Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus): 2024 to 2025

Governance

The organization was established in July 2019. It is a small departmental organization. It had 62 full-time equivalents (employees) in 2024 to 2025. The organization did not assign employees to GBA plus specifically. Instead, it was a shared responsibility to take GBA plus into consideration during staff recruitment. 

Our work is guided by the principles and requirements of the Accessible Canada Act. The Act is expected to increase the inclusion and participation of all Canadians.

During the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, 11 members of the Board of Directors oversaw Accessibility Standards Canada. Accessible Canada Act requires the government to consider diversity when appointing Directors. This includes having Directors: 

• who are people with disabilities
• that reflect the diversity of Canadian society
• that reflect the diversity of disabilities faced by Canadians

The majority of our Board of Directors are people with disabilities, representing a wide range of lived experiences and disability types. The Board of Directors reflects gender equity and plays a key role in setting the organization’s strategic direction. It also ensures that Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) is integrated into departmental decision-making processes. In addition, about 30% of our staff identify as people with disabilities, as do the majority of our technical experts. This representation strengthens our commitment to accessibility, equity, and inclusive leadership across all levels of our organization.

Capacity

The organization considers diversity at all levels and in all its programming. The standards development process encourages representation of a diverse group of people on its technical committees and the public review of the standards developed by the organization. The Grants and contributions program encourages all funding recipients to consider the intersectionality of the people involved in their project, to ensure that inclusiveness and the needs of a diverse population are taken into account in their research. To date, 100% of funded projects involved people with disabilities.

In 2023 to 2024, efforts were made to encourage funded recipients who didn’t have this reporting requirement as part of their funding agreement to start collecting and reporting on this data. These efforts were ongoing in 2024 to 2025. Recent funding recipients have also been encouraged to be more consistent in collecting GBA Plus information and report on it.

Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus

Accessibility Standards Canada did not have any full-time equivalents dedicated to working on GBA Plus during the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year. However, the organization applies the GBA Plus principles in its programming and engagement of technical committee members.

Core responsibility: Accessibility Standards

Program name: Standards Development

Program goals: Developing Accessibility Standards

Target population: People with disabilities

Distribution of benefits

Table 2: Distribution of benefits by gender, income levels, and age group

Table 2 below presents the distribution of program benefits across different demographic groups, including gender, income levels, and age groups.

Specific demographic group(s) to be monitored

Technical committee members are selected through an application process using a specific set of criteria. This is to ensure the appropriate interested parties are represented.

Applicants must demonstrate that they possess:

• lived experience
• professional and/or volunteer experience
• education and training experience
• technical knowledge

Accessibility Standards Canada reviewers grade applicants and propose technical committee members based on the selection criteria.

Each technical committee must include a balanced mix of members who represent various groups of interested parties, including members with lived experience. At least 30% of a committee’s members must be experts with lived experience. On average, 53% of technical committee members are people with disabilities.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

Technical committee members are selected through an application process using a specific set of criteria. This is to ensure the appropriate interested parties are represented.

Applicants must demonstrate that they possess:

• lived experience
• professional and/or volunteer experience
• education and training experience
• technical knowledge

Accessibility Standards Canada reviewers grade applicants and propose technical committee members based on the selection criteria.

Each technical committee must include a balanced mix of members who represent various groups of interested parties, including equity-deserving groups. At least 30% of a committee’s members must be experts from one or more of the following groups:

• women
• visible minorities
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Indigenous Peoples

On average, 85% of technical committee members are part of an equity deserving group.

Table 3: Inclusion of equity-deserving groups in funded projects (2024 to 2025)

Table 3 below presents observed results on the involvement of equity-deserving groups in funded projects, based on program data collected during the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year.

Key program impact statistics

Accessibility benefits every Canadian—whether today or at some point in their life. That’s why the development of robust, inclusive accessibility standards is not just important, but essential to building a Canada that supports everyone. When Canadians have access to what they need to be successful, they can meaningfully contribute to their own well-being and to the economic vitality and growth of their communities.

Our standards impact:

• 27% of Canadians—more than 8 million people—who identify as living with a disability
• 42% of seniors who experience 4 or more co-occurring disabilities
• 64% of Canadian families who care for a family member with a disability

As Canada’s population ages, the need for strong accessibility standards becomes increasingly critical. Seniors often face age-related disabilities, such as reduced mobility, vision or hearing impairment, leading to significant barriers in navigating public spaces, accessing essential services, and maintaining their independence.

Accessible design in infrastructure, transportation, housing, and digital services empowers seniors to engage fully in their communities with dignity and autonomy. By developing inclusive standards, Canada is better equipped to meet the diverse needs of its growing senior population.

