Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)

Section 1: Institutional GBA Plus Governance and Capacity

Governance

The Policy and Research Division in the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Branch in our Department has the departmental functional responsibility for Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and the shared responsibility to implement the departmental 2020 Gender-Based Analysis Plus Strategy.

The Division advances the integration of GBA Plus within the work of the Department to progress equitable outcomes for all Veterans, inclusive of those in under-represented sub-populations. This is done by supporting the development and accessibility of tailored training and resources for our employees; encouraging the collection of disaggregated data for research, planning and evaluation purposes; and building departmental capacity in applying an intersectional lens when designing programs, policies, and services.

In 2018, we established a senior Executive level GBA Plus Champion, whose role was to disseminate information and tools, communicate special events and days related to GBA Plus, and provide support to departmental branches. Champions play a key role in supporting departmental and Government of Canada initiatives and priorities. Our Champions, working with managers, employees and program areas, provide leadership, support and guidance to build awareness and advance priorities and important issues within the Department.

We recently named Champions for:

• Veterans;
• Accessibility;
• Inclusion;
• Women and 2SLGBTQI+ community; and,
• Indigenous employees and those we serve.

Capacity

We have been including GBA Plus in all Budget proposals, Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions, and regulatory packages since 2016.

In April 2020, we released the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) GBA Plus Strategy. We continue to implement the Strategy with a focus on changing the culture and raising awareness to integrate GBA Plus into the design from the outset of all new initiatives and to be more responsive to specific needs of Veterans, ensuring that it’s policies, programs, and initiatives are inclusive and barrier free. The Strategy is a broad policy framework which details our approach and sets the framework upon which all areas of the Department can contribute to enhancing GBA Plus capacity relevant to their functional area(s) of responsibility.

As part of mainstreaming GBA Plus, we recently developed a GBA Plus policy that details how we will continue to integrate GBA Plus principles into every aspect of our work, as well as reinforces the shared commitment across all areas from research, to policy, to service delivery, to audit and evaluations. This work includes supporting GBA Plus training for all staff at all levels.

Meaningful engagement with affected Veterans with diverse lived experiences remains a critical component of GBA Plus. As an example, in May 2019, we held the first Women Veterans Forum which brought together Veterans, researchers, experts, and organizational leaders to discuss specific challenges women face in their life after service. In 2020, we hosted a series of four virtual events focused on Women and LGBTQ2+ Veterans. We held the third Women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum in February 2023. These forums provided us with an opportunity to meet with Veterans and stakeholders to further discuss the experiences of underrepresented Veterans. We will continue to host the annual forum to listen to the lived experiences of underrepresented Veterans, including women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans, Indigenous Veterans, Black and other racialized Veterans, and Veterans with disabilities.

We have an Information and Data Strategy designed to ensure data and information is better utilized to improve decision-making. We also maintain a data warehouse containing data extracted from our various internal systems. We use these data points to make validated program data sets available with self-service dashboards based on program area reporting requirements, inclusive of GBA Plus data elements. This data provides program areas with ready access to information required to better monitor, manage and track program outcomes. This enhanced reporting tool allows more timely and accurate views of intersecting data elements as more data becomes available for use.

For the first time, the 2021 Canadian Census of Population contained a Veteran Identifier that will enable us to gain valuable information about Canada’s Veteran population. We are working with Statistics Canada to be able to link program data with census and survey data as part of Statistics Canada Disaggregated Data Action Plan. These data linkages will allow us to conduct an analysis of our programs using identity factors that we do not currently have the authority to collect, including information that will allow us to better understand our gender-diverse, Indigenous, and racialized Veterans.

Additionally, the 2022 VAC National Client Survey contained gender, Indigenous, and visible minority indicators, which allows us to disaggregate and analyze by subpopulation. In addition, a secondary analysis will provide new insights into satisfaction levels, to help improve service delivery, and support further research on the needs of Veterans.

