Departmental Plan (2024 to 2025): Supplementary Information Table for Gender-based Analysis Plus

As of November 2023, the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Program does not collect sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. However, in 2023 to 2024, the program is developing a detailed data collection plan, in collaboration with the Trade Facilitation and Compliance program, which also belongs the Trade and Anti-dumping Programs Directorate (TAPD). The TAPD launched the initial focus on the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Program due to the upcoming launch of the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project. To optimize efficiency, data collection tasks that also apply to the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Program will be documented and implemented in parallel for program implementation where possible. In summary, the TAPD plan and updates are as follows:

2023 to 2024: Data collection development

1. Submit a request to update language in the CARM Client Portal (CCP) to align with GBA Plus considerations that will be implemented in a future CARM release: October 2023

• This action was based on the risk that the CARM CCP may not have been designed with current GBA Plus considerations taken into account.
• TAPD will conduct a review of CCP language during the Client Experience Simulation (CES) 2.0 testing scheduled for November/December 2023.
• After testing and analysis, based on criteria provided by the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility (CoR), any required changes will be submitted formally through a software requirement change with the CARM development team and shared with the CoR.
• In a meeting with TAPD in November 2023, the CoR team expressed an interest in participating in the CES 2.0 testing. The CoR provided a draft of the Accessibility Checklist that can be used for testing. The Planning, Development and Performance Unit asked for additional criteria for the other GBA Plus considerations.

• Next steps: The CoR will provide an additional list of GBA Plus requirements and criteria to TAPD to use during the CES 2.0 test period in November/December 2023.
• Status: Ongoing, with the objective of completing the GBA Plus testing by January 2024.
• Resources and risk mitigations: TAPD currently has two resources assigned to this task. Additional support to conduct testing, analysis and peer review will be requested through the CoR. If additional GBA Plus criteria are not provided to TAPD for CES 2.0 testing, then only accessibility will be tested at this phase, with the other criteria being tested once the material is made available.

2. Investigate how a survey is transmitted through the CCP and if the software can facilitate a data collection process in a future CARM release: October 2023

• In September 2023, TAPD confirmed that the CCP does not support the distribution of a survey. Instead, the CCP has the capability to send a mass message to trade chain partners that contains a link to an external survey platform (to be determined).

• Status: Because the CCP cannot support the distribution of a survey, this action is complete.
• Note: Another method/survey platform to distribute the survey will be investigated (see item 3 below).

3. Consult with CBSA Communications and the Information, Science and Technology Branch: Originally scheduled for February 2024, this has been advanced to November 2023. This consultation will discuss the survey development, distribution and data collection options.

4. Conduct an analysis to identify TAPD points of service: December 2023

5. Conduct a risk assessment of applicability and methodology of data collection for each program: January 2024

6. Develop a stand-alone survey for the Trade Facilitation Compliance Program and data collection framework: February 2024

7. Develop survey data collection framework: February 2024

8. Survey review and consultations: February to March 2024

• Conduct a program-level review.
• Inform external subject matter experts such as the Border Commercial Consultative Committee and other industry associations.

2024 to 2025: Data collection

1. Electronic dissemination of survey (i.e., support/accompany email correspondence): May to June 2024

• The survey developed in 2023 to 2024 will be distributed to stakeholders.

2. Share initial results of key impact analysis regarding areas of improvement for the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table of the next Departmental Results Report: July 2024

3. Continue data collection: June 2024 to June 2025

• TAPD will develop program GBA Plus indicators and monitor results: October 2024 and ongoing.

Note: The implementation of this data collection plan will be led by two TAPD resources from the Planning, Development and Performance Unit. Additional resources will augment the effort as required by available TAPD staff given the Agency’s high prioritization of the CARM Release 2 launch in May 2024.

The Buildings and Equipment Program is a relatively new program that is prioritizing the development of a data strategy to be completed by March 2025. The program has committed to conducting working sessions to develop a formal definition of the objectives and methodology, and to confirm priority areas for continual and consistent data collection, retention, management, and analysis. Additionally, the program has committed to update its Real Property Performance Measurement Strategy to include collecting prioritized data on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility to support GBA Plus.

As indicated in the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table for the Agency’s 2022 to 2023 Departmental Results Report, the Commercial Facilitation and Compliance Program has made progress through the collection of data from August 2023 to November 2023. In collaboration with the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility, a Data Collection Instrument was created to help identify and address gaps related to gender, age, ethnicity, geographic area, and disability/accessibility. The Data Collection Instrument is a tool used to find potential gaps and address questions in various indicators (e.g., do we have a recurring issue in a specific geographic location, or that is raised by clients from a similar business size?).

From August to November 2023, the program collected data on industry sector, business size, geographic area, and disability by collecting more than 430 correspondences received from stakeholders. To collect data, the program analyzed all enquiries that were received in this timeframe, including but not limited to those coming from the Minister’s Office, regional consultations, Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) retrieval notices, etc. The analysis consisted of indicating whether or not they were able to confirm the factors listed below. It is important to note that only the concrete information provided was to be used and that no assumptions were to be made when completing the Data Collection Plan. Employees were required to compile the following data:

• Sex/gender
• Disability
• Geography (region)
• Business size: Micro (1-4 employees) / Small (5-99 employees) / Medium (100-499 employees) / Large (500+ employees)

The Data Collection Instrument did not allow the program to identify the distinct socio-demographic composition of industry sectors, nor the challenges/barriers faced for the underrepresented groups operating within the CBSA’s commercial clientele. Based on the information provided by clients in their correspondence, the program was not able to appropriately confirm the identify factors (e.g., the gender of the client could not be assumed based on their signature block). The program was also unable to confirm whether clients faced any type of disability or belonged to a specific ethnicity/race based on the information provided in their correspondence. The gender, ethnicity or disability could only be confirmed in cases where the client clearly shared the information in their correspondence. To remain unbiased, no assumptions were to be made, hence most of the fields in the Data Collection Instrument were unknown (more than 60%) and so the data collection results were inconclusive. Unfortunately, the program was unable to identify specific challenges faced by clients in complying with program requirements.

The Commercial Facilitation and Compliance Program has implemented a new data collection strategy using mitigation tools to develop a strategy that will reduce the risk of inconclusive results. The program has formulated a survey that takes into account the three identity factors, along with several others such as language and ethnicity/race, while offering an option for the client to share additional information through open-ended questions. Therefore, in the event that the three identity factors do not produce conclusive trends, the program will have additional information to analyze that might yield other trends.

