Canada Energy Regulator – 2025–26 Departmental Plan – Supplementary information tables – Gender-based analysis plus

As described in the Capacity section, the 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.

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, Metis, 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.

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.

GBA Plus data collection plan

The Commission considers the health, social and economic effects of a project, including with respect to the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors.  The CER collects general GBA Plus data related to energy adjudication through our regulatory processes, including company applications, participant comments and evidence. The consideration of this data is evident in the Commission’s decision and recommendation reports. All this information is publicly available and can be found on a project-specific basis through the CER’s regulatory database, REGDOCS. While embedded in our adjudication processes, we do not currently collect data in such a manner that would allow us to report impacts by various GBA Plus factors.

This program supports greater public participation and access to adjudicative proceedings tied to energy reviews.  

Ongoing Initiatives:

• As with project design, the CER expects proponents to take a GBA Plus lens when designing early engagement activities. As described in the CER’s Early Engagement Guide, companies should conduct early engagement activities in a manner that facilitates the involvement of all relevant identifiable groups of people.

• By examining GBA Plus evidence provided in project applications, the Commission can better understand the possible disproportionate effects of a project on distinct groups of people, including on vulnerable populations and populations identified by gender. The CER expects companies to consider ways in which the particular energy project under review might enhance benefits for Indigenous peoples and local communities.
• The CER expects proponents to apply a GBA Plus lens in the design phase, and throughout the lifecycle of a project. The CER is continuing a comprehensive review of sections of the Filing Manual pertaining to environment and socio-economic assessment and land matters to reflect changing requirements, conditions, regulations, and industry practices. As part of this work, over the next year, the CER will continue to engage with Indigenous Peoples, regulated industry, landowners, and other stakeholders on a draft regulatory proposal and draft updates.

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 is responsive to and supports other CER programs that include GBA Plus considerations.

GBA Plus data collection plan

The CER expects regulated companies to apply a GBA Plus lens throughout the lifecycle of a project. Oversight activities are not expected to negatively impact Canadians from identifiable groups. Specific conditions placed on an applicant relating to GBA Plus matters in the application assessment process (through the Energy Adjudication core responsibility) will be assessed as part of condition filings that will be followed up on through company oversight activities if issues are identified. 

Very little GBA Plus-specific data is available related to the outcomes of the CER’s Safety and Environment Oversight core responsibility and programs. The CER does not intend to collect specific GBA Plus data in this area. The CER’s Departmental Results Framework measures for safety and environment oversight serve as a proxy indication as to how safely infrastructure is being operated.

Ongoing initiatives:

• The program collaborates with the Energy Adjudication and Engagement programs to develop regulatory strategies for project lifecycle oversight, ensuring that socio-economic effect including impacts to GBA plus factors are monitored and managed by companies effectively.
• The program is supporting the comprehensive review of sections of the Filing Manual, and the review of the Onshore Pipeline Regulations. As part of this work, over the next year, the CER will continue to engage with Indigenous Peoples, regulated industry, landowners, and other stakeholders on a draft regulatory proposals and draft updates.
• Where a CER partnership Indigenous monitoring program is in place for a project, the Company Performance program works with Indigenous Monitors to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into compliance verification processes where practicable.

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.

GBA Plus data collection plan

Program Goals:

CER regulated companies comply with regulatory companies 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.

GBA Plus data collection plan

Program Goals:

The Regulatory Framework program will continue to integrate GBA Plus into the lifecycle of regulatory improvement initiatives.

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.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• A GBA Plus lens was applied during the first phase of engagement on the review of the Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR). Input was also received on GBA Plus matters through direct questions in a Discussion Paper. This input guided the CER’s approach to the second phase of the OPR engagement process and will also inform opportunities to strengthen measures to prevent and address impacts to Indigenous rights and interests.
• The Regulatory Framework program advances GBA Plus, using inclusive engagement measures, to support the participation of Indigenous Peoples and other diverse groups, such as tailoring engagement efforts to address the specific needs of diverse groups. The program will continue to enhance engagement activities to deepen our understanding of the needs of Indigenous Peoples and all underrepresented groups.

Program Goals:  

The CER uses feedback from Indigenous Peoples to ensure engagement activities are inclusive and consider GBA Plus factors.

