Archived information

This content is archived because Status of Women Canada no longer exists. Please visit the Women and Gender Equality Canada.

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Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information

Status of Women Canada

General Information

Info Source

Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information provides information about the functions, programs, activities and related information holdings of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. It provides individuals and employees of the government (current and former) with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

The introduction to Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information and an index of institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act are available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

In 1971, the federal government created the Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women within the Privy Council Office. On April 1, 1976, the Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women was created as a departmental agency under Order-in-Council P.C. 1976-779 and became known as Status of Women Canada. SWC reports to the Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women.

The position of Coordinator is a Governor-In-Council appointment and is the Head of the Agency. The Agency is funded by an annual appropriation approved by Parliament.

The mandate of Status of Women Canada is “to coordinate policy with respect to the status of women and administer related programs” (1976).

Responsibilities

Status of Women Canada is a federal government organization that promotes equality for women and their full participation in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.

Status of Women Canada works to advance equality for women by focusing its efforts in three priority areas:

  • increasing women's economic security and prosperity;
  • encouraging women's leadership and democratic participation; and
  • ending violence against women and girls.

Status of Women Canada is responsible for providing strategic policy advice and gender-based analysis support, administering the Women's Program, and promoting Commemorative Dates relating to women in Canada.

Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities

Leadership, Expertise and Advice

Canada, in line with domestic and international instruments, has committed to advancing gender equality. SWC promotes public understanding about the status of women in Canada and encourages Canadians to engage in efforts to advance equality between women and men. Communications activities form a key aspect of this Program and commemorate important dates such as Women's History Month and the Persons Day.

To further advance gender equality, the government requires federal organizations to take gender considerations into account in legislation, policies and programs. By providing information, tools, training and expert advice, SWC plays a lead role in building the capacity of federal organizations to use Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+). GBA+ informs decision-making and increases the likelihood that legislation, policies and programs meet the needs of diverse groups of women and men.

SWC also provides strategic policy analysis and advice and acts as a knowledge broker to support federal organizations and other stakeholders in advancing equality for women and girls. In addition, SWC explores gaps and emerging issues that continue to affect the status of women and girls in Canada.

This is mainly done in collaboration with other federal organizations, provinces, territories and civil society.

Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Governments

Description: Contains information on federal, provincial and territorial government departments, agencies, boards, commissions, corporations and councils, including correspondence related to their mandates, structures, priorities, etc., that is corporate or general in nature and not issue-specific.
Document Types:  Reports, briefing notes, agendas and correspondence.
Record Number: SWC 7000

Gender Equality / Women’s Issues

Description: Contains information on gender equality objectives, plans, mechanisms and statistics, as well as, human rights implementation in Canada, issue-based documents on current and proposed Acts, regulations, policies and programs; relevant working groups and committee work including on the Status of Women Federal, Provincial Territorial (FPT) Forum, consultations and special events; issue-specific statistics, research, reports and other information from government and non-government sources.
Document Types: Reports, briefing notes, working documents and presentations.
Record Number: SWC 9500

Policy and External Relations

Description: Contains information on organizations and administration internal to the Policy and External Relations Directorate. Information related to the substantive work of the directorate is found under Gender Equality / Women's Issues, and under the International sections.
Document Types: Reporting documents, briefing notes, agendas, minutes and budgets.
Record Number: SWC 4000

Gender-Based Analysis

Description: Contains information on Gender-Based Analysis and gender mainstreaming in the Government of Canada, Provincial and Territorial Governments, international institutions and foreign governments.
Document Types: Strategies, evaluations, methodologies, presentations, tools, training, briefing notes and reports.
Record Number: SWC 3000

International Governmental Organizations; International Events / Activities; International Non-Governmental Organizations; International Relations and Foreign Countries

Description: Contains information on Canada's participation in, and the work of, international organizations that is relevant to gender equality, including their decision-making bodies, status of women entities, secretariats, human rights conventions and other agreements, and their conferences, summits and other special events. Also contains general information on international relations that impacts Status of Women Canada's work.
Document Types: Reports, briefing notes, agendas and correspondence.
Record Number: SWC 8000

