategies and action plans, as well as Government of Canada commitments to reconciliation and laws, such as the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA).

Highlights of GBA Plus results reporting by program

Domestic and international markets core responsibility

Trade and Market Expansion

The Trade and Market Expansion (TME) program supports Canada's producers and processors by helping to improve market access, expand market opportunities and strengthen international trade rules. As part of the TME program, all free trade agreements (FTAs) are subject to GBA Plus review and analysis. The negotiation of FTAs itself is not a funding program and does not collect data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. However, using Statistics Canada's demographic data, AAFC supports Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in assessing the impacts of Canada's FTA provisions related to the trade in agricultural goods. This ensures that the benefits and opportunities resulting from FTAs are more widely shared, including among Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented and marginalized groups.

In 2024–25, AAFC will continue to provide sector specific GBA Plus assessments and input to GAC throughout the negotiation process of each FTA. This is to ensure negotiators are aware of possible diversity impacts of proposed FTAs and potential inequitable outcomes to those engaged within Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. In addition, AAFC will engage Indigenous Peoples to have a better understanding of their interests and concerns regarding Canada's ongoing and potential future trade negotiations on agricultural goods.

AgriMarketing Program

The AgriMarketing Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants, enabling analysis of who is accessing funding.

Throughout the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will monitor the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework, including participation in the AgriMarketing Program. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress.

Sector Engagement and Development

The Sector Engagement and Development program collects partial data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The program collects data from applicants applying for membership on the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council and is exploring options to integrate additional data collection procedures. The Department continues to increase the inclusion of all underrepresented and marginalized groups in its Sector Engagement Tables and Councils. AAFC will continue to monitor the membership of these Tables, striving for gender parity (50%) and enhancing representation from underrepresented and marginalized groups, aiming for a significant 30% presence, which is in line with the Government of Canada's 50-30 Challenge.

AgriCompetitiveness

The AgriCompetitiveness Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The program is focused on building the capacity of the sector, which includes projects encouraging participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples, women and youth. Under the Sustainable CAP, the program is collecting voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing funding. Over the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will be monitoring the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework, including participation in the AgriCompetitiveness program. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress.

AgriDiversity

The AgriDiversity Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The expected outcome of the program is that more underrepresented and marginalized groups have the resources to build their entrepreneurial capacity and business skills by helping these groups address the key issues and barriers they often face for sector participation. Under the Sustainable CAP, the program is collecting voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing funding. Over the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will be monitoring the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework, including participation in the AgriDiversity program. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress. The program will also be measuring the impact of projects funded under AgriDiversity by monitoring the number of people reached and/or engaged.

Youth Employment and Skills Program

The Youth Employment and Skills Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. It encourages support of Canadian youth facing physical or social barriers, including women, Indigenous persons, racialized persons and their intersection. The program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage. Reports are provided by both employers and youth on a voluntary basis, outlining additional information that assists with GBA Plus and program analysis. Starting in April 2023, the reports were expanded to collect additional data to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's participants.

Farm Products Council of Canada

The Farm Products Council of Canada program does not collect sufficient data to monitor or report program impacts by gender and diversity. This program oversees the agencies created under the Farm Products Agencies Act. The methodology used involves assessing the agencies' annual reports, financial statements, and concerns that are being raised by Council and addressed by the agencies it oversees throughout the year.

Supply Management Initiatives

Dairy Direct Payment Program

The Dairy Direct Payment Program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Voluntary self-identification questions were introduced in 2023–24 to collect data in support of GBA Plus.

Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund

The Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The Fund supports dairy processors by facilitating investments that will increase competitiveness over the long term and adapt to new market realities.

Supply Management Processing Investment Fund

The Supply Management Processing Investment Fund collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. It may provide an additional 10% on the cost-share ratio in support of total eligible costs for companies where the majority of the business (more than 50%) is owned or led by one or more underrepresented or marginalized group.

Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program

The Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity.

Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken

The Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. It will work to help mitigate some of the diversity issues that have been identified by promoting the use of inclusive marketing and encouraging the hiring of diverse Canadians to work in the sector.

Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) is a special operating agency that does not collect data to monitor or report program impacts by gender and/or diversity. The CPMA is a regulator that issues betting permits and licenses to Canadian racetracks along with performing drug testing on racehorses to help ensure a fair level of competition. Its mandate is specific to the enforcement of legislation established to ensure that pari-mutuel betting conducted on horse racing is done so in a manner compliant with the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations, and Section 204 of the Criminal Code.

Water Infrastructure Divestiture

Water Infrastructure Divestiture does not collect sufficient data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. While part of the Department's program inventory, its purpose is to transfer ownership of federally-owned assets and is therefore not applicable to the purpose of monitoring and reporting impacts by gender and diversity. Transfers will not result in any change in operation and no users will be affected. A GBA Plus Data Collection and Reporting Plan was deemed to not be necessary for this program.

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-Shared Markets and Trade

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-Shared Markets and Trade programming collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The programming is delivered directly to the sector by the provinces and territories. Under the Sustainable CAP, cost-shared programming now collects voluntary self-identification data for GBA Plus to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing funding. Over the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will work with provinces and territories to monitor the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress.

Science and innovation core responsibility

Foundational Science and Research

The Foundational Science and Research program is beginning to collect data to enable the monitoring and reporting of program impacts by gender and diversity. A question on GBA Plus considerations was incorporated into the 2023 Call For Proposals process asking researchers whether they anticipate GBA Plus impacts related to their project outcomes based on gender, age, ethnicity, income, region, culture, or other factors. Researchers will also be asked to consider the differences between sex and gender data whenever a project involves humans or human-derived samples. For the Full Proposal stage, researchers will be required to further explore the GBA Plus considerations in their proposal design. This is a first step towards implementation of a continuous improvement process for the utilization of GBA Plus information to inform project design and for assessing the impacts of projects. After this process runs over multiple calls, data will be analyzed to determine the next steps in data collection, to ensure that impacts can be monitored by gender and diversity.

AgriScience

The AgriScience Program collects data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Under the Sustainable CAP, the program is collecting voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is applying for and ultimately accessing funding. Throughout the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will be monitoring the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework, including participation in the AgriScience Program. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress. During the final performance reporting stage, recipients will be required to report on the gender and diversity of the highly qualified personnel who were working on funded activities.

AgriInnovate

The AgriInnovate Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Under the Sustainable CAP, the Program is collecting voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing funding. Over the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will be monitoring the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework, including participation in the AgriInnovate Program. The Program may provide an additional 10% on the cost-share ratio in support of total eligible costs for companies where the majority of the business (more than 50%) is owned or led by one or more underrepresented or marginalized groups. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress.

Environment and Climate Change Programs

Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) Living Labs

ACS–Living Labs collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The program complies voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to understand the potential for increased reach to underrepresented groups. In addition, recipients will be required to report on the gender and diversity of the highly qualified personnel who were working on funded activities. The Department is also monitoring the impact of this programming on underrepresented and marginalized groups by disaggregating some of the program's performance indicators (for example, number of partnerships established, number of Highly Qualified Personnel working on funded activities).

Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) On-Farm Climate Action Fund

The ACS–On-Farm Climate Action Fund collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. This information is disaggregated through the program's performance indicators (for example, number of farmers supported in each of the three beneficial management practice categories).

Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program

Both the Adoption Stream and the Research and Innovation Stream of the program collect voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to enable the monitoring and/or reporting of program impacts by gender and diversity. For example, both streams have a disaggregated performance indicator to monitor the impacts on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Furthermore, both streams may provide a more favourable cost-share ratio (60:40) where the majority of the business (more than 50%) is owned or led by one or more underrepresented groups.