Going forward, the program will work with CBSA Communications to develop a survey that will be shared with more than 50 stakeholders, such as customs brokers, importers, exporters, couriers, and shipping companies. It is expected that the survey will be shared with participants via the Border Commercial Consultative Committee in January 2024 and that stakeholders will be asked to complete it by February 2024. The results will allow the program to identify how it can better integrate GBA Plus considerations, which will allow it to create a more inclusive environment and establish valuable changes. After the survey is completed in February 2024, the results will be requested and then shared by the Communications team. Two resources will be allocated to the data analysis in March 2024. If the analysis is more demanding than anticipated, two additional resources will be added in mid-March. In April 2024, the Commercial Facilitation and Compliance Program will present the initial results in terms of key impacts on gender and diversity (outlined above) to senior management for discussion. The Agency will leverage the findings where possible to make informed decisions, and to create and modify policies that are accessible and inclusive for all Canadians and CBSA employees.

As an organization, we recognize that we have a responsibility to widen our understanding of GBA Plus to be better positioned to identify tools or processes that currently exist or that need to be created to increase our inclusiveness within multiple diverse groups. To achieve this, the Field Technology Support Program (FTSP) is adopting a data collection plan that includes the preparation and rollout of a survey targeted toward Border Services Officers (BSOs) and laboratory employees (e.g., chemists, technologists and technicians) on the accessibility of laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment through a GBA Plus lens. As we implement GBA Plus for the FTSP, our focus will be on increasing accessibility through the procurement of goods and services.

To achieve this, the FTSP will implement a survey to determine:

• Who is operating the laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment at the various ports of entry across Canada?
• How are the laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment being used?
• How safe and effective are the laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment currently in use?
• Do barriers exist for using laboratory instruments or detection technology equipment for specific groups of people (e.g., people with disabilities)?
• Are the laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment adaptable to make them more accessible to everyone under the GBA Plus umbrella?
• Are the instruments and equipment accessible to all body types (e.g., height, weight, body shape, body size, gender, pregnancy, etc.) for the equipment to be used correctly and effectively by everyone, supporting a more diverse workforce?

The survey data collected will provide the FTSP with an opportunity to explore whether certain laboratory instruments or detection technology equipment could be designed or adjusted to become more accessible to a wider, more diverse group of people. The survey will also provide clients with a means to communicate their needs while providing the FTSP with a method to measure whether those needs are being met. Consultations are underway with subject matter experts at the laboratory in Ottawa. Certain areas have been identified where accessibility issues and/or other possible barriers could potentially exist, which will provide the foundation for the FTSP pilot project’s GBA Plus data collection plan.

The action items and stakeholder engagement plan for the FTSP’s data collection plan are as follows:

• Collaboration began with the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility and the Chief Data Office for the development of a data collection plan for the FTSP as part of a GBA Plus pilot project: Feb 2023 (Ongoing)
• Engagement sessions were conducted with FTSP managers to discuss the streamlining of existing client surveys into one cohesive survey for the FTSP that would include a section dedicated to GBA Plus: May 2023 to Aug 2023
• Development of the data collection and communication plan: Jun 2023 to Dec 2023
• Engagement with the Information, Science and Technology Branch’s End User Services Accessibility and Adaptive Technology Program for guidance on accessibility and inclusivity through the outcomes of their findings: May 2023 to Mar 2024
• FTSP management agreed to forego the streamlined survey for this fiscal year in favour of conducting a GBA Plus-specific survey. This decision was partly due to other pressures within the FTSP, as well as an effort to focus on collecting GBA Plus-specific data and results during the initial year: Sep 2023
• Collaboration with the Strategic Policy Branch to seek guidance from communications advisors and to produce the survey for distribution: Sep 2023 to Apr 2024
• Solicit support from Regional Directors General through meetings with the Commercial and Trade Branch: Nov 2023 to Feb 2024
• Identify additional resources to provide administrative support (overseeing survey distribution and data collection): Nov 2023 to Jan 2024
• Engage the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee, Indigenous Affairs Secretariat, 2SLGBTQI+ Advisory Committee, Racialized Persons Advisory Committee, and Women’s Advisory Committee to review the FTSP survey questions and provide input on inclusivity: Jan 2024
• Preparation of the survey and implementation phase: Nov 2023 to Apr 2024
• Data collection phase: Apr 2024
• Data analysis phase and preparation of final report: Apr 2024 to Jun 2024
• Presentation of initial results of the GBA Plus pilot project to senior management: Jul 2024

Collecting survey data on accessibility will provide clients and staff with a means of communicating their needs while providing the FTSP with a method of measuring whether those needs are being met. For this year, the plan for the data collection process is to conduct a survey to go out to select BSOs at specific, high-traffic ports of entry to determine whether there are accessibility issues affecting their ability to perform their duties related to laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment. The FTSP will conduct a representative sample survey for this fiscal year, however the scope may be widened in subsequent years to include additional ports of entry across the country.

The FTSP is currently on target to meet its objectives for the GBA Plus pilot project and the GBA Plus data collection plan. In addition, work has begun on a refresh process in collaboration with the Agency's Enterprise Performance Measurement Unit to review and update the FTSP’s Performance Information Profile and Key Performance Indicators. Since the data collection plan for the FTSP involves surveying BSOs and laboratory employees from various parts of the country, our objective is to capture data that takes into account GBA Plus intersectionality as the groups we are targeting are diverse in nature to begin with. Our goal is to develop new indicators for the FTSP Logic Model, which may include a Key Performance Indicator on social performance. However, this cannot be achieved ahead of the data collection plan as we will first need to analyze the survey data to identify whether there are people who are impacted by accessibility issues and the different ways in which they are impacted. Once we have data to analyze, we will create a Key Performance Indicator that will allow us to report on social performance and help mitigate any accessibility issues identified through the data collection plan.

The tentative timeline for the Performance Information Profile (PIP) update is as follows:

• Kick-off meeting with the Agency's Enterprise Performance Measurement Unit (EPMU) to discuss the PIP update process and determine the key players involved: Oct 2023
• EPMU to send the FTSP working documents to managers to complete: Oct 2023
• EPMU to present the FTSP framework and PIP update process to the FTSP management team: Nov 2023
• Working group meetings scheduled between FTSP program units, FTSP planning unit, and FCMB’s Results-based Management and Strategy Division to discuss unit-level activities, outputs and results to create logic models, Performance Measurement Frameworks (PMFs) and reporting tools at the unit level: Nov 2023 to Jan 2024
• Ongoing support from FTSP planning unit and FCMB’s Results-based Management and Strategy Division to finalize division-level logic models, PMFs and reporting tools: Oct 2023 to Jun 2024
• Involvement of the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility and the Chief Data Office to assist with determining new key performance indicators for the PIP: Feb 2024
• Director-level discussions/feedback on the new division logic models, PMFs and reporting tools: TBD
• Division-level logic models, PMFs and reporting tools presentation by directors at FTSP management table for approval: TBD
• Updated PIP to be presented at Performance Measurement and Evaluation Committee: Sep 2024
• Completion of the final product of the updated PIP for the FTSP: Dec 2024

While a GBA Plus process is still in its infancy within the Field Technology Support Program, solid steps are being taken through the implementation of a thorough GBA Plus data collection plan. This data collection plan takes into consideration the many identity factors that could potentially affect the accessibility of the laboratory instruments and detection technology equipment in use by BSOs and laboratory employees across the country. As we work diligently to improve inclusivity within the FTSP, we will also gain valuable insight into the impacts of accessibility on gender and diversity. The GBA Plus data collection plan will provide the FTSP with a means to report on the program’s results as well as a basis to improve policy and operational decisions that impact diverse people.