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Sisters in Spirit (SIS)

Description: Contains information about the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s (NWAC) on SIS initiative. NWAC’s work with other Aboriginal organizations and the federal government on activities aimed at quantifying the actual number of missing and murdered women, understanding the root causes of racialized and sexualized violence.
Document Types: Reports, briefing notes, correspondence, proposal.
Record Number: SWC 10000

Family Violence Initiative

Description: The Family Violence Initiative is a long-term federal commitment to a long-term societal problem with many social, justice, and health dimensions. The objectives are: to increase public awareness and understanding of family violence, strengthen the criminal justice legal framework, provide prevention, protection and treatment services to Aboriginal and Inuit communities, emergency shelters and long-term housing, enhance national information; exchange and coordination.
Document Types: Reports, meeting minutes, studies
Record Number: SWC 11000

Research

Description: Contains information related to the Research Directorate, the Policy Research Fund and funded Research projects.
Document Types: Calls for proposals, policy research projects, external committees, and evaluations.
Record Number: SWC 5000

  • Researchers' Database
    Description: This electronic database includes the names of individuals, organizations that they work for, complete addresses, telephone numbers, facsimile numbers, e-mail addresses, education and work experience, organization's mandate or research experience, languages spoken, read and written, publications and areas of policy research interest.
    Class of Individuals: Private citizens and individuals working for organizations who have expressed an interest in doing policy research.
    Purpose: To create a researchers list or inventory by areas of expertise.
    Consistent Uses: To be used to send calls for proposals to conduct policy research as well as to send other information related to the Policy Research Fund. With the permission of the individual or organization, the information may also be shared with other research organizations.
    Retention and Disposal Standards: The information is retained until the individual officially requests to be removed from the inventory or until such time as the information is no longer deliverable (returned mail).
    RDA Number: 2005/003
    Related Record Number: SWC 5000
    TBS Registration: 005293
    Bank Number: SWC PPU 010

Advancing Equality for Women

Through this Program, SWC supports action and innovation by investing in initiatives that work to bring about equality between women and men. The Program provides grant and contribution funding to organizations to support community-based action that will lead to equality in communities across Canada. Funded projects occur at the national, regional, and local levels and work to help create conditions for success for women in Canada.

Projects address the economic and social situation of women and their participation in democratic life. They are diverse in nature and scope and apply a variety of approaches and strategies to address the complexity of the issues affecting women. Specifically, the Program invests in projects that incorporate gender considerations, and increase and strengthen access to a range of opportunities, supports, information, resources and services, tools, etc. Projects work with stakeholders such as: women's and community organizations, public institutions and the private sector.

The Program also facilitates collaboration, networking and partnerships that promote equality and the advancement of women in Canada. SWC facilitates networking; develops partnerships where needed to address horizontal issues impacting women and girls; shares knowledge; and assists organizations working to advance women's equality to gain access to expertise, resources, and tools.

Women's Program and Regional Operations

Description: Contains information relating to the provision of financial assistance, through grants and contributions, to organizations working to improve the status of women in Canada.
Document Types: Funding guidelines, funded initiatives, accountability framework, grant and contributions management, regional organizations by province, terms and conditions.
Record Number: SWC 6000

Commemorative Events

Description: Contains information relating to the information prepared to advance gender equality through commemorative events for women including: International Women’s Day, Women’s History Month, the International Day of the Girl, the Governor General’s Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, Person Day and December 6th, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence; and the International Day of Action on Violence Against Women.
Document Types: Media analyses and media lines, communications plans, announcements, newsletters and updates to staff, news releases, backgrounders, fact sheets, media advisories, speeches, questions and answers, scenario notes, speaking notes, briefing notes, calendar of planned events, newsclippings, biographies, protocols, PowerPoint presentations, mailing and distribution lists,  style guides, institutional communications policies, guidelines, standards and procedures, notices, pamphlets, service/customer satisfaction studies, omnibus surveys, literature reviews, crisis and emergency communications plans and policies,  brochures, print and electronic publishing documentation, website content, and copies of institutional publications in all formats.
Record Number: PRN 939

Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisitions

Acquisition Services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfill a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Communications Services

Communications Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public - internal or external - receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

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Financial Management

Financial Management Services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Human Resources Management

Human Resources Management Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Information Management

Information Management Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency, and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Information Technology

Information Technology Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

Legal Services

Legal Services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

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Management and Oversight Services

Management and Oversight Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Materiel

Materiel Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that materiel can be managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Real Property

Real Property Services involve activities undertaken to ensure real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner, throughout its life cycle, to support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and Other Administrative Services include Government of Canada (GC) travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

Information Holdings

Standard Classes of Records and Related Standard Personal Information Banks

  • Labour Relations
    • Discipline
    • Grievances
    • Harassment
    • Internal Disclosure of Wrongdoing in the Workplace
    • Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service
    • Personnel Security Screening

Classes of Personal Information

In the course of conducting its activities, Status of Women Canada accumulates categories of personal information which are stored as part of the general subject files where records are not normally retrieved by name of individual or any other personal identifier. The Department handles policy and program issues but not personal program delivery matters. This form of personal information is normally retrievable only if specifics are provided concerning the issue of complaint, and the date and name of the complainant. All issues dealing with federal government legislation, policies and programs that impact on women are included. The retention periods for these classes of personal information are controlled by the record schedules of the general subject files in which they are stored.

Manuals

  • File Classification Plan, Status of Women Canada
  • Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) Policy
  • Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) Policy Training - Trainer's Manual
  • Guidelines for the Preparation of Preliminary Recommendations Regarding Invitations
  • Procedures Relating to Executive Correspondence
  • Training - Participant Handbook
  • Women's Program - Accountability Framework
  • Women's Program - Funding Guidelines
  • Women's Program - Outcomes Tool Kit
  • Women's Program - Procedures Manual

Additional Information

Contact Information

Please see the introduction to this publication for information on access procedures under the provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. You may also contact the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's ATIP Office by sending an email to the following address: atip-aiprp@swc-cfc.gc.ca.

Mailing your Request

To make a request by mail, please complete either the Access to Information Request Form or the Personal Information Request Form, or include a letter indicating that your request is made in accordance with the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act and describe the information you are seeking. Please include relevant details to help the ATIP Office find the information you are requesting. Mail your request to:

Access to Information and Privacy Office
Status of Women Canada
P.O. Box 8097, Station T CSC
Ottawa, ON
K1G 3H6
Telephone: 819-420-6816
Toll-Free: 1-855-969-9922
TTY: 819-420-6905
Fax:  819-420-6906
E-mail: atip-aiprpr@swc-cfc.gc.ca

A $5 application fee applies to Access to Information requests only. There is no fee for requests for personal information.

For additional information about the programs and activities of Status of Women Canada, please contact:

Communications
Status of Women Canada
P.O. Box 8097, Station T CSC
Ottawa, ON
K1G 3H6
Toll-Free: 1-855-969-9922
TTY: 819-420-6905
Fax:  819-420-6906
Email: communications@swc-cfc.gc.ca
Internet: cfc-swc.gc.ca

NOTICE: Status of Women Canada is not able to answer any legal questions or offer assistance to individuals in legal matters. If you have not already done so, please contact your lawyer, legal aid, local women's crisis centre or the police for more information about services within your community.

Completed Access to Information Requests

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through informal requests outside of the ATIP process. Records released in response to completed Access to Information Act requests processed by Status of Women Canada can be obtained informally. A list of completed request summaries is available.

Open Data

To obtain information on open data, visit the Open Government portal.

Reading Room

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, the applicant may wish to review material in person Status of Women Canada’s ATIP Office. The address is:

22 Eddy Street, 10th floor
Gatineau Quebec
Telephone: 819-420-6816
Toll-Free: 1-855-969-9922
TTY: 819-420-6905

Individuals interested in visiting the reading room must phone ahead to make an appointment.

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