2024–25 Departmental Results Report – Supplementary Information Tables - Gender-based analysis plus

CER – 2024–25 Departmental Results Report – Supplementary Information Tables - Gender-based analysis plus
Section 1: Institutional GBA Plus governance and capacity
Governance

As described in the Capacity section, the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) will assess required governance through ongoing work to develop a Gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) framework.

The CER participates in the interdepartmental working group on Environment and Science and collaborates with GBA Plus teams from the Natural Resources Canada portfolio departments.

Centralized support is provided from resources under the Chief Human Resources Officer with a focus on increasing staff capacity in applying GBA Plus principles to many aspects of our work.

Capacity

The CER made progress to develop and implement a framework for advancing GBA Plus practices within the organization. Centralized support is provided from dedicated resources under the Chief Human Resources Officer. Work is ongoing to formalize monitoring, reporting and application of GBA Plus practices in the organization.

There are ongoing and new initiatives to help advance GBA Plus departmental capacity. Key initiatives include:

  • Efforts to consider the needs of diverse groups of employees continue stemming from work related to employment equity, diversity, and accessibility. Lessons learned from this work will be used for continual improvement in how GBA Plus is applied throughout the CER.
  • The CER continues to support activities related to inclusion and belonging through engagements with employees, specific equity-seeking groups, and the CER’s Leadership Community of Practice, aiming for a culture of belonging for all employees.
  • The CER continues using data and user research to conduct GBA Plus analysis to increase accessibility to our services based on disaggregated data, measuring and correcting bias.
  • The CER continues to take actions to raise its Indigenous cultural awareness. These actions include delivering learning opportunities for CER staff to learn about the histories, worldviews, and values of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples.

New Initiatives:

  • GBA Plus capacity needs are being considered to provide support and advice to the organization on GBA Plus.
  • The CER may leverage external subject matter experts to provide specific guidance and support for GBA Plus analysis when capacity of internal subject matter expertise is limited.
Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus

The CER employs a decentralized approach with dedicated staff in each program coordinating GBA Plus related activities. GBA Plus is integrated into all CER program activities and not tracked or quantified as a separate role/effort.

CER – 2024–25 Departmental Results Report – Supplementary Information Tables - Gender-based analysis plus
Section 2: Gender and diversity impacts, by program
Energy Adjudication Core Responsibility

Program

Infrastructure, Tolls and Export Applications

Program goals

The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) makes decisions and recommendations to the Governor in Council on applications, which include impact assessments, using processes that are fair, transparent, timely, and accessible.

Target population

This program predominantly focuses on the review of energy projects. As such, the target population of the program includes the following:

  • CER regulated industry applicants
  • Indigenous Peoples, particularly rights holders impacted by the project
  • Rights holders, owners, and users of lands impacted by the project
  • Not for profit organizations potentially affected by projects
  • General public, given the mandate for considering the public economic interest

The majority of the energy projects occur in Western Canada.

Distribution of benefits

Not available.

This is a regulatory program, not service or transfer payment focused. While some activities or projects may be possible to disaggregate out by identity factors, there is no one focus group for the main outcome of this overall program.

This is a stable program integrated into normal operations. As such, no large fluctuations are expected, while continual and incremental improvement continues.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

Statistic Observed results Data source Comment
Percentage of surveyed participant funding recipients who agree that participant funding enabled their participation in an adjudication process. 100% Grants & Contributions administrative data This is a measure under the core responsibility of Energy Adjudication.

Other key program impacts

Reconciliation and Implementing the UN Declaration, a Strategic Priority for the CER in 2024-25, continues to be a main focus for all of the CER’s core responsibilities. The CER engages extensively with Indigenous communities and organizations and continues to explore better ways to accommodate preferences to maximize participation in CER adjudicative processes.

