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Gender-based analysis plus

Section 1: Institutional gender-based analysis plus governance and capacity

Governance

The Agency’s core responsibility is to support Atlantic Canada’s economic growth, wealth creation and economic prosperity through inclusive and clean growth. The Agency integrated gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) into its activities as part of its implementation strategy. To ensure accountability, the Agency used a GBA Plus responsibility centre and working groups led by an executive-level GBA Plus Champion to support and monitor the implementation of GBA Plus throughout the Agency and liaise with the broader Government of Canada GBA Plus network.
All ACOA programs were delivered with an inclusive lens to support groups that are under-represented in Atlantic Canada’s economy and among its entrepreneurs. The Agency also advocated for regional interests in national initiatives, as well as consideration for urban, rural and remote areas. This is supported by enhanced data collection and analysis that includes groups under-represented in the economy.

Capacity

Below are a few examples of work to advance ACOA’s GBA Plus capacity:

Targeted temporary programs

Recovery from COVID-19 proved unequal for certain regions, groups and industries. In addition, there were significant events affecting residents in rural and coastal areas such as Hurricane Fiona and trade restrictions affecting the potato sector in Prince Edward Island. In response to these challenges, regional development agencies, including ACOA, designed and delivered initiatives such as the Hurricane Fiona Recovery Fund (HFRF), the Prince Edward Island Potato Stabilization Innovation Initiative (PSII), the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF), the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF), the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF), and the Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative (ARRI).

Diversity and inclusion in ACOA’s workforce

The Agency focused on a response to the Clerk’s call to action with the work of its Office of Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism, including implementing Year 1 of the Agency’s 2-year Employment Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EEIAR) Plan. The Agency also developed its next iteration of the EEIAR Plan and created a new sponsor position at the executive level for Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism, as well as established employee-led networks/communities for various equity-seeking employees, who now participate in the Agency’s EEIAR Advisory Committee. The Agency also implemented a Valuing Diversity and Inclusion competency for management positions. The Agency’s Diversity, Inclusion, Competency Excellence (DICE) full-day dialogue sessions were delivered to most executives and employees at the Agency, and DICE content and Train-the-Trainer sessions were provided to other federal and provincial departments, universities, colleges and private-sector organizations. ACOA also led the Selection Board + initiative in partnership with the Atlantic Federal Council to support having better access to representative hiring board members in the region (e.g., representative of equity-seeking groups).

Administrative data systems update

In 2022-23, ACOA continued to update its internal systems to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements throughout the project life cycle to facilitate monitoring and reporting. This enabled ACOA to carry out analyses on its programs using new and existing administrative data. This helps the Agency take stock of the GBA Plus elements of its programs, look at trends and provide insight into areas that may be improved upon to strengthen inclusivity.

Section 2: gender and diversity impacts, by program

Core responsibility: Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Program name: Business Growth

Program goals:

ACOA invests in business growth to enhance Atlantic Canadians’ access to the information and financing they need to grow a business. This enables businesses to become more innovative and productive, and allows them to grow, which generates wealth and jobs. This supports enterprises and business associations as well as activities aimed at improving the business environment in Atlantic Canada including underserved groups.

Target population: Atlantic Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), communities and organizations

Distribution of benefits

For more information on the scales used in the above tables, see the “Scales” section.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

*2022-23 or most recent

Other key program impacts

An evaluation of the business growth programming at ACOA found that the Agency has taken positive steps toward strengthening inclusive growth:

• During the period of the evaluation, ACOA invested $38.2 million in 172 Indigenous economic development projects, 110 since the Investing in Regional Innovation and Development framework target was established in 2017.
• It delivered targeted programs for women, most notably the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy and the Women in Business Initiative.
• The Agency’s participation in the Atlantic Immigration Program is an important step forward on immigration and finding international workers who can help meet the needs of SMEs.

ACOA offered targeted support for young business owners, primarily through a $7.3 million investment in the Youth Entrepreneur Development Initiative.