Through the VAC Veteran and Family Well-being Fund, we support innovative projects and research that respond to the needs of diverse groups of Veterans including women, 2SLGBTQI+, homeless, and Indigenous Veterans.

We published a Strategic Direction document, Timely disability benefits decisions: Strategic direction for improving wait times, in June 2020. This document outlined the measures we would take to improve our services to Veterans and their families by changing the way we work to make faster disability benefits decisions. The Strategic Direction document has been updated and was released on March 3, 2023. It outlines the progress made over the past two years and our priorities until March 2024.

We are currently in a multi-year modernization of the two primary tools we use to support decision making for Disability Benefits; the Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines and the Table of Disabilities. These tools are being reviewed to ensure that they are always based on up-to-date health related evidence and provide for consistent, efficient and swift decision making while considering the diverse health related experience(s) of Canadian Veterans.

In September 2021, we added a team dedicated to processing claims from female applicants/Veterans. This team is working to ensure we can systematically address the current barriers and close the gap in processing times for female and male applicants.

Our Department a GBA Plus page on our internal website, VAC@work, which supports staff by providing a one-stop-shop approach to accessing GBA Plus training materials, resources, and a VAC-specific Job Aid.

We continued to implement the Government of Canada’s policy direction on the Modernization of Sex and Gender Information Practices, with a review when we require sex information and limiting who can view it in our systems to those who need it for decision making. We continue to explore ways to recognize gender diverse Veterans who wish to have their identity factors changed in our systems and acknowledged by our employees. Program areas are working on developing dashboards to be able to report on GBA Plus data as required.

We continued to ensure that research funded by the Department conforms to principles of Sex and Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) to inform how we design, conduct, and report findings to ensure fair representation of women Veterans and underrepresented groups in our research initiatives.

We will enhance our cyclical review of program policies, providing an opportunity for continuous improvement through the application of a GBA Plus lens, thus ensuring all policies incorporate an evidence-based review framework and support us in achieving overall program equity, diversity and inclusion.

We also have a GBA Plus Network which consists of members from each branch of the Department that meet on a quarterly basis (or as needed) to help build GBA Plus capacity across all areas by sharing knowledge and leveraging best practices and acting as organizational points of contact for GBA Plus in their respective areas.

The Policy and Research Division represents VAC on the GBA Plus Interdepartmental Committee led by Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada. This allows us to connect with other federal government departments and learn about best practices happening across the federal government.

We implemented a GBA Plus Roll Out plan, which addresses actions on how we intend to progress equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work going forward.

Section 2: Gender and Diversity Impacts, by Program

Veterans Affairs is continuing its work towards GBA Plus by developing and improving data collection, analysis, and assessment of program impacts on gender and diversity. VAC currently collects and uses several data points that enable GBA Plus including sex at birth (Male/Female), age, official language, and geography. We are working on adding to this list beginning with collecting gender-identity on a voluntary basis. This information could be collected when Clients call into our Contact Centre, use VAC’s online self-service portal, or access service in an area office. Also:

• We are collaborating with Privacy and Information Management (PIM) to confirm our legislative authority and refine the purpose, necessity, and methods of collecting gender identity by reviewing and potentially updating PIAs and associated PIBs;
• We are also working with Statistics Canada to potentially be able to link program data with Census and other survey data (e.g., Canadian Veteran Health Survey, Indigenous Peoples Survey, etc.) as part of Statistics Canada Disaggregated Data Action Plan. These data linkages will allow us to conduct an analysis of our programs using identity factors that we do not currently have the authority to collect, including information that will allow us to better understand our gender-diverse, Indigenous, and racialized Veterans.

These efforts allow for further analysis of Veteran program participation by 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous, and racialized Veterans as well as by gender identifier so we may continue to improve service delivery.

General notes regarding data presented in the tables below.

• Veteran Population Estimates are based on the 2021 Census. Figures may not add due to rounding.
• The statistics exclude Survivors to allow for a direct comparison with the total Veteran population.
• The 'Other' sex category is populated using cases where the sex data of client is missing, hence being categorized as 'unknown'.
• Occurrences where the performance indicator is 'unknown’, but the sex is known have been removed from the counts. Therefore, performance indicator totals may not match program totals.

