Status of Women Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Status of Women Canada

www.swc-cfc.gc.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

About Us

Establishment of SWC

Since 1971 there has been within the Federal Cabinet, a Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.  The position of Co-ordinator, Status of Women was initially established in the Privy Council Office as a result of a recommendation of the Royal Commissionon the Status of Women in 1970.

The Office of the Co-ordinator became an independent agency of the federal government on April 1, 1976 (OIC P.C. 1976-779).  The Co-ordinator is appointed by the government for an indefinite period of time to oversee the activities of the Office of the Co-ordinator Status of Women.  The Office is funded by an annual budget approved by Parliament.

Ministers Responsible for Status of Women - 1971 to Date

Note: The following sources have been used in the making of this compilation:

Organization of the Government of Canada 1980;
Status of Women in Canada, 1972, 1973, 1975;
Annual Reports of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women;
House of Commons Debates;
and newspapers.

Name Date
The Hon. Rona Ambrose
 2010-04-09 -
The Hon. Helena Guergis
(Minister of State)		 2008-10-30 -
2010-04-09
The Hon. Josée Verner 2007-08-14 -
2008-10-29
The Hon. Beverley J. Oda 2006-02-06 -
2007-08-13
The Hon. Liza Frulla 2004-07-20 -
2006-02-05
The Hon. Jean Augustine
(Minister of State) 		2003-12-12 -
2004-07-19
The Hon. Jean Augustine
(Secretary of State)		 2002-05-26 -
2003-12-11
The Hon. Claudette Bradshaw
(Secretary of State)		 2002-01-15 -
2002-05-25
The Hon. Hedy Fry
(Secretary of State)		 1996-01-25 -
2002-01-14
The Hon. Sheila Finestone
(Secretary of State)		 1993-11-04 -
1996-01-24
The Hon. Mary Collins 1990-02-23 -
1993-11-03
The Hon. Barbara Jean McDougall 1986-06-30 -
1990-02-22
The Hon. Walter Franklin McLean 1984-09-17 -
1986-06-29
The Hon. Judith A. Erola 1981-09-22 -
1984-09-16
The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy 1980-03-03 -
1981-09-21
The Hon. David Samuel Horne MacDonald 1979-06-04 -
1980-03-02
The Hon. Marc Lalonde 1974-08-08 -
1979-06-03
The Hon. John Carr Munro 1972-11-27 -
1974-08-07
The Hon. Bryce Stuart Mackasey 1971-12-01 -
1972-11-26
The Hon. Robert Knight Andras 1971-05-07 -
1971-11-30


Office of the Coordinator: Current and Past Coordinators


Date Name
2009 - present Suzanne Clément
2007 - 2009 Clare Beckton
1997 - 2007 Florence Ievers
1994 - 1997 Louise Bergeron-de-villiers
1986 - 1993 Kay Stanley
1978 - 1986 Maureen O'Neil
1976 - 1978 Julie Loranger
1973 - 1976 Martha Hynna
1971 - 1973 Freda Paltiel


Gender-based Analysis (GBA)

What is GBA?

Gender-based analysis (GBA) is a tool for understanding social processes and for responding with informed, effective and equitable options for policies, programs and legislation that addresses the needs of all Canadians. 

GBA recognizes that treating women and men identically will not ensure similar outcomes because women and men occupy different socio-economic statuses and experience different living conditions.  GBA views women in relation to men in society rather than in isolation, that has meant at times the marginalization of women's realities in public policy development.  GBA offers policy makers an accountability process by helping them determine if allocated resources are reaching the intended populations, efficiently and effectively.

By ensuring that the notion of gender is taken into account as a key factor throughout the analysis, formulation and implementation process of government policy making, GBA brings clarity to policies and programs and avoids the perpetuation of discriminatory practices and the adding of corrective measures after the fact.

History

The Canadian government first articulated a commitment to the analysis of policy that impacts women in 1976.  In 1995, a systematic approach to gender mainstreaming was formally articulated in the document Setting the Stage for the Next Century, The Federal Plan for Gender Equality presented to the 4th UN World Conference on Women.  This approach was stated as a commitment to implementing gender-based analysis in the development of policies, programs and legislation.  Further commitments were made to developing analytical tools, training approaches and data for undertaking gender-based analysis.

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Date Modified:
2010-11-03