Supplementary information sources

ACOA Business Growth and Trade and Investment Programming Evaluation Report 2020

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Core responsibility: Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Program name: Diversified Communities

Program goals:

Economic development in rural areas continues to be a challenge considering the declining traditional industries, population shifts and infrastructure issues. These issues emphasize the need to support initiatives that increase competitiveness of Atlantic Canada’s rural communities and businesses. This program is well aligned with the ACOA Act, and the types of activities mandated under the act, which include support for enterprises and for business associations, and other activities related to improving the business environment, including underserved groups.

Target population: Atlantic Canadian SMEs, communities and organizations

Distribution of benefits

For more information on the scales used in the above tables, see the “Scales” section.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

*2022-23 or most recent

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Core responsibility: Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Program name: Inclusive Communities

Program goals:

For an economically diversified Atlantic Canada, communities must have the capacity and resources to be more inclusive; and for sustainable growth, entrepreneurs must be equipped to be competitive on the global market. Geographic communities and communities of interest, such as industry associations and non-profit organizations, need to invest in initiatives that stimulate economic growth. The Agency works with these communities through strategic investments to increase human capacity of people and organizations to increase and sustain growth and well-being. This program is well aligned with the ACOA Act and the types of activities mandated under the act, which include support for enterprises and for business associations, as well as other activities related to improving the business environment, including underserved groups.

Target population: Atlantic Canadian SMEs, communities and organizations

Distribution of benefits

For more information on the scales used in the above tables, see the “Scales” section.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

*2022-23 or most recent

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Core responsibility: Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Program name: Innovation Ecosystems

Program goals:

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Target population: Atlantic Canadian SMEs, communities and organizations

Distribution of benefits

For more information on the scales used in the above tables, see the “Scales” section.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

*2022-23 or most recent

Other key program impacts

An evaluation of innovation programming found that ACOA has taken positive steps toward strengthening inclusive growth. It found that the Agency made some efforts toward inclusive growth through funding and collaborations (e.g., immigrants, Indigenous people and women). However, there is growing internal recognition of the need to better support under-represented groups to facilitate economic growth, address skills and labour gaps, and better align with government priorities. Other key findings include:

• Between 2010 and 2015, female ACOA clients not only registered higher average growth rates than male ACOA clients in several employment and financial indicators but also outperformed female-owned businesses from the comparable group in most areas. Case studies indicated that there has been increased focus on supports to women in technology, computer science and entrepreneurship.
• ACOA’s involvement in the Atlantic Immigration Program (2017-2020), a key initiative under the Atlantic Growth Strategy, helped address labour and skills needs and ensure long-term economic growth in the region by attracting and retaining skilled immigrants.

Key informants also indicated that ACOA’s 28 points of service across the region position the Agency to meet the unique needs of rural businesses.

Supplementary information sources

ACOA Innovation Programming Evaluation Report 2020

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Core responsibility: Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Program name: Policy Research and Engagement

Program goals:

The Policy, Research and Engagement (PRE) program is central to identifying and effectively responding to opportunities and challenges facing the regional economy. PRE provides intelligence, analysis and well-grounded advice on a broad range of issues and topics, and it informs and supports the ACOA and ministerial decision making.

Target population: Atlantic Canadian research organizations

Distribution of benefits

For more information on the scales used in the above tables, see the “Scales” section.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

*2022-23 or most recent

Other key program impacts

This program, delivered through the Atlantic Policy Research Initiative (APRI), is the primary funding instrument through which ACOA supports policy research. It generates and disseminates knowledge that enhances policy information, including gender-based and diversity considerations, taking into account regional economic opportunities and challenges. These activities support and influence the policy research priorities that affect the Atlantic region, particularly those directly related to economic development, including when it affects under-represented groups. They also help establish and promote networks among stakeholders.

