"Gender-based analysis is a process that assesses the differential impact of proposed and/or existing policies, programs and legislation on Women and men.

It makes it possible for policy to be undertaken with an appreciation of gender differences, of the nature of relationships between Women and men and of their different social realities, life expectations and economic circumstances.

It is a tool for understanding social processes and for responding with informed and equitable options."

A particular application of such analysis is contained, for example, in an article describing a gender analysis of access to the Internet and examining policies required to ensure such access. A more recent example of how gender-based analysis becomes a hot policy issue is buried in a progress [the following link, links to a PDF document for which you need an Acrobat Reader] report (rapport) submitted to, endorsed by, and made public by the Premiers' annual meeting in August of 1999.

This report was from the provincial-territorial working group on social policy reform and renewal, and among the recommendations in the report endorsed by the Premiers was a reiteration of the working group commitment "to gender analysis in social policy renewal."

To date, such analysis has either not been carried out, or not made public. Status of Women Canada has also committed itself to refining the application of its existing economic gender equality indicators (indicateurs économiques de l'égalité entre les sexes) to specific policy areas.