GENDER EQUALITY STATISTICS AND INDICATORS: THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE

OVERVIEW Gender statistics vs. Gender Indicators Institutional arrangements Federal examples Provincial examples Accomplishments & Challenges

Gender Statistics vs. Gender Indicators Statistics: an information explosion! Indicators: a partial remedy?

Gender Equality Indicators Compare women and men Concise, but comprehensive Address central policy concerns work health Cultural diversity personal safety

‘Good Indicators’ Concise Intuitively meaningful to public to decision-makers Rigorous, valid to statisticians, economists, other academic audiences

‘Excellent Indicators’ Factors causing change are known and quantified Modeling of impact of interventions is possible

The Canadian Context A confederation: 14 jurisdictions Separate and shared responsibilities and powers 14 Status of Women Ministers and offices lead GBA initiatives Women’s groups, think tanks and universities are important players No overarching authority

Federal Examples Statistics Canada Economic Gender Equality Indicators Women’s Health Indicators Mandated Statistical Reporting: National and International

Statistics Canada A resource of fundamental importance Finding Data on Women Women in Canada –a compendium

Economic Gender Equality Indicators Equality of outcomes considered Explicit attention to paid and unpaid work Innovative in conceptual as well as technical approach Knowledge exchange based on indicators

Women’s Health Indicators Women’s Health Bureau of Health Canada A Profile of Women’s Health Indicators in Canada has been produced. Ongoing work to fill data gaps, measurement of women’s health status and outcomes

Mandated Statistical Reporting Employment Insurance Employment Equity Act Income security and pension programs Student loans Taxation measures CEDAW – and NGOs

Provincial Examples Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Quebec

Newfoundland and Labrador Women’s Policy Office Community Counts System

Nova Scotia Statistical Series Community Counts Healthy Balance Research Program

Quebec A Gender Based Approach: field trials on a management initiative 11 departments and agencies, 1997-2003 Gender based approach vs. woman-specific remedial measures

Accomplishments Solid statistics Strong institutional framework Good government and NGO linkages

Challenges What does equality mean today? How can we pay due attention to diversity? What models for achieving equality underlie our efforts? How can we move from statistical compendia to indicators?