Archived information

This content is archived because Status of Women Canada no longer exists. Please visit the Women and Gender Equality Canada.

Archived information is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Minister's Message

I am pleased to present Status of Women Canada’s Report on Plans and Priorities for 2016-17.

Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu,Minister of Status of Women

The 2016-17 Report on Plans and Priorities of Status of Women Canada provides information on how the Agency will support the Government on achieving our agenda in the coming year and I am fully confident that the Agency is prepared to successfully support me and work with our partners inside and outside government to deliver for Canadians. However, given our commitment to more effective reporting, this year’s report will be the final submission using the existing reporting framework.

The Prime Minister and the President of the Treasury Board are working to develop new, simplified and more effective reporting processes that will better allow Parliament and Canadians to monitor our Government’s progress on delivering real change to Canadians. In the future, Status of Women Canada’s reports to Parliament will focus more transparently on how we are using our resources to fulfill our commitments and achieve results for Canadians.

These new reporting mechanisms will allow Canadians to more easily follow our Agency’s progress towards delivering our priorities, which were outlined in the Prime Minister’s mandate letter to me (http://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-status-women-mandate-letter).

As is stated in my mandate letter, I will engage with key partners and stakeholders, with a spirit of collaboration and openness, to deliver on our priorities. With gender equality at the forefront of our Government’s agenda, I am committed to working with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that policy, legislation and regulations are sensitive to the different effects that decisions can have on women and men. I will also be leading a process to develop a federal strategy on gender-based violence, and to continue to support the development of a mandate for an inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. In addition, Status of Women Canada will continue to support the government’s priorities of achieving gender equality in leadership positions, and promoting economic opportunities for women.

As we move forward, I am confident that by working together with resourcefulness and determination, we will achieve our ultimate goal of advancing equality between women and men.



The Honourable Patty A. Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Status of Women

Section I: Organizational Expenditure Overview

Organizational Profile

Appropriate Minister:
The Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu
Institutional Head:
Meena Ballantyne
Ministerial Portfolio:
Canadian Heritage
Enabling Instrument:
Order in Council (1976-779)
Year of Incorporation / Commencement:
1976

Organizational Context

Raison d’être

The Office of the Co-ordinator, Status of Women, known as Status of Women Canada (SWC), is a federal Government agency that promotes equality between women and men in all aspects of Canadian life. The mandate of SWC is “to coordinate policy with respect to the status of women and administer related programs” (1976).

SWC is responsible for exercising leadership and working in partnership to promote and advance equality by: supporting community-based action and innovation that will lead to equality by helping to create conditions for success for women and girls in Canada; providing expert advice on gender equality and Gender-based Analysis in the development of effective programs, policies and legislation for all Canadians; promoting commemorative dates relating to women and girls in Canada; and supporting Canada’s efforts to meet international obligations.

SWC works to promote and advance equality for women and girls, focusing its efforts in three areas: improving women’s and girls’ economic security and prosperity; ending violence against women and girls; and supporting the advancement and increased representation of women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles. While SWC focuses on these three areas, the agency is able to address specific issues, such as engaging men and boys in ending violence, increasing women’s participation in skilled trades and technical professions or assisting women in rural and remote communities.

Responsibilities

SWC is the primary federal agency responsible for supporting the Government’s agenda to achieve equality for women and girls. As issues affecting women and girls permeate every aspect of society, the agency works with a wide range of organizations, builds synergies with key stakeholders, collaborates with different levels of government and engages the private and voluntary sectors.

To bring about concrete results and enduring benefits for Canadians, the agency carries out its mandate strategically, ensuring that its policy interventions and program investments are aligned with Government of Canada priorities.

In its policy function, SWC plays the role of a knowledge broker and facilitator, offering input, advice and strategic support to other Government departments and agencies, conducting policy analysis, and making strategic interventions at both the domestic and international levels.

SWC also leads in building capacity across Government for the integration of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+). GBA+ is an analytical tool to systematically integrate gender and other identity factors throughout the decision-making process and to assess the potential impacts of policies, programs or legislation on diverse groups of women and men in order to inform the development and delivery of more responsive initiatives.

Through the Women’s Program, SWC supports community-based action and innovation by providing financial and professional assistance to organizations to carry out projects that work to bring about equality between women and men and have a clear potential for making a difference in the lives of women and girls in Canada.

To raise awareness of the key milestones in the history of women, SWC promotes commemorative dates such as: International Women’s Day (March 8), Women’s History Month (October), the International Day of the Girl (October 11), Persons Day (October 18) and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (December 6).

SWC’s regional offices are located in Montréal (serving Quebec), Moncton (serving New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and Edmonton (serving Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Yukon). The National office, also serving Nunavut, and the Ontario regional office are located at SWC headquarters in the National Capital Region.