The Officer Induction Model (OIM) is a comprehensive approach to recruiting, training and developing CBSA officers suited for service in an armed law-enforcement agency. The model comprises three components: the National Officer Recruitment Program (NORP), the Officer Induction Training Program (OITP), and the Officer Induction Development (OID) Program.

The Force Generation Program collects employment equity data via the CBSA Officer Trainee: Developmental selection process through self-declaration from candidates, which is a voluntary process. This data is used to understand the diversity of candidates as per the Employment Equity Act, in addition to implementing the 2022 to 2025 National Officer Recruitment and Outreach Strategy and Action Plan, which strives to strengthen the diversity of the CBSA’s frontline workforce by reducing and eliminating barriers for recruitment and retention of qualified individuals within five demographic groups (Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, bilingual candidates, and 2SLGBTQI+ people), while considering intersectional impacts.

While it is not currently possible to collect data for the 2SLGBTQI+ group via self-declaration, the program is laying the foundation to begin collecting and using this data by increasing knowledge of challenges and barriers faced by individuals belonging to this demographic and raising awareness within the Agency of the future plan.

The CBSA is taking steps to increase its capacity to collect sufficient data and conduct analysis to monitor and report on the program’s impact on gender and diversity. To ensure the program can continue to meet its objectives as outlined below, additional resources and/or adjusting timelines will be used to support continued efforts toward this work:

1. Collect employment equity data from self-declaration

While a CBSA Officer Trainee: Developmental selection process is not currently open, the CBSA continues to collect self-declaration data on an ongoing basis from new candidates who apply via a non-advertised process (Indigenous applicants, persons with a priority entitlement) and candidates currently in the selection process who choose to self-declare after their application as a result of the program’s efforts to increase the rate of voluntary self-declaration, as indicated in the Supplementary Information Table of the last Departmental Results Report.

Employment equity data is used in workforce planning, recognizing that the frontline workforce falls short on key designated employment equity groups. The CBSA prioritizes the hiring of qualified candidates within the four designated employment equity groups as per the Employment Equity Act (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities), and considers employment equity goals when considering the preferences of candidates for placement at ports of entry across Canada.

A new CBSA Officer Trainee: Developmental selection process is planned for fiscal year 2023 to 2024 (Q4) where employment equity data will be collected from candidates via voluntary self-declaration and used to support workforce planning in fiscal year 2024 to 2025. In addition, throughout the year, when a selection process is not open to the public, the program continues to collect self-declaration data on an ad-hoc basis from candidates who choose to self-declare after the fact. The data collected will be analyzed from the comprehensive database using pivot tables and filters to create dashboard-style tools and graphics on a quarterly basis (November 2023, January 2024, April 2024) to understand the representation of candidates belonging to employment equity groups against all candidates who applied to the selection process. In addition to examining representation data on its own, representation data and candidate progressions through the selection process will also be analyzed. Weekly updates are also provided to senior management to show progress toward meeting CBSA employment equity goals and gender parity working to fill each cohort entering the Canada Border Services College (e.g., so far in fiscal year 2024 to 2025, 6 cohorts of 72 candidates are scheduled to enter the College, so specific representation goals are set for each cohort).

2. Produce quarterly employment equity reports and provide weekly updates (gender parity)

The Force Generation Program provides weekly resourcing progress updates to the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project Management Office. These updates report on gender parity in the upcoming planned cohort composition, based on employment equity self-declaration data provided by candidates upon application through the Public Service Resourcing System. Additionally, the report contains information about intersectional composition and permits the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project Management Office to forecast upcoming cohort composition to reduce demographic gaps. The Force Generation Program has targets for each employment equity group (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities) to be represented in upcoming cohorts in an effort to create a diverse front line that is representative of the Canadian public and to close existing demographic gaps.

Additionally, the Force Generation Program produces a quarterly placemat called the Employment Equity, Equity-Seeking and Official Languages Placemat: CBSA Officer Trainee Selection Process. This is a dashboard summarizing representation of employment equity groups and other key feeder groups to the Border Services Officer position (bilingual candidates and Student Border Services Officers) in the CBSA Officer Trainee selection process, including what current and future actions are being taken to support the success of candidates in these groups, as outlined in the 2022 to 2025 National Officer Recruitment and Outreach Action Plan. A summary slide is included at the beginning with an overview of CBSA goals and priorities related to employment equity, in addition to an overview of the total self-declaration of all candidates in recent selection processes, total attrition across all candidates broken down by reason, and an overview of self-declaration for active candidates only.

The slides specific to a priority group provide:

• Background information on past trends and, where possible, current workforce availability targets and goals;
• Focused current and future activities to support the success of candidates in the particular group (e.g., exploring the expansion of the Indigenous Candidate Mentorship Initiative to offer mentorship opportunities for candidates in other employment equity groups, or holding recruitment events specific for women on the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation to learn about the assessment and how to prepare);
• A comparison of total and expanded attrition data (from failure and other forms) for all candidates compared to that of the priority group;
• A section on observations and trend analysis. Observations about performance gaps can inform the measures set in place. Some examples of observations are:
  • The Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation has been identified as a continued barrier for women from a financial, geographic and performance perspective, yielding disproportionately negative outcomes for women. With a new CBSA Officer Trainee: Developmental selection process anticipated to be launched in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 (Q4), the Force Generation Program is exploring this trend in more detail in advance of the launch.
  • o The cost to complete the required firearms safety courses and availability of courses outside urban centres have been identified as a potential barrier to some demographic groups, given that they cost over $300 and that some candidates may need to travel and incur related expenses to complete the courses. The program is exploring options for candidates to seek financial assistance to support to their participation in the CBSA Officer Trainee: Developmental selection process.

These reports are distributed to the Vice-President of Human Resources.

3. Quarterly analysis of attrition data

The Force Generation Program continues to calculate and prepare a report on the attrition rates of different employment equity groups and equity-seeking groups on a quarterly basis, despite no longer reporting updates on the recruitment process to the Efficiency and Modernization Committee since fiscal year 2022 to 2023. Reports were generated for fiscal year 2023 to 2024 in Q1 (July) and Q2 (November), although they were not shared beyond the Force Generation Program as there was no audience.

The data used is based on employment equity self-declaration data from the Public Service Resourcing System, as well as assessment performance data from the National Officer Recruitment Program’s candidate management system. Combined, this data allows for a comparison of success, failure and other forms of attrition among candidates by demographic group, which can be used to identify gaps and barriers for candidates.

The National Officer Recruitment Program will continue to analyze the attrition rate data, which feeds other quarterly reports such as the Employment Equity and Official Languages Placemat, as well as the National Officer Recruitment Program: Officer Trainee Development Selection Process Snapshot.