Core Responsibility 1: Benefits, Services and Support

Caregiver Recognition Benefit (CRB)

Target Population: Veterans, Families

Program goals: The Caregiver Recognition Benefit provides informal caregivers with a monthly tax-free payment (indexed annually) to recognize the contribution caregivers make to the health and well-being of seriously injured Veterans who require continuous care and supervision, due to their service-related physical and/or mental health condition(s).

The Caregiver Recognition Benefit program continues to collect sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).

Other data:

Note: CRB is paid to caregivers, not Veterans, therefore it cannot be compared to the Veteran population.

Note: CRB is paid to caregivers, not Veterans, therefore it cannot be compared to the Veteran population.

Note: CRB is paid to caregivers, not Veterans, therefore it cannot be compared to the Veteran population.

Note: CRB is paid to caregivers, not Veterans, therefore it cannot be compared to the Veteran population.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is currently working on improving data collection for this program while remaining compliant with Privacy legislation. VAC currently collects and uses several data points that enable GBA Plus including sex at birth (Male/Female), age, official language, and geography, and is exploring the addition of other intersectional identity factors.

The Department continues its work to develop a validated dataset and program dashboard for the CRB program that will allow for timely monitoring and review of program data. Once created, additional intersectional identity factors can be added to the dataset and dashboard as they become available. This additional data will allow for more robust GBA Plus analysis.

Disability Benefits (DB)

Target Population: Veterans, Families

Program goals: The Disability Benefits Program recognizes the impact of a service-related injury or disease in the form of a tax-free financial compensation. The Disability Benefits Program produces weekly internal reports that include data related to language and biological sex to continue its commitment to gender parity in claims processing and to adjust workloads as required. Currently, there is sufficient data to administer and monitor the program but not to report program impacts through a full GBA+ lens.

Other data:

Note: DP represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended as of March 31, 2023.

Note: DP represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended as of March 31, 2023.

Note: DP represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended as of March 31, 2023.

Note: DP represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended as of March 31, 2023.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC continues to review the best options for data collection for all programs; within privacy boundaries, which will allow better analysis and assessment of program impacts on gender and diversity in the future. A dedicated team has been added to process Disability Benefit claims from female applicants exclusively. This team will develop expertise to ensure we are able to address current barriers to timely decisions for female Veterans and continue to close the gap in processing times between female and male applicants. As well, we are currently in a multi-year modernization of the two primary tools used to support decision making for Disability Benefits; the Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines and the Table of Disabilities. These tools are being reviewed to ensure that they are always based on up-to-date health related evidence and provide for consistent, efficient and swift decision making. A Gender Based Analysis Plus methodology has been developed specific to this work and is being applied to the revisions of each EEG and TOD Chapter to ensure that these tools consider the diverse health related experience of Canadian Veterans.

Health Care Benefits

Target Population: Veterans

Program goals: The Health Care Benefits (HCB) Program provides eligible Veterans and other qualified individuals with financial support to access health care benefits (treatment benefits) to meet their identified needs. Treatment benefits include medical, surgical or dental examinations or treatment; surgical or prosthetic devices and aids and their maintenance; home adaptations to accommodate the use of devices or aids; preventive health care; pharmaceuticals; cannabis for medical purposes; mental health benefits; and travel and other expenses incurred to access these benefits. Since 1 April 2022, Veterans applying for certain mental health conditions can receive early access to coverage for mental health related services and benefits, while they await their disability decision.

Currently the HCB Program collects sufficient data to determine program eligibility and benefit entitlement. Existing client demographic data is captured at the departmental level and can be accessed for monitoring and reporting purposes. This departmental-level data includes age, sex, marital status, geographical location (derived from postal code), language, and a homelessness indicator. HCB Program Management can access client demographic data, working closely with enterprise data, corporate statistics and business intelligence within the Department, to inform their work and support the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients of health care benefits. In addition, third-party service providers who administer treatment benefits on behalf of the Department, collect and report on usage data for enhanced reporting capability where additional data elements are deemed necessary for the effective administration of the program.

