Equality Impact Statements
What are the Equality Impact Statements?
West Coast LEAF developed the Equality Impact Statements to be a legislative auditing and analysis tool. They were developed to assist equality-seeking groups and government actors in ensuring that provincial legislation is having a positive impact on British Columbians. The analysis uses gender as a focal point to compare the intentions of law-makers to meet standards of fairness and equality with the actual outcomes of legislative and policy choices. The Equality Impact Statements highlight where the intentions of law-makers have been successful and where they have not, and offer considerations for legislative or policy reform. Each Equality Impact Statement outlines the positive, negative, and potentially gendered impacts of a given piece of legislation on particularly vulnerable groups.
Equality Impact Statement: Carbon Tax
This Equality Impact Statement examines some of the impacts of BC's Carbon Tax Act (2008). West Coast LEAF identified two groups who may be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the carbon tax: low-income individuals, and people living in rural areas.
In order to limit the scope of this analysis West Coast LEAF has focused exclusively on transportation issues as it relates to the carbon tax. West Coast LEAF has made a legal review of the legislation as well as conducting a literature review of available research. In a limited consultation process West Coast LEAF heard from women's organizations outside of the Lower Mainland in regard to the impacts of the carbon tax. We approached women's organizations, advocates and community researchers in Campbell River, Lower Mainland, Williams Lake and Penticton.
Full research findings on the possible or actual gendered impacts of the Carbon Tax Act can be found in the carbon tax backgrounder.
Equality Impact Statement: Residential Tenancy Act
This Equality Impact Statement examines some of the impacts of BC's Residential Tenancy Act (2002). West Coast LEAF identified two groups as being particularly vulnerable to these provisions of the Residential Tenancy Act: 1) seniors, particularly senior women, and 2) single mothers and their children.
West Coast LEAF reviewed the Residential Tenancy Act and records of the legislative debates surrounding its introduction in 2002. We then reviewed literature from a wide variety of sources pertaining to housing rights, focusing on research specific to the experiences of women and seniors. We also conducted consultations with tenants and tenant advocates in BC, most of whom were based in the City of Vancouver.
Full research findings on the possible or actual gendered impacts of the Residential Tenancy Act can be found in the residential tenancy backgrounder.
Equality Impact Statement: Home Heating
This Equality Impact Statement examines some of the impacts of BC's British Columbia Utilities Commission Act (1996), Demand Side Measures Regulation (2008), and the BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership on vulnerable groups. West Coast LEAF identified two groups who may be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the legislative framework surrounding home heating: low-income individuals in rural communities, and single mothers.
West Coast LEAF conducted a literature review from a wide variety of sources focusing on energy poverty and gendered analysis of climate change. In addition, West Coast LEAF reviewed legislation, regulations, and provincial legislative debates for the years surrounding major revisions to the Utilities Commission Act and the introduction of Demand Side Measures Regulation. West Coast LEAF conducted a limited consultation with community organizations and legal advocates in a small rural community in the north.
Full research findings on the possible or actual gendered impacts of the Utilities Commission Act, Demand Side Measures Regulation and the BC Energy Plan can be found in the home heating backgrounder.