Methane Reduction Challenge

The Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge design is informed by consultations with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and GBA Plus experts, as well as a GBA Plus framework that ensures the collection of disaggregated demographic data to monitor and report program impacts on underrepresented and marginalized groups. The integrated GBA Plus framework also informs the challenge assessment criterion to prioritize solutions that target underrepresented and marginalized groups and the deliberate selection of jury members with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. As a result, at each stage of the challenge, key actions are in place to improve outcomes for underrepresented and marginalized groups, while collecting evidence to report on the impact of the challenge.

Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program

The Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The Program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing funding.

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-shared Science, Research, Innovation and Environment

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-shared Science, Research, Innovation and Environment programming collects data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The programming is delivered directly to the sector by the provinces and territories. Under the Sustainable CAP, cost-shared programming now collects voluntary self-identification data for GBA Plus to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing funding. Over the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will work with provinces and territories to monitor the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress.

Sector risk core responsibility

Business Risk Management Programs (AgriStability, AgriInsurance, AgriInvest, AgriRecovery)

The core suite of Business Risk Management Programs (BRM) — AgriStability, AgriInsurance, AgriInvest and AgriRecovery — is exploring avenues to be able to collect data and information to allow AAFC to monitor program impacts by gender and diversity. Given the overlap of participants across the suite of BRM programs, AAFC is exploring options that will allow for the most efficient and comprehensive collection of data. Provinces and territories have agreed to collect and share participant demographic data and program information for Indigenous peoples, women, and youth with AAFC.

This will occur in cases where BRM participants are willing to voluntarily provide such information. The information may also include demographic data for other underrepresented and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, racialized groups, 2SLGBTQI+ and members of English and French linguistic minority communities. The intent is to develop an approach for BRM participants to provide this information in 2024–25.

Livestock Price Insurance Program

Provinces have agreed to collect and share with AAFC, program participant demographic data and program information for Indigenous peoples, women, and youth in cases where participants are willing to voluntarily provide such information. This information may also include demographic data for other underrepresented and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, racialized groups, 2SLGBTQI+ and members of English and French linguistic minority communities. If collecting demographic data is challenging, provinces will adjust their program application forms to collect participants' personal information in a way that will allow the province to assign demographic data collected from alternative sources (BRM suite) to Livestock Price Insurance participants via unique identifiers.

Loan Guarantees Programs

The Loan Guarantee Programs include three programs: the Advance Payments Program (APP) and the Price Pooling Program (PPP) under the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act (AMPA); and the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act Program (CALA).

In June 2023, AAFC completed a review of programming under the AMPA and tabled the report before Parliament. While it found there is a lack of data on APP participation by underrepresented groups, such as Indigenous, women, and young (under 40) farmers, it suggested that the program could be more relevant for these farmers as they may be less likely to have access to traditional loans. The review recommended that AAFC begin collecting this type of data to identify current barriers to participation and for future program policy analysis. Beginning with the 2023 program year, third-party APP administrators began the voluntary collection of GBA Plus data from program participants. This information has been shared with AAFC through the Advance Payment Program Electronic Delivery System. In 2024–25, AAFC will review the GBA Plus data received from 2023 APP participants to better understand program barriers and how they may be addressed.

In 2024–25, AAFC will update the program forms for release through its Canada Small Business Financing Program — Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CSBFP-CALA) system. These changes will enable the collection of voluntary GBA Plus data from program participants to allow for reporting on program impacts by gender and other key sociodemographic indicators. CALA lenders will share this information with AAFC through the CSBFP-CALA system. In 2023–24, the Department completed a study of the CALA program, which included as assessment of program use by underrepresented groups, such as women and Indigenous producers. The study's findings supported that AAFC undertake further engagement and deeper analyses to ensure that the forthcoming program changes adequately address the barriers faced by underrepresented groups.

Additionally, in 2024–25, AAFC will engage Indigenous organizations to share information on the APP and CALA and discuss roadblocks to participation in these programs for Indigenous farmers with the aim of increasing access to the program.