Accessibility Standards Canada is actively working to build a society where everyone—regardless of age, ability, or circumstance—can participate fully. This includes families, caregivers, employers, and communities that are positively impacted by accessible design and inclusive thinking. Accessibility benefits everyone and is everyone’s responsibility.

GBA Plus data collection plan

Technical committee members are selected through an application process using a specific set of criteria. This is to ensure the appropriate interested parties are represented.

In addition to demonstrating professional or volunteer experience, education, and training experience, or technical knowledge, applicants are asked to voluntarily declare if they belong to any of the following groups:

• persons with disabilities
• women
• visible minorities
• 2SLGBTQI+
• Indigenous Peoples

Each technical committee must include a balanced mix of members who represent various groups of interested parties, including members with lived experience. To ensure balanced representation:

• at least 30% of a committee’s members must be experts with lived experience
• at least 30% of a committee’s members must be experts from 1 or more of the following groups:
  • women
  • visible minorities
  • 2SLGBTQI+
  • Indigenous Peoples

The Grants and contributions program requires that all funded research projects involve people with disabilities. Applicants are also encouraged to consider the needs of people from diverse social identities in their project. They must identity the specific groups they intend to engage in their project.

Funded recipients must report on participation throughout the project and provide final participation numbers at the end of the project. Ongoing reporting throughout the project helps funding recipients stay focused on inclusive engagement. By considering the needs of all Canadians, their project will not only help address systemic barriers, but support and amplify the voices of those who navigate those barriers.

Core responsibility: Accessibility Standards

Program name: Outreach and knowledge application

Program goals: Developing Accessibility Standards

Target population: People with disabilities

Distribution of benefits

Table 4: Distribution of benefits by gender, income level, and age group

Table 4 below presents the distribution of program benefits across different demographic groups, including gender, income levels, and age groups.

Specific demographic group(s) to be monitored

We developed a GBA+ strategy for our outreach and communications program, prioritizing inclusion and accessibility. The population most directly impacted is people with disabilities, who benefit from enhanced engagement efforts and accessible communication. Demographic groups to be monitored for program impact include:

• directly impacted: physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment
• indirectly impacted: caregivers, service providers, Indigenous persons with disabilities, racialized communities, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals with intersecting identities

Monitoring will initially focus on access and reach to inform future improvements and better understand systemic barriers to our programs and initiatives over time.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

Impact data are not available, as the program is in early implementation stages. Foundational work has been completed to enable future impact assessment, including the implementation of a GBA+ strategy that prioritizes people with disabilities and intersecting identities. As the program evolves, we aim to establish data collection mechanisms that will support analysis of access, reach and engagement, with a view to assessing longer-term communications outcomes where feasible.

Key program impact statistics

Quantitative data disaggregated by gender and other identity factors are not yet available. The program is currently in early implementation and outreach phases. However, a collection plan is being developed to gather disaggregated impact data aligned with the program’s GBA+ strategy. This plan will support future analysis of communications outcomes across intersecting identity groups, particularly people with disabilities. Details are provided in the collection plan section below.

GBA Plus data collection plan

To measure quantitative impacts of the program, the communications team will implement a phased data collection strategy that integrates GBA+ considerations. This strategy includes:

Developing Identity-Based Indicators

We will identify indicators aligned with program goals, focusing on:

• disability status (e.g., type of disability)
• gender identity (e.g., women, men, non-binary)
• indigeneity
• racial/ethnic background
• age group
• language preference (English/French/American Sign Language (ASL)/Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ)/other)
• geographic location (urban/rural/remote)

Potential indicators may include engagement metrics and feedback data.

Data Collection Tools

Where feasible and relevant, we will include demographic questions in:

• feedback forms and event registration forms, when applicable
• online surveys related to campaigns
• accessibility and communications evaluations

All tools will include appropriate privacy notices and ensure voluntary, anonymous participation.

Scales

Gender scale

• 1st group: predominantly men (80% or more men)
• 2nd group: 60% to 79% men
• 3rd group: broadly gender-balanced
• 4th group: 60% to 79% women
• 5th group: predominantly women (80% or more women)

Income‑level scale

• 1st group: strongly benefits low‑income individuals (strongly progressive)
• 2nd group: somewhat benefits low‑income individuals (somewhat progressive)
• 3rd group: no significant distributional impacts
• 4th group: somewhat benefits high‑income individuals (somewhat regressive)
• 5th group: strongly benefits high‑income individuals (strongly regressive)

Age‑group scale

• 1st group: primarily benefits youth, children or future generations
• 2nd group: no significant intergenerational impacts or impacts on generations between youths and seniors
• 3rd group: primarily benefits seniors or the baby boom generation