Theses (Public Administration)
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Item A critical discourse analysis: Comparing how governments and non-government organizations operationalize intersectionality within Gender-Based Analysis Plus(2025) Tang, Stephanie; Lepore, WalterSince 1995, the Canadian federal government has made commitments to gender equality and addressing issues of diversity in the policy context (WAGE, 2022). In 2015 and 2017, the federal government built upon these commitments with the launch of several initiatives to further advance gender equality, including a commitment to use Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in policymaking and programming to support equity and inclusion (Government of Canada, 2019). GBA+ incorporates an intersectional lens to assess the impacts of policies, programs, legislation, projects, and more with consideration to gender and diversity (Women and Gender Equality Canada [WAGE], 2022). Since its introduction within the federal government of Canada, challenges—mainly related to capacity and resources—have hindered the full implementation of GBA+ across federal departments and agencies (Office of the Auditor General of Canada [OAG], 2022). Other levels of government and non-government organizations within various sectors have also begun to implement GBA+. While the application of intersectionality within GBA+ has been well-studied at the federal level (e.g. Cameron & Tedds, 2023; Johnstone & Momani, 2019, Johnstone & Momani 2022; Manning & Levac, 2022; Lefroy & Stacey, 2022; Scala & Paterson, 2017), there remain gaps in understanding intersectionality within GBA+ among other levels of government and within NGOs. This study addresses two main research questions: how is intersectionality within GBA+ operationalized by NGOs in comparison to government organizations; and how do service providers apply GBA+ to support identifying the impacts of programs, services, policy and projects in consideration of gender and diversity in comparison to public servants? Purpose and Objectives This study explores how intersectionality within GBA+ was operationalized among provincial and federal government organizations and NGOs, to support a better understanding of its implementation, and whether discrepancies in the aspects used to identify its various dimensions exist across sectors. Operationalization is the processes and techniques used to implement norms in ways that can be measured (Huelss, 2017; Bhandari, 2022; Newsome, 2016; Loseke, 2017). Comparing how different levels of government and NGOs prepare their staff to operationalize intersectionality can provide insight about the similarities and differences in their training and capacity building strategies. This study uses a critical discourse analysis (CDA) to examine GBA+ training materials of different levels of government and NGOs to understand how institutional and sociocultural contexts, as well as power dynamics, influenced discourse on intersectionality within GBA+. The rationale for focusing on training materials is that it is a non-obtrusive approach which can reduce ethical concerns, as extracting information from governments and NGOs on organizational processes can be obtrusive. Also, training is an important part of supporting change management (Sartori, Constantini, & Tommasi, 2018), which is necessary if governments and NGOs want to facilitate transformative and social justice-oriented change. Both of these often involve systemic and structural change within organizations (Cameron & Tedds, 2023; Johnstone & Momani, 2019; Scala & Paterson, 2017). This study also aimed to explore how public servants apply intersectionality within GBA+ to assess the impacts of policies, programs, and initiatives, in comparison to service providers, to make sense of the similarities and differences in their understanding and approaches. A critical epistemology was used to identify how social and cultural ideologies, sociohistorical contexts, and subjectivity influenced knowledge construction (McGregor, 2018; Farias Laliberte Rudman, & Magalhães, 2016). A critical ontology was applied to explore how perceptions, social constructions, interconnected systems (Demirbaga, 2024), political values, and power dynamics shape reality (McGregor, 2018). This may influence the way governments and NGOs train their staff to operationalize intersectionality within GBA+. Research methods The methods used included a CDA of training materials and interviews. The CDA provided an opportunity to explore how governments and NGOs build capacity for the operationalization of intersectionality, as well as semi-structured interviews to understand how public servants apply GBA+ in comparison to service providers. The document analysis was used to analyze publicly available and online training materials and resources of the various levels of governments and of NGOs, such as transcripts of recorded training sessions, guidelines and online courses about GBA+. This supported the investigation of language and discourse used to describe intersectionality within GBA+. Interviews were conducted with individuals with experience as either a public servant and/or service provider, who were also trained and experienced using GBA+. The interviews provided context on how intersectionality within GBA+ is applied when considering the impacts of policies, programs and initiatives. The combination of approaches supported triangulating the findings. Findings This study suggests that governments and NGOs’ capacity building strategies to implement intersectionality within GBA+ are inconsistent . Using a revised version of Christoffersen’s (2021) typology of five applied concepts of intersectionality and Cameron & Tedds’ (2023) Adapted intersectionality visual as a conceptual framework, this study found that governments and NGOs used different applied concepts of intersectionality within GBA+ which resulted in discrepancies in the