There are GBA Plus requirements for assessment in the CER Act. Section 183.2 (c) of CER Act outlines the factors that need to be considered for pipelines in Commission recommendations to the Minister. Similar requirements for offshore renewable energy can be found in Section 298.3 (a) and for international power lines in Section 262.2(c). Filing guidance has been issued on assessing GBA Plus requirements in applications and staff assess applications using this guidance. In 2024-25, all applications submitted for physical projects were assessed against the guidance.

The CER continues to provide staff with training to ensure that people are competent and qualified to provide GBA Plus analysis. Ensuring Socio-Economic Analysts in the Energy Adjudication core responsibility are skilled in conducting social impact assessments, with equity considerations playing a central role, is an important part of individual professional development. The CER’s Hearing Managers, Process Advisors, and Socio-Economic Specialists help ensure that the CER’s early engagement activities, Alternative Dispute Resolution services, and adjudicative processes (including sessions related to Indigenous knowledge) are accessible to diverse groups, including women, men, gender-diverse, and underrepresented people.

The Crown Consultation Team worked to build relationships with Indigenous Peoples in 2024-25, establishing meaningful, supplemental consultation processes that are respectful of the uniqueness of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities. The CER’s Crown consultation approach is flexible to individual Indigenous communities’ preferences for consultation.

Participant funding supports greater public participation and access to adjudicative proceedings and related early engagement and/or Crown consultation, specifically the participation of Indigenous Peoples, landowners and not-for-profit organizations potentially affected by projects being reviewed though the Infrastructure, Tolls and Export Applications program. Participant funding awards (Grants and Contributions) are reported publicly, as per the Guidelines on the Reporting of Grants and Contributions Awards, on the Government of Canada’s Open Data Portal.

Supplementary information sources

GBA Plus data collection plan

Tracking of Regulatory GBA Plus Outputs:

The program is tracking regulatory output related to GBA Plus considerations within the Infrastructure, Tolls and Export Applications program:

  • Information Requests (IRs) sent to companies (by the CER or other participants in CER adjudicative processes) which are related to GBA Plus
  • Letters of Comment which reference GBA Plus
  • Conditions attached to regulatory instruments (i.e., Certificates or Orders) which include GBA Plus considerations
  • Filings related to socio-economic effects monitoring plans

Staff Review of Projects:

  • All socio-economic staff working in this program are required to take training on how to integrate GBA Plus considerations in their analysis. Note that all infrastructure adjudicative processes require review by socio-economic staff. Thus, all infrastructure adjudicative processes were, and will continue to be, reviewed by staff with GBA Plus training.
  • The technical work of socio-economic staff that undertake application assessments is guided by Technical Leaders and Technical Specialists with appropriate advanced degrees and significant levels of professional work experience to provide technical oversight for this work, which includes ensuring appropriate training is provided to staff for the application of GBA Plus methodology in the assessments of applications as required by the CER Act.

Participant Funding:

  • Grants and Contributions staff collect data and report on a DRF measure related to participant funding. The demand for funding and the percentage of Indigenous participants will vary depending on the level of interest in energy projects subject to a public hearing (adjudication process) and related Crown consultation activities each year.

Safety and Environment Oversight Core Responsibility

Program

Company Performance

Program goals

CER regulated companies operate facilities in compliance with regulatory requirements and project specific conditions throughout the full lifecycle.

As a regulatory infrastructure compliance program, resources focus on adherence by companies to legal requirements in relevant legislation and/or legal instruments. The Company Performance program interacts with and supports other CER programs which include GBA Plus considerations.

Target population

This program supports on-going engagement, through the Stakeholder Engagement and Indigenous Engagement programs, with:

  • Indigenous Peoples
  • CER regulated companies
  • Landowners
  • Communities who are affected by CER-regulated infrastructure
  • Other stakeholders such as various government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.

