2025-2026 Gender-based analysis plus
Section 1: institutional GBA Plus governance and capacity
Governance
Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) considerations are discussed and applied through the Veterans Review and Appeal Board's (VRAB, the Board) governance processes. The Board's Executive Team provide oversight of GBA Plus implementation and reporting activities, led by the Board's GBA Plus champion. GBA Plus considerations inform planning, reporting and performance measurement activities, including the preparation of the Departmental Results Report and the Supplementary Information Table. The Board continues to support the Government of Canada's commitment to considering the diverse needs and experiences of our clients in its decision-making processes.
Capacity
GBA Plus training for staff and Members is an important component of the Board's efforts to integrate GBA Plus considerations into its work. The Board promotes GBA Plus training and tools available through the Canada School of Public Service and Women and Gender Equality Canada, and encourages participation in training and awareness activities offered through Veterans Affairs Canada.
GBA Plus training is included in the Board's onboarding curriculum for new employees, helping to build awareness of how diverse identity factors and lived experiences may affect access to programs and services.
During 2025-2026, the Board continued implementing initiatives under its Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and applied a GBA Plus lens to departmental planning, reporting and program analysis activities. Over the past fiscal year, VRAB has continued to improve its reporting capacity through its continued work on a new dataset. This improved dataset will provide clearer insight into demographic data, in an effort to ensure our service addresses all clients.
Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus
As a small organization, the Veterans Review and Appeal Board does not have any full-time equivalents (FTEs) dedicated exclusively to GBA Plus activities. However, the Board has employees who support GBA Plus-related reporting, governance, training and analysis activities as part of their broader responsibilities. These activities represented approximately 0.25 FTEs during 2025-2026.
Section 2: gender and diversity impacts, by program
Core Responsibility: Appeals
Program Name: Review and Appeal
| Distribution | Group |
|---|---|
| By gender1 | Predominantly men (80% or more men) |
| By age group | No significant intergenerational impacts or impacts on generations between youths and seniors |
Specific demographic group(s) to be monitored
The Board monitors available demographic information to better understand the population accessing its program. This includes Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, Royal Canadian Mounted Police members, family members, clients across age groups, clients identified by sex-at-birth information, and clients from rural and urban communities. Indirectly impacted groups may include family members and caregivers and support persons who assist clients throughout the appeal process. Through the application of a GBA Plus lens, the Board seeks to identify potential barriers and support fair, accessible, and equitable services for all clients.
Key Program impacts on Gender and diversity
The Board serves a diverse client population across age groups, marital statuses and geographic locations. Available demographic information collected by the Board shows that clients continue to be predominantly male (84%), while women represented 16% of clients in 2025-2026. Monitoring these demographic trends supports the Board's understanding of who is accessing its review and appeal processes and helps inform ongoing efforts to ensure services remain accessible and responsive to the diverse needs and experiences of clients.
Key program impact statistics
| Statistics | Observed Results for fiscal year 2025-2026 | Data Source | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % breakdown of program clients by sex at birth (male/female) | Male | % | Female | % | Unknown | % | VRAB internal reports | |
| 7360 | 84% | 1364 | 16% | 23 | <1% | |||
| % breakdown of program clients by sex at birth (male/female) and age | Age | Male | % | Female | % | Unknown | % | VRAB internal reports |
| <29 | 158 | 86% | 25 | 14% | 0 | 0% | ||
| 30-49 | 2722 | 81% | 620 | 19% | 0 | 0% | ||
| 50-69 | 3025 | 82% | 644 | 17% | 15 | <1% | ||
| 70+ | 1455 | 95% | 75 | 5% | 8 | <1% | ||
| % breakdown of program clients by sex at birth (male/female) and marital status | Marital Status | Male | % | Female | % | Other | % | >VRAB internal reports |
| Married / Common Law | 3373 | 86% | 545 | 14% | 3 | <1% | ||
| Single | 3670 | 83% | 723 | 16% | 20 | <1% | ||
| Divorced / Separated | 189 | 74% | 66 | 26% | 0 | 0% | ||
| Widowed / Survivor | 119 | 81% | 28 | 19% | 0 | 0% | ||
| Unknown | 9 | 82% | 2 | 8% | 0 | 0% | ||
| % breakdown of program clients by sex at birth (male/female) and community | Community | Male | % | Female | % | Other | % | VRAB internal reports |
| Rural | 1580 | 85% | 264 | 14% | 8 | <1% | ||
| Urban | 5780 | 84% | 1100 | 16% | 15 | <1% | ||
Note: The ‘Unknown’ sex at birth category includes cases where a client’s sex at birth data is missing Results in table may not equal 100% due to rounding. | ||||||||
GBA Plus data collection plan
During 2025-2026, the Board used available administrative data on sex at birth, age, marital status and community type to better understand the population accessing its Review and Appeal Program. Analysis confirmed that the Board's client base continues to be predominantly male, while also highlighting demographic differences across age groups, marital statuses, and rural and urban communities. The Board uses this information to support GBA Plus reporting, inform planning, performance measurement and organizational decision-making, and monitor trends in the client population over time. These insights help identify potential barriers and service considerations for different client groups and ensure that program analysis reflects the diverse circumstances of Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, Royal Canadian Mounted Police members and their families.
While current demographic information is limited to data available through existing administrative systems, the Board recognizes that additional intersectional data could support a more comprehensive understanding of client experiences. Going forward, the Board will continue to improve the quality and consistency of available demographic data, enhance its reporting and analytical capabilities, and assess opportunities to expand the collection and use of additional demographic information where appropriate and feasible. The Board continues to work on a new reporting dashboard which, when completed, will optimize our reporting capacity, ensuring further monitoring of client usage.