Supplementary information sources

The following are examples of publications relevant to GBA Plus that are supported by the Policy Research and Engagement Program through APRI:

• Key Research Priorities for Atlantic Canada’s Economy: Looking Ahead and Finding Talent Series – Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, 2020-2022.
  > https://atlanticeconomiccouncil.ca/page/LookingAheadLandingPage ;
  > https://atlanticeconomiccouncil.ca/page/FindingTalentLandingPage
• Employer Attitudes Toward Hiring Newcomers and International Students in the Atlantic Provinces – The Harris Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2021.
  > https://www.library.mun.ca/
• GEM Atlantic Canada Report 2019, The Centre for Innovation Studies, 2020.
  > http://thecis.ca/wpdm-package/gem-atlantic-canada-report-2019/
• Immigration & Atlantic Revitalization – Public Policy Forum, 2020.
  > https://ppforum.ca/project/immigration-atlantic-revitalization/
• Linking Indigenous communities with regional development, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2020.
  > https://www.oecd.org/regional/indigenous-communities.htm

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Core responsibility: Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Program name: Research and Development, and Commercialization

Program goals:

ACOA plays an important role in ensuring that Atlantic Canada continues to maximize benefits from national research and development (R&D) programs and builds on the momentum of rising business expenditures in R&D in the region. R&D and commercialization is fundamental to increasing the region’s competitiveness and to closing the productivity gap with the rest of the country. This is well aligned with the ACOA Act and its activities, including support for enterprises and other activities aimed at improving the business environment including underserved groups.

Target population: Atlantic Canadian SMEs, communities and organizations

Distribution of benefits

For more information on the scales used in the above tables, see the “Scales” section.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

*2022-23 or most recent

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Core responsibility: Economic Development in Atlantic Canada

Program name: Trade and Investment

Program goals:

ACOA pursues trade and investment opportunities with a view to increase the number of exporters and the volume of export sales, attract foreign direct investment and support the commercialization of technology. ACOA also strives to build a foundation for long-term growth through global competitiveness thanks to its tourism work, primarily through the commercial and non-commercial elements of the Business Development Program. As an economic sector, tourism offers significant wealth and job creation opportunities for SMEs. This program is well aligned with the ACOA Act and the types of activities mandated under the act, which includes support for enterprises and for business associations, as well as other activities related to improving the business environment including underserved groups.

Target population: Atlantic Canadian SMEs, communities and organizations

Distribution of benefits

For more information on the scales used in the above tables, see the “Scales” section.

Key program impacts* on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

*2022-23 or most recent

Other key program impacts

An evaluation of trade and investment programming at ACOA found that the Agency has taken positive steps toward strengthening inclusive growth:

• During the period of the evaluation, ACOA invested $38.2 million in 172 Indigenous economic development projects, 110 since the Investing in Regional Innovation and Development framework target was established in 2017.
• ACOA delivered targeted programming for women, most notably the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy and the Women in Business Initiative.
• The Agency’s participation in the Atlantic Immigration Program is an important step forward on immigration and finding international workers who can help meet the needs of SMEs.

ACOA has provided targeted support for young business owners, primarily through a $7.3 million investment in the Youth Entrepreneur Development Initiative

Supplementary information sources

ACOA Business Growth and Trade and Investment Programming Evaluation Report 2020

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2021-22, ACOA continued to enhance its internal administrative data collection system to capture microdata on GBA Plus elements to facilitate monitoring, analysis and reporting. The Agency also purchased custom data analyses from Statistics Canada to gain insights into client performance and the Atlantic Canadian economy with disaggregated data, where available. These additional data were further analyzed to help strengthen analysis and decision making within the Agency.

Scales

Gender scale

• First group: predominantly men (80% or more men)
• Second group: 60% to 79% men
• Third group: broadly gender-balanced
• Fourth group: 60% to 79% women
• Fifth group: predominantly women (80% or more women)

Income-level scale

• First group: strongly benefits low-income individuals (strongly progressive)
• Second group: somewhat benefits low-income individuals (somewhat progressive)
• Third group: no significant distributional impacts
• Fourth group: somewhat benefits high-income individuals (somewhat regressive)
• Fifth group: strongly benefits high-income individuals (strongly regressive)

Age-group scale

• First group: primarily benefits youth, children or future generations
• Second group: no significant intergenerational impacts or impacts on generations between youths and seniors
• Third group: primarily benefits seniors or the baby-boom generation