Distribution of benefits

Not Available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Not Available

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

This program applies a GBA Plus lens to the planning and implementation of compliance verification activities. This program actively works with Indigenous monitors to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into compliance verification, and supports initiatives led by the CER’s Indigenous partners. Capacity is also being developed through the creation of a new socio-economic compliance program to expand compliance verification planning to proactively assess and enhance responsiveness to socio-economic factors including GBA Plus.

The program also supports collaboration with adjudication project review teams and the engagement teams to develop regulatory strategies for project lifecycle oversight, ensuring that socio-economic effects including impacts to Indigenous rights and interests and GBA Plus factors are monitored and managed by companies effectively. This approach aligns with the Safety and Environmental Oversight core responsibility, which emphasizes the importance of setting and enforcing regulatory expectations throughout the full lifecycle of a project, from planning to construction, operation, and abandonment.

GBA Plus data collection plan

As a regulatory infrastructure compliance program, the Company Performance indicators and associated data are not currently structured in a way that benefits are clearly disaggregated by identity factors.

Program

Emergency Management

Program goals

CER regulated companies are prepared for emergencies and if an event does occur, spills are cleaned up and contamination remediation is conducted in an efficient and effective manner.

As a regulatory infrastructure compliance program, resources focus on adherence by companies to legal requirements in relevant legislation and/or legal instruments. The Emergency Management program interacts with and supports other CER programs which include GBA Plus considerations.

Target population

This program supports ongoing engagement, through the Stakeholder Engagement and Indigenous Engagement programs, with:

  • Indigenous Peoples
  • CER regulated companies
  • Landowners
  • Communities who are affected by CER-regulated infrastructure
  • Other stakeholders such as various government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.

Distribution of benefits

Not available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Not available

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

Not available

GBA Plus data collection plan

As a regulatory infrastructure compliance program, the Emergency Management indicators and associated data are not currently structured in a way that benefits are clearly disaggregated by identity factors.

Program

Management System and Industry Performance

Program goals

CER regulated companies comply with regulatory requirements to have a management system that identifies and controls hazards and risks. Companies demonstrate an improved commitment to mitigating threats, including those related to safety culture.

As a regulatory infrastructure compliance program, resources focus on adherence by companies to legal requirements in relevant legislation and/or legal instruments. The Management System and Industry Performance Program interacts with and supports other CER Programs which include GBA Plus considerations.

Target population

This program supports ongoing engagement, through the Stakeholder Engagement and Indigenous Engagement Programs, with:

  • Indigenous Peoples
  • CER regulated companies
  • Landowners
  • Communities who are affected by CER-regulated infrastructure
  • Other stakeholders such as various government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.

Distribution of benefits

Not available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Not available

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

Not available

GBA Plus data collection plan

As a regulatory infrastructure compliance program, the Management System and Industry Performance indicators and associated data are not currently structured in a way that benefits are clearly disaggregated by identity factors.

Program

Regulatory Framework

Program goals

This program is intended to deliver a Regulatory Framework that is robust, clear, transparent, coherent, and consistent. We apply a GBA Plus lens to our Regulatory Framework in our approaches to regulatory development.

Target population

This program supports ongoing engagement with:

  • Indigenous Peoples
  • CER regulated companies
  • Landowners
  • Communities who are affected by CER-regulated infrastructure
  • Other stakeholders such as various government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.

Distribution of benefits

Not available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Not available

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

This program applies a GBA Plus lens to the development, implementation, and monitoring of regulatory initiatives. When changes to the Regulatory Framework are contemplated, the program undertakes a GBA Plus analysis to determine whether such changes could affect or be affected by GBA Plus considerations.

The Regulatory Framework program continued to apply a GBA Plus lens to the Review of the Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR), through its second phase of engagement on the project. Questions informing GBA Plus were included in engagement topic papers, for example, with respect to the management of socio-economic effects of projects through their lifecycles. Similar to Phase 1 of engagement on the OPR, Indigenous Peoples and other stakeholders were asked how they wanted to be involved in Phase 2, and engagement was adapted accordingly. As described more fully below, the CER administered funding for Indigenous Nations and Communities to participate in the review, resulting in an unprecedented level of response and involvement for a regulatory review process.