Strategic Outcome and Program Alignment Architecture (PAA)

1. Strategic Outcome: Equality between women and men is promoted and advanced in Canada

Program 1.1: Strategic Advice, Expertise and Promotion of Gender Equality

Program 1.2: Advancing Equality for Women

Internal Services

Organizational Priorities

Priority 1: Preventing and addressing violence against women and girls

Description: SWC will engage and collaborate with key partners and stakeholders in Government, communities and academia to raise awareness and develop knowledge and strategies to prevent violence against women and girls.

Priority TypeFootnote 1 Ongoing

Key Supporting Initiatives
Planned Initiatives Start Date End Date Link to PAA
  • Lead the development of a comprehensive federal strategy on gender-based violence and action plan, aligned with existing provincial/territorial strategies.
  • Support Government efforts to ensure that shelters meet the needs of women fleeing violence and abuse.
  • Support Government efforts to ensure that Parliament and federal institutions are free from harassment and sexual violence.
  • Provide funding and professional assistance to organizations to support projects that work to address systemic barriers to the effective prevention of violence against women and girls.
  • Raise awareness about violence against women and girls, and disseminate information and knowledge about ways to prevent it.
April 2016 March 2017 P.1.1
P.1.2
Priority 2: Preventing and addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls

Description: SWC will engage and collaborate with key partners and stakeholders in Government and communities – with a focus on Indigenous communities – to raise awareness and develop knowledge and strategies to address the disproportionately high rate of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including by addressing its root causes.

Priority Type: New

Key Supporting Initiatives
Planned Initiatives Start Date End Date Link to PAA
  • Support the Government’s engagement process and implementation of an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
  • Ensure violence against Indigenous women and girls is integrated into the comprehensive federal gender violence strategy and action plan.
  • Provide funding and professional assistance to organizations to support projects that allow Indigenous women and girls to engage their communities in addressing the root causes of violence.
  • Disseminate information and knowledge about the disproportionate levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls and ways to address it.
April 2016 March 2017 P.1.1
P.1.2
Priority 3: Strengthening implementation of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+)

Description: SWC, in collaboration with central agencies, will support federal organizations to build capacity to integrate GBA+ into their decision-making processes, with the goal of ensuring that legislation, policies and programs meet the needs of diverse women and girls.

Priority Type: Ongoing

Key Supporting Initiatives
Planned Initiatives Start Date End Date Link to PAA
  • Working in collaboration with PCO and TBS, develop an updated GBA Strategic Plan and undertake priority activities to respond to the recommendations of the Auditor General’s report tabled in Parliament in February, 2016.
  • Enhance monitoring and reporting mechanisms on the implementation of GBA in the federal Government and develop systems to ensure that GBA is applied to policy proposals destined for Cabinet.
  • Support departments and targeted sectors (science, economic and security) in the implementation of GBA through the development and provision of training, tools and networking opportunities to broaden the scope and enhance knowledge of GBA across Government.
April 2016 March 2017 P.1.1
Priority 4: Increasing the representation of women in leadership roles

Description: SWC will engage and collaborate with key partners and stakeholders in Government, the private sector and communities to raise awareness and develop knowledge and strategies to improve the representation of women in leadership positions.

Priority Type: Ongoing

Key Supporting Initiatives
Planned Initiatives Start Date End Date Link to PAA
  • Collaborate with the Privy Council Office to support improved gender balance within Governor-in-Council appointments.
  • Continue to work in collaboration with key partners to support increased representation of women on Canadian boards.
  • Provide funding and professional assistance to organizations to support projects that encourage the representation of women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles.
April 2016 March 2017 P.1.1
P.1.2
Priority 5: Promoting women’s economic security and prosperity

Description: SWC will engage and collaborate with key partners and stakeholders in Government, the private sector, and communities to raise awareness and develop knowledge and strategies to advance women’s economic security and prosperity and their participation in the economy, including in areas where they are traditionally under-represented.

Priority Type: Ongoing

Key Supporting Initiatives
Planned Initiatives Start Date End Date Link to PAA
  • Collaborate with federal partners, including Employment and Social Development Canada, to support the integration of gender considerations in Canada’s economic agenda.
  • Work with Provincial and Territorial partners to advance discussions regarding the gender wage gap.
  • Provide funding and professional assistance to organizations to support projects that work to increase and/or strengthen women’s economic security and prosperity.
  • Disseminate information and knowledge about the benefits of and tools to achieve increased representation of women in all sectors of the economy.
April 2016 March 2017 P.1.1
P.1.2

For more information on organizational priorities, see the Minister’s mandate letter on the Prime Minister of Canada’s website.Footnote i