Other data:

Note: Treatment Benefits includes year-end Veteran clients for whom data was available. Includes Treatment and Health Related Travel transactions.

Note: Treatment Benefits includes year-end Veteran clients for whom data was available. Includes Treatment and Health Related Travel transactions.

Note: Treatment Benefits includes year-end Veteran clients for whom data was available. Includes Treatment and Health Related Travel transactions.

Note: Treatment Benefits includes year-end Veteran clients for whom data was available. Includes Treatment and Health Related Travel transactions.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is strengthening its GBA Plus analysis for current HCB recipients. The Department is developing a dashboard for HCB that will allow for effective review, monitoring and reporting of program impacts using a GBA Plus lens. Beginning in 2022-23 Program Management has also been working on developing a draft interim dashboard to support GBA Plus analysis while the permanent dashboard is in development. This interim dashboard is nearing the approval stage.

Income Support

Target Population: Veterans, Families

Program goals: The Income Replacement Benefit (IRB) is a taxable, monthly benefit that ensures Veterans’ total income will be at least 90 percent of their gross pre-release military salary, while they are participating in the Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program.

The Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) is a tax-free monthly financial benefit for low-income Canadian Armed Forces Veterans who no longer qualify for the Income Replacement Benefit. The program provides financial support for those who have completed the rehabilitation program but are unable to find a post-military career or job or whose income is too low for them to meet their basic needs. It is also available to the survivors and dependent children of those Veterans.

Income Replacement Benefit and Canadian Forces Income Support programs use existing client demographic data captured at the departmental level for monitoring and reporting purposes, along with supporting the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients.

Other data for Income Replacement Benefits (IRB):

Note: IRB represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or eligible for IRB as of March 31, 2023.

Note: IRB represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or eligible for IRB as of March 31, 2023.

Note: IRB represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or eligible for IRB as of March 31, 2023.

Note: IRB represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or eligible for IRB as of March 31, 2023.

Other data for Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS):

Note: CFIS represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for CFIS as of March 31, 2023.

Note: CFIS represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for CFIS as of March 31, 2023.

Note: CFIS represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for CFIS as of March 31, 2023.

Note: CFIS represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for CFIS as of March 31, 2023.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is in the process of improving data collection for this program while remaining compliant with Privacy legislation. An IRB dataset has been developed and is currently being validated.

Once the validated dataset has been developed, the Department will create a program dashboard that will allow for timely monitoring and review of program data. Once created, additional intersectional identity factors can be added to the dataset and dashboard as they become available. This additional data will allow for more robust GBA Plus.

Long term care (LTC)

Target Population: Veterans, Seniors

Program goals: The Long-term Care (LTC) Program supports eligible Veterans who require nursing home type care to meet their needs, by providing financial support to Veterans towards the cost of their accommodation and meals for long term care. It also provides financial support to some establishments for an increased level of services and benefits.

The LTC Program collects sufficient data on application to determine program eligibility and benefit entitlement. Existing client demographic data is captured at the departmental level and can be accessed for monitoring and reporting purposes. This departmental-level data includes age, sex, marital status, geographical location (derived from postal codes), language, and a homelessness indicator. LTC Program Management, working closely with enterprise data, corporate statistics and business intelligence within the Department can use this demographic data to inform their work and support the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients of long-term care. Additionally, because LTC is a program that pays for access to services for eligible Veterans from independent service providers, the type of services offered will vary across facilities and provinces based on their own specific operating guidelines. Through the administration of these third-party service contracts, collection and reporting on disaggregated data is limited to the data elements that are available and deemed necessary for the effective administration of the program.

