The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for the Office of Women and Gender Equality:

Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this honourable House to talk about our government’s use of Gender-Based Analysis Plus, also known as GBA+, on all newly implemented programs, policies, legislation and budgets.

Speaker, the use of GBA+ ensures that the perspectives of those who are marginalized are brought to the forefront, and considered at the very earliest stages of policy development.

The Premier included references to the need for GBA+ in the mandate letters for every Minister, which is a clear indication of the importance of this practice to our government.

The Office of Women and Gender Equality has provided targeted GBA+ training to over 500 public service employees who are involved in program, policy, budget and legislative development. This training and approach has resulted in an increased focus on gender-based policy decision making.

Speaker, most notably, just this week our government introduced the Pay Equity and Pay Transparency Act, which supports fair and equitable compensation practices in the province. GBA+ analysis played an important role in drafting and finalizing this legislation, to create a strong foundation for equitable compensation practices in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Our government is investigating virtual training options to cultivate further understanding of GBA+ throughout the public service, as well as making the training more accessible for agencies, boards and commissions.

Speaker, our government will continue to seek out and implement new and innovative tools, methods, and practices to help us create a more equitable province for all people.

Thank you.