From the attrition analysis, the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation has been identified as a continued barrier for women from a financial, geographic and performance perspective. With a new CBSA Officer Trainee: Developmental selection process anticipated to be launched in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 (Q4), the Force Generation Program is currently exploring options to remove or replace the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation in advance of the launch.

4. Conduct and analyze candidate experience from candidates and recruits who withdraw from the process

The CBSA committed to reviewing and updating the candidate questionnaire with an inclusive lens in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 (Q3). This will include developing questions to better understand the impacts of the selection process on the candidates’ experience and success (i.e., were they able to reasonably access a testing location; were they unable to complete an assessment step due to cost of the assessment and/or cost to travel to the assessment). The implementation of the new questionnaire is planned for fiscal year 2023 to 2024 (Q4) where staff will be trained on administering the survey and recording the data.

In fiscal year 2022 to 2023 (Q4), the program began sending the Indigenous Feedback Form to all self-declared Indigenous candidates who previously became inactive in the selection process (either by failure or withdrawal) to start collecting data to better understand where Indigenous candidates may have experienced barriers or challenges leading to their exit from the selection process.

The form is sent on a bi-monthly basis and, to date, 614 inactive Indigenous candidates have received the form and 19 responses have been received. It is important to note that when the first form was sent out, it included all previously inactive Indigenous candidates dating back to 2016, which can skew the data given that candidates may have been years removed from the process and may not recall their experience or wish to respond. One resource has been assigned to collect and analyze this data and more resources may be added if there is a significant increase in data collected.

Starting in fiscal year 2023 to 2024 (Q3), the form will be sent monthly to newly inactive Indigenous candidates and results will be tracked on a quarterly basis. In Q4, an analysis will be done of all responses received to understand what is going well and where there are areas for improvement. Looking ahead to fiscal year 2024 to 2025, mitigation strategies and solutions will be implemented as identified in the analysis (e.g., adding additional supports for Indigenous people in the selection process), while exploring ways to increase the response rate to the form and considering holding exit interviews.

5. Launch the modernized self-identification process

The Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer was expected to launch a new self-identification centralized portal for public service employees to self-identify in October 2023. The Self-Identification Modernization Project aims to increase the accuracy, depth and breadth of this data across the Government of Canada and will enable more timely and reliable data, improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, allow for easier updating, and eliminate the need for employees to self-identify when they change departments. Most importantly, it will offer an expanded set of identity options (i.e., 2SLGBTQI+) that will enable all employees to see themselves represented within the public service . According to the Human Resources Council update from October 2023 , the specific release date for the questionnaire is still under consideration. Therefore, this item is on hold until a date is identified for the release of the new questionnaire and, at that time, timelines for the action items identified in the Supplementary Information Table of the Departmental Results Report will be revised and initiated.

6. Impacts of employment equity CBSA Officer Trainee selection process for the Windsor ports of entry (June 2023)

LThe CBSA Officer Trainee: Developmental selection process that took place in June/July 2023 yielded a foreseeable number of candidates from the Windsor area. Based on attrition analysis, this group of candidates is performing on level with candidates from previous selection processes. The selection process was only open to persons belonging to an employment equity group residing in the Windsor, Ontario area. As a result, self-declaration across all employment equity groups was higher than in the previous process.

In addition to the weekly email updates on gender parity in planned cohorts, the Force Generation Program also prepares a weekly overview of active candidates originating from the Southern Ontario Region for the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project Management Office. This overview includes a breakdown of candidates from the June/July 2023 selection process. The overview provides a count of candidates by employment equity group and other priority groups, as well as their current stage in the assessment process.

On a cohort-by-cohort basis, the Force Generation Program also provides a one-page summary of the overall employment equity and other priority group targets for cohorts assigned to the Gordie Howe International Bridge. This report is used to track the program’s progress toward filling the 259 seats at the Canada Border Services College assigned to the Gordie Howe International Bridge, as well as to identify attrition. The report enables the Force Generation Program to easily identify gaps among target groups and to course-correct as needed.

This program collects information and produces intelligence products in support of national security and public safety priorities. Data is currently being collected on multiple identity factors in relation to the Confidential Human Sources (CHS) program. Collecting information from CHS is a key activity associated with intelligence production, and better understanding the shape and influence of the program’s impacts on gender and diversity will strengthen its capabilities. As such, the Intelligence Collection and Analysis Program has established a plan to apply GBA Plus to its CHS program.

Based on the timeline established in the GBA Plus Data Collection Plan, the program is on target and has exceeded expectations at this time. The program planned to identify CHS data sources by September 2023 and has already collected all of the relevant information from fiscal year 2022 to 2023. Analysis of this data has already begun and a baseline will be established by December 2023 as planned. No changes have been made to the plan thus far and activities will continue as intended. It is important to note that any results or information related to the GBA Plus analysis associated with the CHS program will be classified due to its sensitivity, which means that it will not be shared in open documents. No resolutions to this issue have been provided at this time, however the information will be shared internally within the CBSA.

Pending approval, a new GBA Plus performance indicator will be added to the program’s Performance Information Profile.

This Recourse Program provides CBSA clients with a mechanism to seek an impartial review of CBSA decisions and to voice any feedback or complaints in accordance with policies and legislation administered by the CBSA. The program relies on CBSA systems for the collection of demographic information on clients, and will align with the CBSA Data Strategy and the Race-based Data Initiative for the data collection plan related to GBA Plus.

The program is currently working to gather data on how certain GBA Plus identity factors can potentially impact individuals with specific or intersecting identity factors disproportionately in security screening. This data is needed to assess the alignment (or lack thereof) between applicants’ GBA Plus characteristics and their actual risk profiles, including the combination of different characteristics (e.g., country of origin, age and employment history). Such analysis could assist in further refining the security screening indicators which, in turn, could result in greater program effectiveness (i.e., by focusing screening on applicants who are most likely to pose a security concern) and more equitable distribution of program impacts.