In 2024-25, in the OPR and Filing Manuals Review and the Rules of Practice and Procedure Review, the CER provided funding to support the participation of Indigenous Peoples in review processes. Specific to the OPR and Filing Manuals Review, the CER asked funding applicants to describe any underrepresented people or intersectional representation they intend to include in their engagement. Proposals engaging with underrepresented communities and demographics, such as youth, women and Elders were prioritized.

Supplementary information sources

GBA Plus data collection plan

The Regulatory Framework program will continue to build tools and processes that will help the CER gather, collate, report and measure GBA Plus impacts as they relate to the development and management of the CER’s Regulatory Framework and regulatory initiatives.

The CER will continue to apply a GBA Plus lens through the OPR and Filing Manuals Review, Rules Review and other upcoming regulatory development projects to ensure that diverse groups and views are engaged.

Energy Information Core Responsibility Programs

Program

Energy System Information

Program goals

To provide accessible, relevant, and timely Energy Information developed in collaboration with stakeholders, including federal partners and Indigenous Peoples, that support Canadians in their research or decision-making.

Target population

All Canadians

Distribution of benefits

Not available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Canadians benefit from expert-informed bilingual content readable at a Grade 8-10 reading level, visual elements like charts and infographics are assisted with textual descriptions, and data is available for users to download. Some digital information products that are older or experimental may lack key accessibility features. Accessible and readable content is created using the Government of Canada’s Web Experience Toolkit (WET), and Style Guide.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

With the goal of producing accessible and useful Energy Information for all Canadians, and to seek collaboration and feedback, key impacts to diversity for this program include:

Energy modelling improvements

The Canada’s Energy Future series explores how possible energy futures might unfold for Canadians over the long term. Internal databases were improved in 2024-25, allowing modeled data to be shared with Canadians more efficiently. Improvements were also made to the “Exploring Canada’s Energy Future” data visualization tool with the addition of electricity capacity, and much more technological detail. The Market Snapshot product was leveraged to showcase additional EF2023 modeling with the publication of “New Canada's Energy Future net-zero analysis: the role of inter-provincial transmission expansion”.

Informing Canadians about a changing energy system

Market Snapshots played a key role this year in helping clarify complex information about Canada’s changing energy system. “Overview of Canada-U.S. Energy Trade” provided facts about 2023 record high Canadian crude oil production and exports to the United States. “Energy demand from data centers is steadily increasing, and AI development is a significant factor” filled a knowledge gap in the Canadian energy landscape about the growing impact of data centres. “Electricity Trade — who regulates what in Canada?” gave a comprehensive and unique look at the power sector in Canada, using an interactive map, infographics, and a list of jurisdictional transmission operations.

Collaboration with Indigenous Peoples

The CER and Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence (SFNNRCOE) finalized the data and content for a Story Map of Wells on Treaty Lands in Saskatchewan, including the collection of stories from First Nations leaders about their experience with oil and gas development. CER and SFNNRCOE partnered with the Canadian Centre for Energy Information (CCEI) to build the Story Map on the CCEI website for publication in eight languages (English, French, Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota) in 2025-26.

The Canada’s Energy Future team partnered with Mokwateh, a consulting firm specializing in Indigenous engagement, to gather diverse perspectives from Indigenous Peoples regarding Canada’s energy transition. The outreach was a thoughtful process aimed at understanding the aspirations, concerns, and perspectives of Indigenous individuals and communities regarding the future of energy in Canada. A wealth of meaningful insights gathered through this process will inform future Energy Information products.

Supplementary information sources

GBA Plus data collection plan

This program does not collect sufficient data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity.