Other data:

Note: LTC represents Veteran clients who were alive and in a bed as of March 31, 2023. They do not include Veterans inpatients funded through Veterans Independence Program (VIP) Nursing Home Intermediate Care (NHIC). Counts are determined using Residential Care Support System data; periodically, administrative errors are flagged and corrected, which can lead to minor variations in the number of clients deemed to be LTC versus VIP NHIC throughout the year.

Note: LTC represents Veteran clients who were alive and in a bed as of March 31, 2023. They do not include Veterans inpatients funded through VIP NHIC. Counts are determined using Residential Care Support System data; periodically, administrative errors are flagged and corrected, which can lead to minor variations in the number of clients deemed to be LTC versus VIP NHIC throughout the year.

Note: LTC represents Veteran clients who were alive and in a bed as of March 31, 2023. They do not include Veterans inpatients funded through VIP NHIC. Counts are determined using Residential Care Support System data; periodically, administrative errors are flagged and corrected, which can lead to minor variations in the number of clients deemed to be LTC versus VIP NHIC throughout the year.

Note: LTC represents Veteran clients who were alive and in a bed as of March 31, 2023. They do not include Veterans inpatients funded through VIP NHIC. Counts are determined using Residential Care Support System data; periodically, administrative errors are flagged and corrected, which can lead to minor variations in the number of clients deemed to be LTC versus VIP NHIC throughout the year.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is strengthening its GBA Plus analysis for current LTC Program recipients. The Department plans to develop a LTC Program dashboard that will allow for effective review, monitoring and reporting of program impacts using a GBA Plus lens. Beginning in 2022-23 Program Management has also been working on developing a draft interim dashboard to support GBA Plus analysis while the permanent dashboard is in development. This interim dashboard is nearing the approval stage.

Research and Innovation

Target Population: Veterans, Families

Program goals: There are two Centres of Excellence within the Research and Innovation program: the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence and the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families. The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans was established as a research centre to improve the understanding of Veteran-specific chronic pain and how best to manage it. The Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families’ focus is to create knowledge networks with researchers across the country to increase expertise on military and Veteran mental health, suicide prevention and substance use disorder.

Veterans Affairs Canada provides annual funding to the Centres of Excellence through an arm’s length contribution agreement. Both submit an annual GBA Plus report on activities specifically targeted to the needs of the diverse Veteran population. Both Centres of Excellence collect sufficient data to monitor and report on program impacts by gender and diversity by respecting federal guidelines regarding GBA Plus, submitting an annual GBA Plus report and including the use of a GBA Plus Research Checklist with disaggregated research to identify potential differences due to multiple aspects of identity. The collection of data helps identify gaps and future priorities relating to the use of GBA+ within both Centres of Excellence

The Research Funding Program aims to enhance the well-being of Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, and their families by supporting Canadian research focused on supporting these populations. This program includes the provision of operational funding for the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research.

The Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund provides grants and contributions to private, public or academic organizations across the country to implement community-based initiatives and projects that support the well-being of Veterans and their families.

Distribution of Benefits: GBA Plus data is not yet available for this program due to the nature of third-party data via the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence and the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families. Similarly, the Research Funding Program and the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund do not measure benefits in terms of distribution across specific groups of Veterans. Rather, these programs establish criteria for how funding recipients interact with and represent under-represented communities in their work.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC recently renewed its Contribution Agreement with the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for five years (2023-2028). As part of this agreement, research proposals funded will conform with the SAGER informing how research proposals are to be designed, conducted, and reported to identify knowledge gaps and to ensure equitable representation of under-represented groups, including women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans. This information is also included in the Contribution Agreement with the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families (2022-2027).

The Centres are expanding data collection on chronic pain and mental health. By expanding data collection through research and partnerships, the Centres will continue to identify knowledge gaps regarding sex and gender differences in the experience of chronic pain and mental health and develop tools and services to enhance the well-being of under-represented Veterans and their Families.

