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. 2023 Nov 17;6(2Part B):220–257. doi: 10.1016/j.cjco.2023.11.013

Table 4.

Current actions (2020) on women’s health and SGBA by federal and provincial ministries

Current action on women/SGBA/GBA+ Source
Federal ministries
Health Canada Health Canada is committed to incorporating sex and gender considerations into all research, legislation, policies, regulations, and programs. Health Canada will integrate SGBA into Health Canada’s practices by building department capacity, strengthening the evidence base by providing expertise, and increasing accountability.
Maintain research partnerships between CIHR IGH, the CIHR Institute of Aboriginal People’s Health, and the Health Canada Gender and Health Unit to bridge gaps in research knowledge and policy development.
Additionally, Health Canada will provide expert-level advice on gender research into the following areas: home care, cannabis, vaping, health product labelling, pest management, health products, healthy child development, and workplace health.		 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/transparency/corporate-management-reporting/health-portfolio-sex-gender-based-analysis-action-plan.html
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Introduced a new Women Entrepreneurship Strategy to better support the growth of women entrepreneurs.
Aim to strengthen Canada’s scientific research to reflect the diversity in Canada—including support for women, Indigenous, and minorities.
Support early-career researchers including increasing the number of women nominated for Canada Research Chairs.		 https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/017.nsf/vwapj/ISED_2018-19_Departmental_Plan-eng.pdf/$FILE/ISED_2018-19_Departmental_Plan-eng.pdf
PHAC PHAC is committed to enhancing GBA+ through training and the building of capacity, and by increasing accountability, monitoring, and reporting.
PHAC will focus on integration of sex- and gender-based analysis into surveillance activities, science, policy, programs, and evaluation.
Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative: strengthen data and infrastructure reporting. Included in this collaboration are Statistics Canada, and the Canadian Institute of Health Information.		 https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html
NRC NRC is in support of fostering STEM careers among women through mentorship and networking.
Statistics Canada Statistics Canada to collect more inclusive data on sex and gender, and release new variables and classifications for sex and gender. Statistics Canada created the new Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub in 2018.
Department for Women and Gender Equality (formerly Status of Women Canada) The Department for Women and Gender Equality focuses on building equality in 3 key areas:
  • 1.

    Economic security;

  • 2.

    Leadership; and

  • 3.

    Gender-based violence.

Also play a role in government-wide implementation of GBA+. As part of the Gender Results Framework, there is movement to improve diversity in research by increasing female representation on research teams.
Federal granting agencies
CIHR There are 3 components to the CIHR GBA+ Framework, which include:
  • 1.

    GBA+ in CIHR-funded research: ensures that GBA+ is taken into account in research design, methods, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of findings;

  • 2.

    GBA+ in CIHR’s funding system: ensures equitable access to CIHR funding across eligible individuals; and

  • 3.

    GBA+ in CIHR’s workplace: ensures CIHR conducts business in an equitable manner and takes into account the effect of business decisions on diverse groups.

CIHR also sponsors sex- and gender-based health research grants across universities in Canada.

CIHR has also established the IGH to focus on sex and gender influences on health. The IGH strategic plan (2018-2023) is guided by 3 core strategic directions:
  • 1.

    Transforming health research to foster the integration of sex and gender in science;

  • 2.

    Promoting innovative methods (new research and approaches) in the field of sex and gender; and

  • 3.

    Transforming health outcome by ensuring knowledge is translated into improved health.

The IGH has been involved in the following activities:
  • •

    Sex and gender champions on team grants

  • •

    Launch of 3 training modules and mandatory training

  • •

    Helped to develop and adopt SAGER guidelines

  • •

    Knowledge translation through webinars, presentations, interviews, and multi-institute partnerships

  • •

    CIHR develops sex and gender analysis in research action plan (2017-2019)

The IGH is involved in international knowledge exchange and has been invited to present numerous summits including the Gender Medicine Summit (Italy), Gender and Health Congress (The Netherlands), and the Sex and Gender Health Education Summit (United States).
To support their strategic plan, IGH will:
  • •

    Assist researchers to apply SGBA+ as applicants and peer reviewers

  • •

    Build capacity by targeting trainees and new investigators as early adopters

  • •

    Work with research ethics board to ensure ethical considerations regarding sex and gender are implemented in research

  • •

    Encourage journal editors to implement best practices for reporting of sex and gender in peer-reviewed publications