The CER is building design-thinking capacity and approach. Two user research studies were conducted in 2024-25 for high interest products: Market Snapshots and the Commodity Tracking System. Findings and learnings informed user journey maps and personas leverageable in future features or products. In 2024-25 based on user research, the Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles were redesigned. After a usability test was conducted on this redesign, a Beta for the Ontario profile (proxy for other jurisdictions) was launched for public feedback. Refinements based on this public feedback will be scaled up to the other provinces and territories and released in 2025-26.

The program supported Priority Area 3 for the CER’s Accessibility Plan 2023–25, by consulting with internal service partners who are leading this project, to establish a CER-specific assessment tool.

Program

Pipeline Information

Program goals

To increase the transparency and accessibility of information about CER-regulated pipelines, so Canadians can better understand the context, regulation and impact of CER-regulated infrastructure.

Target population

All Canadians

Distribution of benefits

Not available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Canadians benefit from expert-informed bilingual content readable at a Grade 8-10 level, visual elements like charts and infographics are assisted with textual descriptions, and data is available for users to download. Some digital information products that are older or experimental may lack key accessibility features. Accessible and readable content is created using the Government of Canada’s Web Experience Toolkit (WET), and Style Guide.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

With the goal of increasing the transparency and accessibility of information about CER-regulated pipelines, key impacts to diversity for this program include:

Critical improvements for data accessibility

A custom-built content management system (CMS) launched in 2024 to maintain the Pipeline Profiles more efficiently, enabling faster publishing of critical data and content. The CMS also facilitated visual updates and new content additions to the Pipeline Profiles based on user feedback, making it easier for Canadians to find information on and understand CER-regulated pipelines.

The CER launched 11 new interactive pipeline maps in its Pipeline Profiles product. These maps feature Indigenous lands, reflecting Canada’s diverse populations and where they reside in relation to pipelines. Each map also has a full textual description of its contents to support machine-assisted readers, in accordance with the Government of Canada Style Guide.

Market Snapshots provided a mechanism to release information about the capacity and market implications on Canada’s crude oil pipeline system when the Trans Mountain Expanded System came online in May 2024.

Informing and engaging Canadians on pipeline information

The program also engaged with many Canadians at conferences and via tradeshow booths to raise awareness on pipeline information products and receive feedback for future improvements.

Supplementary information sources

GBA Plus data collection plan

This program does not collect sufficient data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity.

The program supported Priority Area 3 for the CER’s Accessibility Plan 2023–25 by consulting with internal service partners who led this project, to establish a CER-specific assessment tool.

Engagement Core Responsibility Programs

Program

Indigenous Engagement

Program goals

The unique rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples are acknowledged and reflected in the CER processes and programs and that engagement with Indigenous Peoples is meaningful.

This program supports other CER programs, in particular programs within the Safety and Environment Oversight and Energy Adjudication core responsibilities. Performance indicators and associated data are not currently structured in a way that benefits can be represented by numerical data. Benefits and results are reported through a narrative format.

Target population

Indigenous Peoples

Distribution of benefits

Not available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Please refer to the Engagement > Details on results > Indigenous Engagement section, and Gender-based analysis plus section, of the Departmental Results Report.

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

Statistic Observed results Data source Comment
Evidence that input from Indigenous Peoples and Stakeholders influences our decisions and our work. Refer to narrative in Other key program impacts on gender and diversity section Program administrative data This is a measure under the Engagement core responsibility.
Percentage of participants in engagement activities who provide feedback that engagement was meaningful 86% Program administrative data This is a measure under the Engagement core responsibility.

Other key program impacts

The CER is actively advancing the UN Declaration Act through UN Declaration Act APM 34, co-developed with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the TMX Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (TMX-IAMC). In 2024-25, a UN Declaration Act APM 34 Leadership Group was formed with representatives from the CER, NRCan, and Indigenous Caucuses of the IAMCs for TMX and Line 3. This group is leading the implementation of UN Declaration Act APM SP34 by encouraging collaboration and offering strategic guidance.