GBA Plus data collection plan

The Indigenous Engagement program will continue to improve data collection to reflect regional context and diversity.

The CER is guided in our Indigenous engagement activities by our Reconciliation statement and commitment to implementing the UN Declaration. We tailor engagement to reflect the nation-to-nation relationship we have with Indigenous Peoples, and take a distinctions-based approach that recognizes the unique rights, interests, histories, and governance of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The CER will continue to use its National Indigenous Engagement Blueprint. The CER’s National Indigenous Engagement Blueprint is intended to guide program-specific engagement, applying a distinctions-based and regionally tailored approach to engaging First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples, communities, and organizations. This includes building, renewing and maintaining our relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership.

• The Indigenous Engagement program will continue to measure meaningfulness for engagement events. This reporting approach has been designed to streamline the reporting process. The CER tracks audience and regional inclusion, along with key accomplishments and learnings from engagement efforts.       
• The Indigenous Engagement program will continue to improve engagement processes to encourage CER staff and leadership who engage to identify sensitivities and implement mitigation measures to increase diversity and maximize participation.

New Initiatives:

• The Indigenous Engagement program indicators are being updated to better reflect the regional and national context and increase the diversity of views from our targeted audiences across the country.
• The CER is progressing Action Plan Measure 34 (APM 34) of the United Nations Declaration Act Action Plan. Indigenous perspectives on consulting and cooperating with Indigenous Peoples on APM 34 will be guided by a Leadership Table with Indigenous representatives alongside federal officials.

Program Goals:  

The CER uses feedback from stakeholders to ensure engagement activities are inclusive and consider GBA Plus factors.

GBA Plus data collection plan

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

The Stakeholder Engagement program will continue to improve data collection to reflect regional context and diversity of audiences.

Ongoing Initiatives:

• The CER’s National Engagement Strategy is aligned with the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. It includes objectives that:
• focus on dismantling barriers to engagement in a way that recognizes and responds to unique needs of our audiences;
• include collaboration and consultation with targeted and diverse audiences and communities to better understand their perspectives, interests and concerns;
• leverage relationships established at the regional and national levels.
• The Stakeholder Engagement program will continue to measure meaningfulness for engagement events. This reporting approach has been designed to streamline the reporting process. The CER tracks audience and regional diversity, along with key accomplishments and learnings from engagement efforts.       
• Engagement approaches are tailored to different audiences and regions to support the delivery of CER initiatives in both official languages. The CER will continue to engage in different ways and at different times to enhance opportunities to participate.
• The Stakeholder Engagement program will continue to improve engagement processes to encourage CER staff and leadership who engage to identify sensitivities and implement mitigation measures to increase diversity and maximize participation.
• The Land Matters Group Advisory Committee continues to expand its membership by being more inclusive with new members representing a greater number of regions and more diversified with the addition of various sectors.

New Initiatives:

The Stakeholder Engagement program indicators are being updated to better reflect the regional and national context and increase the diversity of views from our targeted audiences across the country.

Program Goals:  

The CER will continue improving digital content, accommodating the diverse needs of Canadians, so that it is equally accessible to all audiences.

GBA Plus data collection plan

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

Ongoing Initiatives:

• This program collects data from people through surveys, user experience research, and engagement activities regarding program materials. Following the publication of Canada’s Energy Future 2025, the CER will prioritize post-release engagement. This engagement will provide opportunities for diverse feedback, inspiring the next iteration of the report. 
• The program collects data from web pages, including some demographic data (e.g., city) on users of program information. Other guidelines are used to improve access for diverse audiences but are not currently measured, including the Canada.ca Style Guide. Primary examples where these tools and guidelines are applied include Provincial and Territorial Energy Profiles, Canada’s Energy Future, and Market Snapshots.

Program Goals:  

The CER will continue improving digital content, accommodating the diverse needs of Canadians, so that it is equally accessible to all audiences.

GBA Plus data collection plan

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

Ongoing Initiatives:

• This program collects data from people through stakeholder engagements and conference and trade show attendance regarding program materials.  
• The program collects data from web pages, including some demographic data (e.g., city) on users of program information. Other guidelines are used to improve access for diverse audiences but are not currently measured, including the Canada.ca Style Guide. A primary example where these guidelines are applied include Pipeline Profiles.