Thematic indicator packages, which take into consideration intersecting identity characteristics for applicants (e.g., cultural, regional and geopolitical factors), were created by the Centre for Immigration National Security Screening (CINSS) and Public Safety to provide procedural guidance to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officers on when to refer applicants to the CBSA and screening partners for further review. Although the parameters of the various thematic risk profiles are founded, the security screening process of risk assessment is subjective and may experience inconsistent application throughout the process. To address this risk, the program has committed to carrying out a comparative analysis of IRCC’s application data versus CINSS’s security screening data to assess the referral proportionality among various populations. This will include the following:

1) A review will be conducted on the thematic indicator packages that are provided to IRCC. More specifically, the program will assess the level of concern of specific intersecting identity characteristics to determine whether the current risk profiles require revisions. While the program originally planned to compare these characteristics against IRCC’s immigration application referral data, this step is no longer possible. The impacts of this, as well as mitigation strategies, are identified below:

• (a) October - November 2023: CINSS has actively liaised with IRCC to coordinate data extraction from their Global Case Management System (GCMS).
  • Management-level bilateral meetings between CINSS and IRCC counterparts began in October 2023. Discussions have centered on improving information/file-sharing and determining ways forward on data extraction for GBA Plus. IRCC has been advised that a formal request for GCMS data will be sent (see third bullet).
  • After initial discussions with IRCC counterparts, it was established that they do not collect data on the reason/concern an application is referred for security screening. They have, however, agreed to work with the CBSA on determining what can be provided/used.
  • A formal request was sent to IRCC in November 2023 seeking GCMS data pertaining to the number of immigration applications that are received by IRCC in a calendar year.
  • Mitigation strategies/alternatives:
    • CINSS will focus on conducting a quantitative analysis on GCMS and Secure Tracking System (STS) data to assess how applicants of diverse ages and nationalities may have been disproportionately impacted by the Immigration National Security Screening (INSS) program. More specifically, whether certain GBA Plus characteristics could result in a higher likelihood of being referred for security screening and/or being found inadmissible.
    • As it is no longer feasible to obtain data relating to the reason/concern for why an application is referred for security screening, it will not be possible to make direct inferences on how CINSS thematic indicator packages are being utilized from one IRCC office to another. However, comparing the number of applications with certain intersecting characteristics being referred to CINSS against the number of applications receiving non-favourable recommendations may further help CINSS determine whether the risk profiles are accurate or whether they require further revisions.
• (b) December 2023 to March 2024: Review of the data extracted from GCMS will be conducted to compare the total number of immigration applications received by IRCC against the percentage of cases referred for security screening. The program originally planned to do further analysis on how thematic indicators are utilized between IRCC offices, but has since discovered that this will not be possible. Details and mitigation strategies are outlined below:
  • In October 2023, data was extracted from the CINSS STS by the Performance and Data Analysis team, within CINSS, for calendar years 2019 to 2023.
  • Once the GCMS data is received from IRCC, percentage comparative analysis will be conducted with the data extracted from STS. The goal will be to identify the amount of cases that are received by IRCC in a given year in comparison to how many cases are then referred to CINSS for security screening.
  • Similar to the Program Evaluation of the INSS program conducted between September 2019 and February 2021, CINSS has also begun preliminary data analysis to identify trends on applications being referred to CINSS that may be impacting GBA Plus characteristics more than others.
  • CINSS will be coordinating with the training team (within their division) to conduct a holistic review of the thematic indicator packages, provided to IRCC, and assess whether any of the wording/language used could be open to misinterpretation and, in turn, could cause certain demographics to face disproportionate levels of scrutiny.
  • Mitigation strategies/alternatives:
    • If the holistic review of the thematic indicator packages reveals wording and/or language that can be misinterpreted by IRCC officers, a revision of the thematic indicator packages will be conducted in an attempt to eliminate these possibilities.
    • April 2024 to March 2025: In conjunction with the CINSS training team, the thematic indicator training will be revised and delivered to IRCC counterparts to ensure consistent messaging.
    • The CINSS training team is in the process of ensuring that all CINSS training facilitators receive updated training on gender and diversity considerations in immigration decision-making, which can be carried over to their delivery of thematic indicator training to IRCC partners.
    • January 2025 to June 2025: CINSS will send out a survey to both CINSS analysts and IRCC officers after the delivery of the updated thematic indicator training sessions to seek feedback on how the program can continue to improve and to gauge understanding of the content.

2) As part of the Security Screening Automation project, the CBSA will ensure that GBA Plus data collection capabilities are included in the development of the new case management system (Epsilon) that is replacing the current STS. More specifically, this will assist in determining whether IRCC officers are following the guidelines in the thematic indicator packages and in making inferences regarding whether there are trends of officer bias impacting the types/amounts of applications that are being referred for security screening.

• April to June 2025: As Epsilon is scheduled to be completed in March 2025, the data collection period will be set to run weekly for the duration of Q1 2025. This is to ensure ample opportunity to address any potential operational system anomalies for Epsilon so as to not impact the reliability of the data collected.
• June 2025: Data collected throughout Q1 2025 will be analyzed to identify any potential trends of officer bias impacting types/amount of applications that are being referred for security screening.
• July 2025: Based on the data collected and analyzed in Q1 2025, thematic indicator package training for IRCC officers will be adjusted to increase or decrease application referral rates or to improve IRCC officer objectivity when assessing a file.
• July to September 2025: Testing of the revised thematic indicator package training for IRCC officers and implementation.

Pending approval, a new GBA Plus performance indicator will be added to the program’s Performance Information Profile.

The program collects data related to the development of Scenario Based Targeting (SBT) on an annual basis, looking into all available GBA Plus identity factors, such as age and gender, and identifies whether there are trends in the data set. This involves collecting data on all existing scenarios, of which there are generally 300 to 400. The program continues to be interested in applying a GBA Plus lens to these activities to ensure that controls are being respected and that biases toward certain GBA Plus identity factors are not included in scenario development.

Based on the timeline established in the GBA Plus Data Collection Plan, the program is on target at this time. The program continues as planned to identify data sources by December 2023, followed by an analysis to be done by March 2024 in order to establish a baseline. No changes have been made to the plan thus far and activities will continue as intended. No issues have been identified and therefore no resolutions will need to be sought and communicated.

Pending approval, a new GBA Plus performance indicator will be added to the program’s Performance Information Profile.

As of November 2023, the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Program does not collect sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. However, in fiscal year 2023 to 2024, the program is developing a detailed data collection plan in collaboration with the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Program, which is also in the Trade and Anti-dumping Programs Directorate (TAPD). Due to shared limited resources, the TAPD launched the initial focus on the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Program due to the upcoming public launch of the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project. To optimize efficiency, data collection tasks that also apply to the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Program will be documented and implemented in parallel for program implementation, where possible. In summary, the TAPD plan and updates are as follows:

2023 to 2024: Data collection development

1. Submit a request to update language in the CARM Client Portal (CCP) to align with GBA Plus considerations that will be implemented in a future CARM release: October 2023

• This action was based on the risk that the CARM CCP may not have been designed with current GBA Plus considerations taken into account.
• TAPD will conduct a review of CCP language during the Client Experience Simulation (CES) 2.0 testing scheduled for November/December 2023.
• After testing and analysis, based on criteria provided by the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility (CoR), any required changes will be submitted formally through a software requirement change with the CARM development team and shared with the CoR.
• In a meeting with TAPD in November 2023, the CoR team expressed an interest in participating in the CES 2.0 testing. The CoR provided a draft of the Accessibility Checklist that can be used for testing. The Planning, Development and Performance Unit asked for additional criteria for the other GBA Plus considerations.
  • Next steps: The CoR will provide an additional list of GBA Plus requirements and criteria to TAPD to use during the CES 2.0 test period in November/December 2023.
  • Status: Ongoing, with the objective of completing the GBA Plus testing by January 2024.
  • Resources and risk mitigations: TAPD currently has two resources assigned to this task. Additional support to conduct testing, analysis and peer review will be requested through the CoR. If additional GBA Plus criteria are not provided to TAPD for CES 2.0 testing, then only accessibility will be tested at this phase, with the other criteria being tested once the material is made available.

2. Investigate how a survey is transmitted through the CCP and if the software can facilitate a data collection process in a future CARM release: October 2023

• In September 2023, TAPD confirmed that the CCP does not support the distribution of a survey. Instead, the CCP has the capability to send a mass message to trade chain partners that contains a link to an external survey platform (to be determined).
  • Status: Because the CCP cannot support the distribution of a survey, this action is complete.
  • Note: Another method/survey platform to distribute the survey will be investigated (see item 3 below).

3. Consult with CBSA Communications and the Information, Science and Technology Branch: Originally scheduled for February 2024, this has been advanced to November 2023. This consultation will discuss the survey development, distribution and data collection options.

4. Conduct an analysis to identify TAPD points of service: December 2023

5. Conduct a risk assessment of applicability and methodology of data collection for each program: January 2024

6. Develop a stand-alone survey for the Trade Facilitation Compliance Program and data collection framework: February 2024

7. Develop survey data collection framework: February 2024

8. Survey review and consultations: February to March 2024

• Conduct a program-level review.
• Inform external subject matter experts such as the Border Commercial Consultative Committee and other industry associations.

2024 to 2025: Data collection

1. Electronic dissemination of survey (i.e., support/accompany email correspondence): May to June 20244

• The survey developed in 2023 to 2024 will be distributed to stakeholders.

2. Share initial results of key impact analysis regarding areas of improvement for the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table of the next Departmental Results Report: July 2024

3. Continue data collection: June 2024 to June 2025

• TAPD will develop program GBA Plus indicators and monitor results: October 2024 and ongoing.

Note: The implementation of this data collection plan will be led by two TAPD resources from the Planning, Development and Performance Unit. Additional resources will augment the effort as required by available TAPD staff given the Agency’s high prioritization of the CARM Release 2 launch in May 2024.

The Traveller Facilitation and Compliance Program has existing data that would enable it to monitor and report on impacts by gender and diversity. Because the CBSA can already query its systems for gender, age and income/socio-economic factors, the program will draw on existing data collected to identify whether there are any trends or differential impacts based on GBA Plus identity factors. The program will look at survey data collected on previous Traveller Modernization Project initiatives (such as the Advance CBSA Declaration web and mobile application tools) and the data that is already tracked on the dynamic between selective and random referrals to secondary. The program will analyze this data to identify trends related to gender, age, language, income, citizenship and ability. These analysis activities align closely with the logic model around traveller information and intelligence collection, risk assessments prior to entry in Canada, and primary and secondary inspections. These activities will ultimately help the program achieve the outcome of facilitating travellers and goods, as well as protecting Canada’s population from border-related risks, with the enhanced understanding of trends or potential differential impacts related to GBA Plus identity factors.

In order to expand upon existing data collection efforts, the CBSA is also participating in the Inclusive Airports research project with Université Laval under the umbrella of the Accessibility Canada Act and related regulations and standards. This research project will provide scientific evidence, identify barriers, and find solutions to assist in the review of CBSA policies and programs, support the implementation of actions and tools using an accessibility lens, and contribute to the ability of CBSA officers to deliver inclusive services. The project will run for three years, from September 2023 to March 2026, and examine traveller processing at three airports chosen based on their size, passenger traffic, and number of airlines.

The data from this project could be leveraged to understand perceptions of various aspects of the traveller process continuum based on gender, age, language, income, citizenship and ability. The timeline for extracting, cleaning and analyzing existing data is as follows:

• November 2023 to February 2024: Extract and clean existing data from CBSA systems and Traveller Modernization Project surveys.
• March to May 2024: Conduct analysis to determine the percentage of admissible travellers who are satisfied with border processing by gender, age, language, citizenship, and ability, and to determine the selective resultant rate versus the random resultant rate by gender, age, language, citizenship and ability. These questions align with the measurement of the program’s logic model outputs, which will support measurement of the model’s outcomes.
• June 2024: Report on key program impacts on gender and diversity in the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table of the next Departmental Results Report.

The Trusted Trader Program does not currently collect sufficient data to monitor or report on how the program interacts with gender and diversity factors; however, in September 2023, the program began developing a qualitative data collection plan. The program elected to collect qualitative data because this first GBA Plus analysis is exploratory, with the goal of ascertaining whether program policies have inadvertently created barriers and, if so, what they are.

The program has started extracting and refining data from its membership on geographic location, business size and mode, and is adding this data to its main Excel spreadsheet. The program has also drafted an interview questionnaire that will be used to ask a sample of experienced Senior Trusted Trader Officers (STTOs) about their experience interacting with program members, and any barriers observed related to gender, language ability, disability status, business size, geographic setting, Indigenous status, or immigrant status of the members with whom they have worked closely. This is an expanded list from the three GBA Plus factors initially reported in the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table of the last Departmental Results Report.

The program will then document the GBA Plus factors and themes emerging from the STTOs’ responses. An analysis and report will be completed, which may also be used to inform future research to improve program policies based on GBA Plus factors. This project is unfunded, hence a small-scale, qualitative approach will be used to deliver the analysis, report and recommendations in an efficient manner.

The program chose to interview STTOs because they evaluate program applications, reassess members on a four-year cycle, and assist members when they do not comply with program requirements. STTOs can also recommend suspension or cancellation from the program when members are unable or unwilling to correct significant non-compliance. Working directly with members in person during site visits and remotely by phone or email, STTOs have meaningful insight into Canadian businesses’ access to and experience of the program.

Data Collection Method:

• Program officers at headquarters will interview STTOs individually, asking questions that encourage narrative responses.
• A follow-up reflection question will be sent a week after the interview asking participants to report any additional information or perspectives.

Timeline:

• Interviews: November to December 2023
• Data analysis: January to March 2024
• Deliver report and recommendations: June 2024

There is no formal data collection plan for Trusted Traveller Programs as sufficient data is collected by the CBSA through membership applications that will enable it to report on the various program impacts on gender and diversity. The Trusted Traveller Programs Unit is currently waiting for the data extract of the GBA Plus data (including gender, date of birth, preferred language, postal/zip code, and citizenship or permanent resident status) for the 1,750,000 active program members as described in the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table of the last Departmental Results Report. The timeline proposed in that report has been delayed by at least two months due to a risk assessment that had to be performed by the Departmental Security Office and the Information Sharing, Access to Information and Chief Privacy Office, along with the subsequent time needed by the Chief Security Officer to complete the actual extract. The Trusted Traveller Programs Unit has adjusted the timelines accordingly and expects to have the data extracted by December 2023. As previously indicated, the data will be extracted from the Global Enrollment Component database and will be analyzed to identify trends such as gender, age, language, geographic location and citizenship. The analysis of available data will be performed in January 2024.

Revised timeline:

• August to December 2023: The use of membership data for GBA Plus analysis and the security controls to be implemented will be assessed by the Departmental Security Office and the Information Sharing, Access to Information and Chief Privacy Office. The program will extract and clean up (where applicable) the raw dataset from the membership databases.
• December 2023 to January 2024: Once the data has been cleaned, the program will conduct a quantitative analysis of disaggregated data to identify any trends and patterns.
• February to March 2024: The program will establish a process to extract the relevant data from the membership databases in support of regular and ongoing GBA Plus analysis, including the identification of gaps and the creation of an action plan to address them.
• April to May 2024: Present results of the impact analysis on gender and diversity to senior management and discuss next steps.
• June 2024: Report on key program impacts on gender and diversity in the GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table of the next Departmental Results Report.

The Criminal Investigations Program is actively participating in a GBA Plus data pilot project administered by the CBSA’s GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility and Chief Data Office. Through discussions with those areas, the program has undertaken an extensive review of 10 years worth of case information pertaining to criminal investigations focusing on immigration offences related the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including cases involving employers using this program to illegally employ foreign nationals or vulnerable workers.

Publicly available documents identify temporary foreign workers as a vulnerable population, and the vulnerability of temporary foreign workers and other migrant workers has also been identified in CBSA intelligence reports. The targets of the CBSA’s criminal investigations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) are not the workers themselves, but rather the organizers and employers who commit fraud using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Nevertheless, temporary foreign workers would be directly and indirectly impacted by the CBSA’s criminal investigations into IRPA fraud related to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. These investigations seem to reveal patterns related to people of different genders, citizenships or ethnic backgrounds doing different types of work (e.g., agricultural work, cleaning services work, etc.) in different regions (e.g., Prairies vs. Southern Ontario) and in different settings (e.g., rural vs. urban).

Through these investigations, criminal investigators come into contact with temporary foreign workers, who are often identified as actual or potential witnesses in criminal proceedings. These temporary foreign workers may also be identified as actual or potential victims of exploitation, and may therefore have an opportunity to participate in criminal proceedings, including presenting a Victim Impact Statement. As per Part 9, Chapter 7 of the CBSA Enforcement Manual, the Criminal Investigations Program must ensure that the rights conferred to victims by the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights are fulfilled during a CBSA-led criminal investigation into an offence under the IRPA. Where applicable, these temporary foreign workers may also be informed of the possibility of applying to IRCC to obtain a Temporary Resident Permit for victims of human trafficking.

The gender, age and citizenship of temporary foreign workers may vary depending on the type of work performed, the location and the setting. The Criminal Investigations Program assesses that there is reliable citizenship and age data, and some data on perceived gender, available in the Criminal Investigations Program’s data holding related to Temporary Foreign Worker Program fraud cases, along with publicly available information, to support an analysis of the program’s impact on different temporary foreign worker communities. Focusing a GBA Plus activity on temporary foreign workers therefore presents the best opportunity to conduct a fulsome analysis of the Criminal Investigations Program’s impact on GBA Plus communities. Not only does it provide multiple potential avenues for analysis, but it is an area where the Criminal Investigations Program is most likely to have relevant and reliable data on GBA Plus identity factors. In other words, the Criminal Investigations Program is focusing its GBA Plus on a specific vulnerable demographic group as a target population, namely temporary foreign workers that are listed as entities (e.g., witnesses and victims) in the program’s criminal investigation cases, which is an area that is most likely to allow the program to produce a meaningful analysis.

A review of applicable qualitative and subjective data elements will be done in order to determine what impacts the Criminal Investigations Program may have on temporary foreign workers who are listed as entities in the program’s criminal investigations. The data will be analyzed and will form part of a Criminal Investigations Program GBA Plus data pilot project report. Statistics are currently unavailable, as the pilot project is ongoing and the data collection plan is being finalized. Additional details are being confirmed through verifications in CBSA systems, all in an effort to collect precise data that will support a more fulsome analysis.

The Criminal Investigations Program is focusing on its impacts on temporary foreign workers as a first step to identify program impacts on gender and diversity. The program will build its GBA Plus capacity and data literacy with this first initiative. Based on those findings, the program will design a GBA Plus data strategy to measure its impacts on gender and diversity, as expected per the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act.

As part of the GBA Plus Data pilot project, since January 2023, the Criminal Investigations Program has been working with the GBA Plus Centre of Responsibility and Chief Data Office to establish a data analysis strategy, using the available information pertaining to temporary foreign workers listed in CBSA criminal investigation files, along with publicly available information on temporary foreign workers. An analysis of relevant investigation/prosecution cases relating to temporary foreign workers will be completed, involving the following:

July to October 2023:

Review over 10 years worth of immigration fraud prosecutions dealing with temporary foreign workers that are located in the CBSA Criminal Investigations Information Management System (CIIMS).

Detail each applicable element of the cases and note pertinent information while paying particular attention to GBA Plus data elements. Some of the elements to be examined will focus on the geographical area where these incidents took place, what type of work was performed, and whether violence was reported in the progression of the alleged offences, including personal details about each foreign worker identified in the cases. Personal details may include their gender, nationality, proximity to economically vulnerable situations, and whether they were victimized or not.

November 2023 to February 2024:

Complete the data collection in CIIMS, review the information, and seek additional details in other CBSA systems where warranted.

Conduct the analysis.

February to April 2024:

investigations into fraud related to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has an impact on GBA Plus communities and/or vulnerable foreign workers.

Following the initial analysis, additional CBSA data may be sought to determine the extent of the program’s impacts on vulnerable temporary foreign workers. If data inadequacies are found, in conjunction with colleagues leading the development of broader CBSA strategies related to GBA Plus data elements, the Criminal Investigations Program would determine whether changes to existing systems could be implemented and whether newer case management software would adequately capture data allowing the program to measure its effects on gender and diversity.

April to May 2024:

Present report to senior management committee and identify next steps.

To incorporate GBA Plus into the Criminal Investigations Program’s Performance Measurement Framework, the program has included a specific GBA Plus performance indicator in its Performance Information Profile for fiscal year 2024 to 2025. This seeks to determine the percentage of people entities, in cases opened, with GBA Plus identity factors identified in CIIMS Entity Properties, namely age, gender/perceived gender, and citizenship and immigration status, which is information currently available in CIIMS.

The Detentions Program Management Unit created a data collection plan to help identify any patterns or trends indicating disproportionate outcomes for diverse populations in relation to their ability to access certain alternatives to detention, specifically for release into the Community Case Management and Supervision (CCMS) program. Identifying any patterns, trends or barriers will help inform decisions related to the procurement and distribution of resources, as well as potentially disrupt unknown biases related to the administration of the program.

At the time of this report, the ability to capture information to assess the impacts of the CCMS program in the GBA Plus realm does not exist. The data gaps extend beyond the CBSA’s lack of data collection related to identity factors, such as race and sexual orientation. At present, the decision to refer a case for CCMS review is not consistently documented in CBSA internal systems or manual forms. To close this gap, the Detentions Program Management Unit has created new system data requirements, which are scheduled to be released in December 2023. Adding system requirements to document decisions on whether to refer a detention case for CCMS review will enable the program to better analyze potential impacts on diverse communities with the identity data factors collected. This will improve the ability to assess the impartiality and equity objectives related to the CCMS program. Should the implementation of the reporting requirements be delayed, a manual collection mechanism will need to be implemented in January 2024. This will result in a delay of the reporting plan described below by a minimum of one to two months, but possibly longer if the manual collection is complex.

Once the system update allows the program to better capture data concerning its potential impacts on diverse groups, the Detentions Program Management Unit will collect and assess 12 months of data, meaning that an impact analysis will not be available until the end of fiscal year 2024 to 2025 at the earliest. The Detentions Program Management Unit will be looking at disaggregated data (available within case tracking systems) on the following identity factors:

• Sex/Gender: This information is collected as a ternary element (female, male, X). Other forms of gender expression are not currently captured in the data.
• Nationality: This information is tracked as the person’s identified citizenship.
• Country of birth: This information can be an indicator of racial or ethnic background.
• Age: This information is collected using the individual’s actual age and can also be displayed by groups (minors and adults).

Timeline:

May to July 2023:

Completed a review of case management systems (National Case Management System, Global Case Management System, and regional databases) to determine how information about the reasons for a referral or lack of referral to CCMS were captured.

December 2023 to March 2024:

To support the system update and new data reporting requirements, internal communications will be required.

National Case Management System update will provide ability to measure data related to CCMS referrals; we will begin to test the update by extracting data and testing data reports (likely in Microsoft Excel) to confirm ability to assess the identified factors described above.

Quality assurance on the data (e.g., to ensure there are no duplicate entries).

Work with the Chief Data Office to validate the data collection method and functionality of the Excel document to ensure the datasets are able to provide the best opportunity to perform an intersectional analysis.

April 2024 to March 2025:

Collect data for impact assessment.

April to June 2025:

Analyze the data to determine whether there are any historical trends regarding the outcomes of removal processes that may reveal barriers for specific groups.

The Hearings Program created a GBA Plus Data Collection Plan in August 2023 to measure potential program impacts on diverse groups when performing two different activities related to refugee processing:

1. Ministerial triage for refugee claims that have been referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Refugee Protection Division (RPB);
2. Ministerial intervention in refugee proceedings before the IRB RPD.

The Data Collection Plan was to begin collecting and assessing data at that time and have a completed assessment by Q2 of fiscal year 2024 to 2025. Presently, the Data Collection Plan is on track with its timelines and goals. The datasets have been collected and data analytics will assist in undertaking an intersectional analysis. Early indications show some challenges in having reliable data due to how the data is collected and stored in existing information systems.

The Hearings Program has begun Step 4 of its Data Collection Plan by designing tables and visuals on Ministerial Triage and Intervention. The draft tables are interactive, allowing the user to sort by various identity factors and combinations of identity factors. The program will continue to improve the tables and visuals throughout November and December 2023. The methodology for analyzing the preliminary results (also part of Step 4) has been tested using the tables and visuals.

Timeline:

September 2023:

Disaggregated data pulled from systems to group various combinations of identity factors for analysis.

October to December 2023:

Quality assurance on the data is in progress.

Work with the Chief Data Office is underway to validate the data collection method and functionality of the reporting tool to ensure the datasets are able to provide the best opportunity to perform an intersectional analysis.

January to May 2024:

Complete the analysis to identify any trends or gaps in the available disaggregated data.

The Immigration Investigations Program’s GBA Plus Data Collection Plan is focused on identifying any patterns or trends indicating disproportionate treatment in relation to the writing of A44 Reports, which are for the purpose of documenting a formal allegation of inadmissibility to Canada against a foreign national or permanent resident.

The program will seek to identify the total number of A44 Reports written against foreign nationals in Canada between 2018 and 2023. This period has been identified to increase the statistical reliability of potentially large-scale data. The analysis will seek to explore the following questions:

• Is it possible that the decision/action did not fully consider how various intersectional factors influence the enforcement outcome?
• Have potential biases been considered in the language or approaches used?
• Does the activity itself provide for gender-neutral, culturally-neutral, or ability-neutral language or physical attributes of the document itself?
• How might attitudes and norms, whether they be those of the officer, the organization, and/or the institution/society, impact the range of legislative options an officer considers and chooses?

Timeline:

November 2023:

Collect the total number of A44 reports written between 2018 and 2023, with the following GBA Plus data sets:

• Age: Percentage of minors (under 18); 18 to 65 years of age; 65+ years of age.
• Gender: Percentage of male / female / unknown / another gender.
• Citizenship
• Country of birth

Total number of foreign nationals allowed entry into Canada per year between 2018 and 2023, in order to complete a comparative analysis and provide context to the activity under review.

Data will be extracted from previous fiscal years, producing a report for each fiscal year identified, followed by an additional report that offers a historical trends analysis spanning all fiscal years pulled.

December 2023 to January 2024:

Quality assurance on the data (e.g., to ensure there are no duplicate entries).

If required, work with the Chief Data Office to validate the data collection method and functionality of the reporting tool to ensure the datasets are able to provide the best opportunity to perform an intersectional analysis.

February 2024 to May 2024:

Complete the analysis to identify any trends or gaps in the available disaggregated data.

The Removals Program is focused on identifying whether any foreign nationals with particular identity factors or a combination of identity factors are impacted disproportionately during the removal process.

The objective is to analyze cases that are being processed for removal. The cohort will be approximately 19,000 cases. The data assessment will include data related to the following identity factors: sex, nationality, country of birth, language, and age.

Through analysis of potential impacts on diverse groups, the Removals Program seeks to determine whether those being removed experience differential treatment due to systemic bias, unfair assumptions, or barriers due to a person’s intersectional identity factors (e.g., are there any demographic groups, such as those based on race, sex or gender, that officers tend to manage differently)?

The Removals Program’s Data Collection Plan has begun. To better identify historical (long-term) impacts, data will be captured every year for a period of three fiscal years. As such, the data capture will be repeated yearly until the multi-year data collection is completed.

Timeline:

September 2023:

Disaggregated data pulled from systems to group various combinations of identity factors for analysis.

October to December 2023:

Quality assurance on the data is in progress (e.g., to ensure there are no duplicate entries).

December 2023 to January 2024:

Work with the Chief Data Office to validate the data collection method and functionality of the reporting tool to ensure the datasets are able to provide the best opportunity to perform an intersectional analysis.

February to May 2024:

Analyze the data to determine whether there are any trends regarding the management of removal processes that may reveal barriers with specific groups.