  • •

    Guide and support CIHR in their implementation of SGBA+ action plan

  • •

    Engage in activities to raise awareness

  • •

    Promote SAGER guidelines among Canadian health science and medical journals
NSERC NSERC and CIHR are 2 of 16 domestic and international partners in GENDER-NET Plus. GENDER-NET Plus mission is to fund research projects that promote the integration of sex and gender analysis into research at international levels. The research topic of sex, gender, and health is one of the main areas of focus.
In addition to GENDER-NET Plus, NSERC is committed to making GBA+ a key component of research excellence. Research proposals must discuss the balance of men and women on research teams, and analyze the possible differences between women and men, boys and girls, and male and female participants in the research and innovation content of the proposed project. Additionally, gender and sex ratios in research designs should have the potential to enhance scientific quality and usefulness of proposed research.
Spearheading the Made-in-Canada Athena SWAN initiative, which has recently released their draft Charter in February of 2019.
SSHRC As part of its EDI for Research Excellence Implementation Plan, SSHRC has, in 2018-2019, developed an approach to systematically include GBA+ in program evaluations.
SSHRC continue working with the other granting agencies to develop plans to achieve greater diversity among research funding recipients, including improved support for women, under-represented groups, and early-career researchers. In addition, Budget 2018 has proposed a new investment for the Canada Research Chairs Program to better support early-career researchers, while increasing diversity among nominated researchers, including increasing the number of women who are nominated for Canada Research Chairs.		 http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/about-au_sujet/publications/dp/2018-2019/2018-2019_DP_FinalE.pdf
Federal committees
Canada Research Coordinating Committee Established by the Minister of Science and Sport and Minister of Health in October 2017. The committee was founded to address 5 key issues including EDI in research.
The committee brings together the executive heads of Canada’s 3 funding agencies (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Health Canada, Science and Economic Development Canada, and the NRC.
Regarding EDI the committee has:
  • •

    Developed a triagency EDI Action Plan (2018)

  • •

    Provided mandatory GBA+ training for all triagency staff

  • •

    Launched a pilot EDI Institutional Capacity Building Grant program (2018)

  • •

    Launched a draft Made-in-Canada Athena SWAN Charter (2019)

 http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/CRCC-CCRC/pdf/SSHRC_CRCC_progress_report_2019-eng.pdf
Provincial ministries
Ontario
 Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care All HSRF-funded programs include SGBA where applicable. The HSRF was created to promote research in complex health issues in Ontario. Through the HSRF, women’s health research has been integrated into policy-relevant health services provided by the ministry. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/ministry/research/hsrf_faq.aspx#general
 Ministry of Labour Pay Equity Act ensures that women and men earn equal pay for work of equal value.
Occupational Health and Safety Act definition of workplace harassment includes harassment on the basis of sex and gender.		 https://www.ontario.ca/document/your-guide-employment-standards-act-0/equal-pay-equal-work#section-2
British Columbia
 Ministry of Health In 2008, a report was released on a provincial women’s health strategy:
  • •

    To advance knowledge on women’s health issues and to ensure women receive gender-sensitive care

  • •

    To understand the contributions of sex and gender to health conditions through the incorporation of a sex and gendered lens in research

  • •

    To offer gender-inclusive health training

 http://bccewh.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2008_Further-Advancing-the-Health-of-Girls-and-Women.pdf
 Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Unclear if steps are being taken to address SGBA+ in mental health and addictions.
Alberta
 Ministry of Health Cooperate with the Status of Women (Alberta) to incorporate GBA+ into the Ministry of Health.
 Status of Women (Alberta) Status of Women works with Alberta government ministries to apply GBA+ to policies, programs, and legislation across the government. Main areas of focus are:
  • •

    Women’s economic security

  • •

    Gender-based violence

  • •

    Women in leadership

Following CIHR’s framework of incorporating sex- and gender-based analysis into research grant approvals.		 https://www.alberta.ca/gender-based-analysis.aspx
Manitoba
 Health, Seniors and Active Living SGBA/GBA+ N/A
Nova Scotia
 Department of Health and Wellness SGBA/GBA+ N/A
 Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women Concerned with all areas of women’s life including: family life, health, education, legal rights, and experiences of violence.
The advisory council recognizes the work performed by the Department for Women and Gender Equality on GBA+.		 https://women.novascotia.ca/about-status-women/advisory-council
New Brunswick
 Department of Health Recognizes health inequalities between men and women. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/Publications/HealthInequitiesNewBrunswick2016.pdf
 Department of Women’s Equality The Department of Women’s Equality has a mandate to promote gender equality and reduce systematic discrimination. The department aims to provide support and coordinate efforts with other provincial ministries in areas concerning women’s person, economic, and social security. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/contacts/dept_renderer.153.html#mandates
Yukon
 Health and Social Services SGBA/GBA+ N/A
 Women’s Directorate The women’s directorate focuses on promoting gender equitable outcomes by:
  • •

    Providing policy development and research within government legislations

  • •

    Targeting public education

  • •

    Supporting community initiatives that advance female equality

 https://yukon.ca/sites/yukon.ca/files/fin/fin-budget2018-womens-directorate.pdf
Northwest Territories
 Health and Social Services SGBA/GBA+ N/A

CIHR, Canadian Institutes of Health Research; EDI, equity, diversity, and inclusion; GBA+, Gender-Based Analysis Plus; HSRF, Health System Research Fund; IGH, Institute of Gender and Health; N/A, not applicable; NRC, National Research Council; NSERC, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; PHAC, Public Health Agency of Canada; SAGER, Sex And Gender Equity in Research; SGBA, sex and gender-based analysis; SSHRC, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council; STEM, sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics; SWAN, Scientific Women’s Academic Network.