The Research Funding Program requires researchers applying for funding to describe how the project will meaningfully consider, involve, and represent the full range of diversity and intersectionality across the study population, such as age, sex, gender, race, indigeneity, family status, and other life circumstances and vulnerability characteristics. Funding recipients are required to adhere to SAGER principles in their work, including how results for various identity characteristics will be reported in research findings.

The Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund requires organizations applying for funding to demonstrate how the proposed project could; support equity seeking groups, align with GBA Plus considerations, and adhere to SAGER guidelines. The Veteran and Family Well-being Fund project reporting templates require organizations to describe how their projects apply GBA Plus.

Transition Services

Target Population: Veterans, Families

Program goals: The Education and Training Benefit (ETB) is a taxable benefit that exists to provide funding to Veterans to help them achieve their education and post-military employment goals, better position themselves to be more competitive in the civilian workforce, and pursue activities that give them a sense of purpose. Veterans who have honourably released from the Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve Force), or members of the Supplementary Reserve, who have at least 6 years (2,191 paid days) of service may be eligible to receive up to $40,000 (indexed annually by the Consumer Price Index).Veterans and members of the Supplementary Reserve who have at least 12 years (4,382 paid days) of service may be eligible to receive up to $80,000 (indexed annually by the Consumer Price Index).Eligible clients can access ETB funding up to 10 years from their release/transfer date. ETB funding is paid directly to Veterans, who are then responsible for paying tuition and expense costs to the educational institution when required. The amount of funding provided to an eligible Veteran depends on the cost and length of the approved program.

ETB uses existing client demographic data captured at the departmental level for monitoring and reporting purposes, along with supporting the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients.

A new contract for Career Transition Services became operational in January 2023 and includes updated language to support all Government of Canada reporting requirements, including those for gender and diversity. Working with the national service provider will also allow VAC to gain valuable knowledge of best practices in private industry around equity, diversity and inclusion.

The Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program (RSVP) provides medical, psycho-social, and vocational rehabilitation services to eligible Veterans who experience health problem(s) that result primarily from service in the Canadian Armed Forces and are causing a barrier to life after service. It may also provide vocational assistance services to spouses and survivors. As of November 2022, these services are delivered through one national contractor, Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services (PCVRS).

Other data for Career Transition Services (CTS):

Note: CTS represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Note: CTS represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Note: CTS represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Note: CTS represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Other data for Education and Training Benefits (ETB):

Note: ETB represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Note: ETB represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Note: ETB represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Note: ETB represents the number of Veteran clients who had their application approved in 2022-23.

Other data for Rehabilitation:

Note: Rehab counts are Veteran clients only as of March 31, 2023.

Note: Rehab counts are Veteran clients only as of March 31, 2023.

Note: Rehab counts are Veteran clients only as of March 31, 2023.

Note: Rehab counts are Veteran clients only as of March 31, 2023.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is currently looking at the best methods of increasing data collection for this program while remaining within the privacy boundaries. An ETB dashboard has been created to allow users to query ETB data using various factors, including GBA Plus data. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional improvements in data analysis will be incorporated.

A dashboard for CTS data has been in use since 2021-2022. It allows users to query CTS data using various factors including GBA+ data.

RSVP recently implemented an improved Performance Measurement and Reporting Framework, RSVP measures outcomes for every participant including the improvement of overall health and well-being, functional capacity and satisfaction with rehabilitation services. It also captures service delivery and participant cost data. These results and data will be disaggregated by sub-populations and by intersecting identity factors, providing evidence to guide program improvements where equity in service delivery is required. VAC is currently looking at the best methods of increasing data collection for this program while remaining within the privacy boundaries. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional improvements in data analysis will be incorporated.

Veterans Emergency Fund (VEF)

Target Population: Veterans, Families, Low-income individuals and/or families

Program goals: The Veterans Emergency Fund (VEF) is a $1M per fiscal year fund that exists to provide tax-free payments to Veterans and their families who are facing a financial emergency that is threatening their health and well-being. VEF is to cover essential needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and uninsured essential one-time medical needs. Eligible Veterans and their families can be approved for up to a maximum of $2,500 per fiscal year (or up to $10,000 in exceptional circumstances). VEF applicants will also be referred to internal and external resources to assist them in the longer-term.