Risk Analysis

Key Risks
Risk Risk Response Strategy Link to PAA
SWC’s outcomes are interdependent on the actions of other stakeholders
  • SWC’s Messaging: The focus of SWC’s communication strategy is to build an informed society where citizens are aware that they have a shared responsibility to advance gender equality.
  • Community Action and Engagement: SWC programming is focused on engaging communities through initiatives that facilitate collaboration, networking and partnerships to achieve concrete results that help advance gender equality.
  • Knowledge Sharing: SWC focuses on strategies that complement and leverage collaborative efforts, based on the recognition among key players of their shared responsibility to advance gender equality in their respective spheres of influence.
Program 1.1
Program 1.2
Given its broad mandate and the range of demands for its program and policy interventions, SWC may be perceived as not meeting/responding to stakeholder expectations
  • Area of Focus: To respond to stakeholder expectations and to bring about meaningful results, SWC has identified three areas of focus which are aligned with Government priorities: ending violence against women and girls, improving women’s economic security and prosperity, and supporting the advancement and increased representation of women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles.
  • Outreach Strategy: SWC’s outreach efforts are designed to communicate the agency’s strategic direction, areas of focus, current priorities, and program guidelines.
  • Decision-Making Processes: To manage the range of demands for its services and interventions, SWC has instituted processes and practices that maximize the efficiency of its programming, policy and communication levers.
  • Strategic Investment/Intervention: To remain relevant, effective and efficient, SWC employs targeted approaches, building synergies and leveraging partnerships so as to maximize the impact of its interventions.
Program 1.1
Program 1.2

Planned Expenditures

Budgetary Financial Resources (dollars)
2016–17
Main Estimates
2016–17
Planned Spending
2017–18
Planned Spending
2018–19
Planned Spending
31,736,324Table Note * 31,736,324 31,685,474 30,997,605

Table Notes

Table Note *

The total Main Estimates for 2016-17 includes a total of $20,630,000 of program funding (Grants and Contribution).

Return to table note * referrer

Human Resources (Full-Time Equivalents [FTEs])
2016–17 2017–18 2018–19
98 98 98
Budgetary Planning Summary for Strategic Outcome and Programs (dollars)
Strategic Outcome, Programs and Internal Services 2013–14
Expenditures
2014–15
Expenditures
2015–16
Forecast Spending
2016–17
Main Estimates
2016–17
Planned Spending
2017–18
Planned Spending
2018–19
Planned Spending
Strategic Outcome: 1. Equality between women and men is promoted and advanced in Canada
P.1.1 Strategic Advice, Expertise and Promotion of Gender Equality 2,189,159 2,004,692 1,933,117 2,144,659 2,144,659 2,144,495 2,144,208
Subtotal 2,189,159 2,004,692 1,933,117 2,144,659 2,144,659 2,144,495 2,144,208
P.1.2 Advancing Equality for Women 22,750,591 22,783,283 22,191,945 25,341,251 25,341,251 25,290,890 24,603,890
Subtotal 22,750,591 22,783,283 22,191,945 25,341,251 25,341,251 25,290,890 24,603,890
Internal Services Subtotal 6,482,533 5,337,769 5,780,878 4,250,414 4,250,414 4,250,089 4,249,507
Total 31,422,283 30,125,744 29,905,940 31,736,324 31,736,324 31,685,474 30,997,605

Alignment of Spending With the Whole-of-Government Framework

Alignment of 2016-17 Planned Spending With the Whole-of-Government FrameworkFootnote ii (dollars)
Strategic Outcome Program Spending Area Government of Canada Outcome 2016-17
Planned Spending
Equality between women and men is promoted and advanced in Canada 1.1: Strategic Advice, Expertise and Promotion of Gender Equality Government Affairs A transparent, accountable and responsive federal government 2,144,659
1.2: Advancing Equality for Women Economic Affairs Income security and employment for Canadians 25,341,251
Total Spending by Spending Area (dollars)
Spending Area Total Planned Spending
Economic affairs 25,341,251
Social affairs  
International affairs  
Government affairs 2,144,659

Departmental Spending Trend

Departmental Spending Trend (Thousands of dollars)
  2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Sunset Programs - Anticipated 0 0 0 0 0 0
Statutory 1325 1273 1282 1305 1306 1307
Voted 30097 28853 28624 30432 30380 29691
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Sunset Programs - Anticipated 0 0 0 0 0 0
Statutory 1,325 1,273 1,282 1,305 1,306 1,307
Voted 30,097 28,853 28,624 30,432 30,380 29,691
Total 31,422 30,126 29,906 31,737 31,686 30,998

Estimates by Vote

For information on SWC’s organizational appropriations, consult the 2016–17 Main Estimates.Footnote iii

Date modified: