ID: 1570
Presenting Author: Vanita Clare
Session: 681 - Gender and Intersectional Analysis in IA: Showcasing theory and practice
Status: pending
This presentation examines how gender analysis is applied in environmental assessments across Canadian jurisdictions, revealing key differences shaped by institutional and regional contexts.
The inclusion of gender analysis in environmental assessments (EAs) is an emerging area of policy development in Canada. With the federal government's 2019 overhaul of the EA process and the introduction of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), resource projects are now required to consider gendered impacts. However, the application of gender-based analysis (GBA+) varies significantly across jurisdictions within Canada. This presentation unpacks how GBA+ is integrated into environmental assessments in three different jurisdictions: the Federal IAA, British Columbia’s EA legislation, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s EA legislation. Using a framework developed by the author to analyze institutional and regional contexts, the presentation highlights key differences in how gender analysis is understood and applied in each jurisdiction. Findings reveal that each jurisdiction adopts a distinct approach to gender analysis, shaped by unique institutional structures and regional contexts. These variations have significant implications for the types of ideas embedded in gender assessments and the overall effectiveness of EA processes. Ultimately, the presentation demonstrates that the scope and depth of gender analysis are critical to ensuring meaningful and inclusive environmental decision-making.
Vanita Clare is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto in the Department of Political Science. Her dissertation unpacks the variation of gender analysis in EA processes across Canada.