VEF uses existing client demographic data captured at the departmental level for monitoring and reporting purposes, along with supporting the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients.

Other data:

Note: This table is a comparison of VEF clients to the Veteran population. Survivors are excluded to allow for a direct comparison of the groups.

Note: This table is a comparison of VEF clients to the Veteran Population. Survivors are excluded to allow for a direct comparison of the groups.

Note: This table is a comparison of VEF clients to the Veteran Population. Survivors are excluded to allow for a direct comparison of the groups.

Note: This table is a comparison of VEF clients to the Veteran Population. Survivors are excluded to allow for a direct comparison of the groups.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is currently looking at the best methods of increasing data collection for this program while remaining within the privacy boundaries. A VEF dashboard has been created to allow users to query VEF data using various factors, including GBA Plus data. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional improvements in data analysis will be incorporated.

Veterans Independence Program (VIP)

Target Population: Veterans, Families

Program goals: The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) helps eligible Veterans, their primary caregivers, and survivors to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible by providing funding towards the cost of services that support their independence. Services supported include housekeeping, grounds maintenance, personal care, ambulatory care, access to nutrition, and professional health and support services. When remaining at home is no longer practical, the service can provide support with care in a community facility (nursing home care).

The VIP collects sufficient data on application to determine program eligibility and benefit entitlement. Existing client demographic data is captured at the departmental level and can be accessed for monitoring and reporting purposes. This departmental-level data includes age, sex, marital status, geographical location (derived from postal codes), language, and a homelessness indicator. VIP Program Management, working closely with enterprise data, corporate statistics and business intelligence within the Department can use this demographic data to inform their work and support the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients of VIP services.

Other data:

Note: VIP counts are Veteran clients only, who had a transaction in 2022–23 and were alive as of March 31, 2023.

Note: VIP counts are Veteran clients only, who had a transaction in 2022–23 and were alive as of March 31, 2023.

Note: VIP counts are Veteran clients only, who had a transaction in 2022–23 and were alive as of March 31, 2023.

Note: VIP counts are Veteran clients only, who had a transaction in 2022–23 and were alive as of March 31, 2023.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is strengthening its GBA Plus analysis for current VIP recipients. The Department is developing a VIP dashboard that will allow for effective review, monitoring and reporting of program impacts using a GBA Plus lens. Beginning in 2022-23 Program Management has also been working on developing a draft interim dashboard to support GBA Plus analysis while the permanent dashboard is in development. This interim dashboard is nearing the approval stage.

War Veterans Allowance (WVA)

Target Population: Veterans, Families

Program goals: War Veterans Allowance is a tax free, monthly financial benefit for low-income Veterans of the Second World War and/or the Korean War and their survivors/orphans. It also provides important access to other VAC programs such as Health Care Benefits (Treatment Benefits), the Veterans Independence Program, the Long-Term Care Program, and the VAC Assistance Fund. The War Veterans Allowance collects sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).

Other data:

NOTE: In order to provide a direct comparison to the Veteran Population, only Veterans are included in the client counts. However, for information there were 756 Survivors in the WVA program as of Mar 31, 2023; 715 are female and 41 are male.

Note: WVA represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for WVA as of March 31, 2023.

Note: WVA represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for WVA as of March 31, 2023.

Note: WVA represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for WVA as of March 31, 2023.

Note: WVA represents the number of Veteran clients who are in-pay or suspended for WVA as of March 31, 2023.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

VAC is currently looking at the best methods of increasing data collection for this program while remaining within the privacy boundaries. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional improvements in data analysis will be incorporated.

Core Responsibility 2: Commemoration

Canada Remembers Program

Target Population: Veterans, General Public, Youth

Program goals: Canada Remembers Program initiatives ensure that those who served in Canada’s military efforts are honoured and that the memory of their sacrifices and achievements is preserved. Gender-based Analysis (GBA) Plus, including gender and other identifying factors (e.g. Indigenous identity), are considered to help inform the development and review of programming.

Distribution of Benefits: Although this program doesn’t deliver benefits in a traditional sense, we do have data available based on surveys conducted with Canadians.

Other data: The purpose of the Attitudes Towards Remembrance and Veterans' Week survey of Canadians is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Department's remembrance programming. The objectives of this research are to measure Canadians' level of participation in remembrance activities, their attitudes toward those who served in Canada's military, and their level of support for VAC's work related to remembrance. The research results allow VAC to continue to determine the impact and effectiveness of its remembrance activities, adapt activities to be relevant to Canadians, improve the methods used to inform Canadians about remembrance initiatives, and help to guide the planning of future remembrance-related programming. Within the survey results, we capture data related to Gender Based Analysis Plus which further helps to determine impact and effectiveness as shown below.

*Suppressed due to sample size.

*Suppressed due to sample size.

*Suppressed due to sample size.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

In 2022-2023, the Commemorative Partnership Program supported a total of 34 projects commemorating under-represented groups of Veterans (Indigenous Veterans, racialized Veterans, LGBTQ2+ Veterans, women Veterans, modern Veterans) through the provision of approximately $510,000 in funding. The Program also applies GBA Plus through:

• Commemorative initiatives are designed and implemented in a respectful, inclusive manner to honour all those who served our country;
• Delegations for ceremonies and events include intergenerational representation and diverse cultures;
• Educational resources and public information reflect diverse cultural and regional backgrounds;
• Canadians' attitudes and participation with respect to remembrance are gathered using the Attitudes Towards Remembrance and Veterans' Week survey, which allows VAC to continue determining the impact and effectiveness of its commemorative initiatives. Data is weighted to ensure that the gender and age composition generally reflects that of the adult Canadian population, according to census data.

Funeral and Burial Program

Target Population: Veterans

Program goals: Funeral and burial assistance is provided through the Last Post Fund – a non-profit organization – to help pay for funeral and burial services, including a military gravestone, for eligible Veterans.

Distribution of Benefits: GBA Plus data is not yet available for this program as it is administered by a third party and the data is not readily available.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The Last Post Fund (LPF), which delivers the Funeral and Burial Program, does not have the capability to report on GBA Plus due to capacity issues. The Commemoration Division is exploring opportunities with the LPF to improve their reporting capabilities to better support the Department in collecting and analysing GBA Plus data.

Core Responsibility 3: Veterans Ombudsperson

Veterans Ombudsperson

Target Population: Veterans, Families, Military Personnel

Program goals: The Office of the Veterans Ombud reviews complaints, and challenges the policies and decisions of Veterans Affairs Canada where we find individual or systemic unfairness. We strive to be an independent and respected voice for fairness and a champion for the well-being of Veterans and their families. The OVO had updated its systems to better align with gender inclusivity; offering clients the option to voluntarily self-identify their gender (instead of sex) as well as including options to identify “other gender” or “prefer not to say”, however, due to it being a voluntary survey, the low uptake did not allow for it to be of meaningful value. See Data Collection Plans for more information.

Distribution of Benefits: Although this program doesn’t deliver benefits in a traditional sense, we do have data available based on surveys conducted with clients.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

In 2022-23, the OVO determined that the client survey was not providing meaningful data as a result of this way this survey was being conducted. The survey was entirely voluntary and included no methodology to provide a representative sampling of OVO clients, nor did it include the capture of mandatory demographic data. Given this, and extremely low uptake in participation in 2021-22 at only 3% of the overall number of cases which were accepted by the office, the OVO determined that a more effective solution is required to support the collection of GBA Plus data. OVO is working with our counterparts within VAC to align with the work that VAC is doing with respect to GBA Plus data and will be exploring how we may be able to leverage existing methods of collection to assist the OVO in capturing GBA Plus demographics on our clients that is meaningful and representative.