Farm Debt Mediation Service

The Farm Debt Mediation Service does not collect sufficient data to enable the monitoring and reporting of program impacts by gender and diversity. Applicants can choose to disclose gender on their application form but it is not required. Farm Debt Mediation Service is a legislated financial service that helps farmers in financial difficulties mediate solutions with their creditors. The process it follows and information it gathers are highly regulated and confidential. This work is led by neutral third-party financial experts and, as such, the Service does not share or report on this information beyond the number of farmers helped to ensure the privacy of all involved. The Service is working to advance GBA Plus priorities by ensuring that communications are done in a manner that all communities are aware of the Service and can participate in the Appeal Board selection processes and/or benefit from its help when needed.

Pest Management

The Pest Management program does not collect specific data at this time to enable the monitoring and reporting of program impacts by gender and diversity. Currently, the Pest Management Program considers the needs of stakeholders and selects projects based on the severity of pest and disease incidences and the lack of effective available pest management solutions, including approaches, practices, techniques and technologies, that reduce the risk of pesticides to human health and the environment. The Pest Management Program works with provincial minor use coordinators who engage stakeholders from across Canada to collect information on pest management priorities in need of solutions. These priorities are consolidated onto a national list and ranked by stakeholders at an annual national workshop to determine the top priority projects to be undertaken by the Pest Management Program.

The Pest Management Centre is working on expanding its understanding of the impacts of the Pest Management Program. The initial phase will be developing a system for gathering information on the adoption of the pest management solutions made available to producers and assess the impacts of those solutions, including disaggregated GBA Plus data.

Assurance Program

AgriAssurance Program

The AgriAssurance Program collects data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Under the Sustainable CAP, the Program is collecting voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of the program's applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing funding. Over the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will be monitoring the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework, including participation in the AgriAssurance Program. The Program will also disaggregate the diversity data on a regional basis for participants in its Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises component to further analyze applicants. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress.

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-shared Assurance

The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-shared Assurance program collects data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The programming is delivered directly to the sector by the provinces and territories. Under the Sustainable CAP, cost-shared programming now collects voluntary self-identification data for GBA Plus to further enhance AAFC's understanding of the demographics of applicants to enable analysis on who is accessing the programs. Over the duration of Sustainable CAP (2023–2028), AAFC will work with provinces and territories to monitor the participation of underrepresented and marginalized groups across programming under the framework. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress.

Return of Payments

Return of Payments does not collect sufficient data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. It is used to record repayments to AAFC for programs that have previously sunset. While part of the Department's program inventory, it is not applicable to the purpose of monitoring and reporting impacts by gender and diversity.

African Swine Fever Response

The African Swine Fever Response program collects data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage. AAFC will continue to monitor for impacts throughout implementation of the program using established program administration and reporting mechanisms.

Internal services

Inclusive and representative workforce

AAFC is committed to ensuring an inclusive and representative workforce by implementing inclusive policies and practices, including:

  • conducting diverse recruitment staffing processes and training diverse board members on inclusive hiring;
  • updating all policies, processes, and tools to be accessible, inclusive, and gender- neutral by reviewing them against GBA Plus criteria; and
  • implementing a new diversity, equity, and inclusion consent form which gives permission for the Department to use employee self-identification information for targeted learning and development opportunities.

Short-term hiring goals are developed based on data collected through self-identification, ensuring the Department focuses on inclusive hiring efforts. Employment Equity (EE) reports are shared quarterly with branches to keep them informed of current gaps and to help focus staffing efforts on priority areas.

Digital Ambition and Data Strategy Refresh

GBA Plus considerations will be incorporated where possible as part of the diversity and inclusion components in the development and implementation of the Department's Digital Ambition and Data Strategy Refresh. The Office of the Chief Data Officer will support GBA Plus work related to the development of data collection plans, data governance, management, and interoperability as well as linkages with the greater Government of Canada data community, where relevant.

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