Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) is an analytical process created by the Status of Women Canada to analyze the “gendered” aspects of Canadian government policy ^[1]. The 'Plus' considers the intersectionality of many other identity factors (like race, ethnicity, religion, age, education, sexual orientation, culture, income, language, and mental or physical disability) which comprise our identity, and how the relationships between these identity factors impact the manner through which we experience government programs and initiatives ^[2]. Rather than a form of advocacy, GBA+ goes through a number of analytical steps that should be at the forefront of policymaker’s minds, rather than an add-on, to help them ask questions and challenge assumptions, which will thereby result in policy that accounts for the diversity of Canada ^[3]. Women and Gender Equality Canada is responsible for the government-wide implementation of GBA+, but all Canadian departments and agencies have a commitment to the process ^[4].

History

In 2005, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women released a report detailing how Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) was implemented in federal government agencies, and considered accountability measures for the program ^[4]. The report clarified that the implementation of GBA needed to be across the federal government and remained a shared commitment between Status of Women Canada and federal agencies ^[4]. The report also stated the potential for GBA to influence policy making in areas not commonly referred to as “women’s issues”, such as the federal budget, trade, or defence ^[4].

In 2011, Status of Women Canada renamed GBA as Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) ^[4]. The new name highlighted a shift to focusing from solely gender to other diverse identity factors that impact Canadians ^[4].

In November 2015 , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed the first Minister of Status of Women to Cabinet, continuing the Government's commitment to gender and diversity considerations in decision-making.

Controversy

A report from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) claimed that GBA+ was not being utilized in most federal agencies because it was not a mandated requirement ^[5]. It also posited that when GBA+ was utilized, it was not done thoroughly within agencies, or consistently between agencies ^[5]. The OAG recommended mandating the use of GBA+, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done, stating to each of his cabinet members on January 15th, 2021:

You will apply Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in the decisions that you make and consider public policies through an intersectional lens in order to address systemic inequities including: systemic racism; unconscious bias; gender-based discrimination; barriers for persons with disabilities; discrimination against LGBTQ2 communities; and inequities faced by all vulnerable populations. Whenever possible, you will work to improve the quality and availability of disaggregated data to ensure that policy decisions benefit all communities. ^[6]

According to a study done by Olena Hankivsky and Linda Mussell, the '+' in GBA+ is interpreted in various ways by federal policy analysts who have taken the training ^[7]. These academics argue that intersectionality cannot be properly considered using the GBA+ model; however, they claim that GBA+ is a positive step toward social justice and diversity in Canada ^[7].

Due to its tertiary nature, GBA+ has been criticized in the media for having little effect on bad policy ^{[8] [9]}. Doctor Stephanie Paterson agrees, arguing that the problem of diversity lies within the creative process of the policy ^[10]. In other words, if the policy does not address inequality to begin with, GBA+ has little impact except to soften the blow ^[10]. From a feminist standpoint, it has necessarily created an avenue for analysts to make important steps toward diversity within the federal government's policy decisions ^[11]. Since the GBA+ itself is misunderstood commonly among federal analysts ^{[7] [11]}, Femocrats have developed intelligent ways to explain the GBA+ benefits ^[11]. However, this brings to light another issue: GBA+ adding unnecessary “ red tape” to already bogged-down municipal agencies for the purpose of a federal political agenda ^[12].

Sources

https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/gba-acs/course-cours/eng/modA1/modA1_01_05.html

https://nationalpost.com/news/what-is-gba-the-federal-intersectional-doctrine-that-governs-everything-now

https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/gba-acs/index-en.html

Gender and dementia national strategy policymaking: Working toward health equity in canada through gender-based analysis plus. (2020). Dementia (London, England), https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301220964621

HANKIVSKY, O., & MUSSELL, L. (2018). Gender-based analysis plus in canada: Problems and possibilities of integrating intersectionality. Canadian Public Policy, 44(4), 303-316. https://doi.org/10.3138/cpp.2017-058

MacDonnell, V. A. (2018). gender-based analysis plus (gba+) as constitutional implementation. Canadian Bar Review, 96(2), 372.

Bartram, M., Atanackovic, J., Runnels, V., Bourgeault, I. L., Fournier, C., Kovacina, N., Contant, A., MacDonald, L., Porteous, N., & Renaud, A. (2020). Applying gender-based analysis plus to employee assistance programs: A canadian perspective. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 35(2), 80-99. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2020.1726773

Staples, D. (2018, ). David staples: Lobbyists would take over civic government under gender-based analysis-plus. Edmonton Journal (Online)

Scala, F., & Paterson, S. (2017). Gendering public policy or rationalizing gender? strategic interventions and GBA+ practice in canada. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 50(2), 427-442. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0008423917000221