The CER also focused on finalizing and implementing the various baskets of work under the Indigenous Cultural Intelligence Framework (ICIF). This includes the National Indigenous Engagement Blueprint, the Indigenous Procurement Strategy, the Elders-in-Residence Program, the Indigenous Recruitment, Retention and Advancement Strategy (IRRAS), training and learning opportunities (TRC Call to Action #57); and the Change Management Strategy. The CER finalized the National Indigenous Engagement Blueprint this year, which outlines best practices and tools for engaging with Indigenous communities in a meaningful way.

Furthermore, 62% of employees took part in cultural intelligence training, which included land-based learning, two-eyed seeing, and trauma- and equity-informed practices.

The CER has committed to develop a collaborative oversight mechanism for the Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. System. This effort supports Reconciliation and aligns with the UN Declaration Act and UN Declaration Act APM 34. The CER’s work on Indigenous involvement in oversight is elaborated on in the Departmental Results Report.

Supplementary information sources

GBA Plus data collection plan

GBA Plus considerations were taken into account to assess the effectiveness of engagement, identify program improvements, and provide advice to the organization on ways to engage diverse views in a way that recognizes how Canadians from identifiable groups may experience engagement policies, processes, programs, and projects differently.

As part of any new engagement planning process, adjustments are being tested to include an initial discovery phase to discuss with Indigenous Peoples the most effective way to consult and cooperate with Nations, communities and/or representatives in specific engagement initiatives.

These continual improvement efforts will enhance engagement activities to make them even more relevant and meaningful for participants which will further influence the work of the CER.

Program

Stakeholder Engagement

Program goals

The Stakeholder Engagement program defines and provides a performance framework for the CER’s approach to engagement with those affected by our decisions and our work.

Target population

The CER engages with various external parties to inform our decisions and improve our work such as:

  • CER regulated companies
  • Landowners
  • Communities who are affected by CER-regulated infrastructure
  • Other stakeholders such as various government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), etc.

Distribution of benefits

Not available

Specific demographic group outcomes

Not available

Key program impacts on gender and diversity

Key program impact statistics

Statistic Observed results Data source Comment
Evidence that input from Indigenous Peoples and Stakeholders influences our decisions and our work. Refer to narrative in Other key program impacts on gender and diversity section Program administrative data This is a measure under the Engagement core responsibility.
Percentage of participants in engagement activities who provide feedback that engagement was meaningful 86% Program administrative data This is a measure under the Engagement core responsibility.

Other key program impacts

The CER blends both planned and reactive engagement, combining careful planning and a capacity to adapt and react swiftly when circumstances demand it.

To further strengthen its National Engagement Strategy, the CER continues to develop tools to support better coordination engagement activities. This work focusses on identifying synergies that streamline engagement approaches in the interest of addressing consultation fatigue and promoting more meaningful interactions.

This program supports ongoing engagement with stakeholders through collaboration and integration of efforts with other CER programs to build meaningful relationships.

Supplementary information sources

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2024-25, the CER implemented a more effective and inclusive process for capturing and analyzing feedback, enhancing its ability to understand the impact of its engagement efforts. This process is now well-integrated into CER’s engagement practices.

Feedback is gathered through external surveys completed by participants and internal assessments conducted by the CER engagement leads. These internal assessments interpret external feedback received during engagement activities and accommodate situations where requesting survey participation may be inappropriate or impractical. These methods provide a more accurate and nuanced representation of engagement outcomes.

In 2024-25, the Land Matters Advisory Committee (LMAC) entered a new phase centered on planning, marked by the adoption of new Terms of Reference, a three-year Roadmap, and an action plan. The inclusion of local government sector representation to its membership broadened the diversity of perspectives alongside those of landowner representatives. Strengthened relationships among members encouraged contributions based on their own perspective, leading to innovative approaches, enhanced discussions, and a stronger shared understanding of land-related issues.

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