operational definition for intersectionality. For example, intersectionality was operationally defined by some governments and NGOs to include all three components of Cameron & Tedds’ (2023) framework, which considered individual identities and experiences, systems of oppression (e.g., racism, sexism, and colonialism) and sites of power (e.g., media, organizations, and government), while others included only some components, such as focusing on identity factors (e.g., race, sex, income, and gender). In addition, the findings indicated that the analysis of power dynamics and relationships was not incorporated clearly within training materials. Discursive strategies, like euphemisms, diverted the focus from exploring power dynamics and relationships between intersectional components. This means that public servants and service providers are not being trained on key aspects of intersectionality which also contributes to its depoliticization. For instance, the limited discourse on power reinforced specific narratives and discourse which legitimized institutional power rather than confronting it. In these situations, governments and NGOs did not provide an opportunity to create transformative changes, such as paradigm shifts and cultural shifts within an organization. Additionally, the scarcity of discourse that specifically described social justice as part of intersectionality resulted in governments and NGOs focusing less on how they would support social justice-oriented change. Intersectionality was not portrayed as meeting its full potential in government and NGO training materials because it was not depicted as supporting transformative and social justice-oriented change. Instead, governments and NGOs demonstrated the organizational benefits to implementing intersectionality. For example, GBA+ helped to look at how they could improve organizational processes and prevent misinformation and generalizations about specific identity groups. During interviews, government and NGO participants could not provide direct examples of how they applied intersectionality within GBA+ due to their confidential work or GBA+ still being in the development stages within their sector. However, in alignment with the document analysis, both government and NGO participants indicated that analyzing power dynamics and relationships was important when applying GBA+. For instance, participants reflected on the power dynamics within and between organizations that influenced the implementation and quality of GBA+, and the types of knowledge production used for GBA+. Additionally, NGO participants highlighted how it was necessary to situate GBA+ within its context, for example, by acknowledging that it is applied through a colonial lens, to identify the existing challenges of supporting transformative and social justice-oriented change. Recommendations 1. To fully realize the potential of intersectionality within GBA+, governments and NGOs should consider utilizing Cameron & Tedds' Adapted intersectionality visual (2023) as a framework. This tool can guide the application of GBA+ to ensure that training materials provide a comprehensive understanding of intersectionality. 2. More attention should be given to power dynamics and the relationships among individual identities and experiences, systems of oppression, and sites of power. This focus will also help integrate sociopolitical and historical contexts, reducing the risk of stigmatizing identity groups as having inherent deficits. 3. Finally, clarifying how governments and NGOs plan to foster social justice-oriented change through GBA+ is essential to promoting transformation that aligns with goals under gender and intersectionality mainstreaming.Item Localizing the sustainable development goals in the Greater Victoria area: “It’s the little things that count”(2025) Joyce, Stephen; Lepore, WalterThis thesis explores the development and implementation of a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) to localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the Greater Victoria Area (GVA). It examines key challenges and opportunities arising from the region’s multi-jurisdictional governance system and provides actionable recommendations for policymakers to advance SDG localization. Four research questions guide this study: 1) What strategies, policies, and best practices from cities that have successfully implemented VLRs can be drawn upon to inform SDG localization in the GVA? 2) How can these lessons be adapted to the specific context of the GVA to enhance SDG localization efforts? 3) How have cities with successful localization efforts integrated stakeholder engagement and collaboration by incorporating multiple municipalities within their city to align their SDGs to create strategies for implementing VLRs? 4) What are the challenges and barriers faced by cities during the process of implementing localized agendas and VLRs for SDG localization, and what mitigation strategies and solutions have been employed to overcome these challenges? To answer these questions, the study focuses on: (1) analyzing successful VLR models to guide tailored recommendations for the GVA, (2) assessing how localized SDG targets can be developed in complex governance contexts, and (3) offering strategies to implement a territorial approach to the SDGs, contributing to the global agenda. Using a realist synthesis, taxonomic analysis, and key informant interviews, the research provides context-specific insights for the GVA's VLR. Chapter 1 outlines the research problem, objectives, and the governance context of the GVA and the Capital Regional District (CRD). Chapter 2 reviews the literature on SDG localization, analyzing case studies of cities with VLRs to identify common challenges and best practices. It also presents an analytical framework illustrating the logical flow of the methodology, preliminary findings, and results. Chapter 3 details the research design, including collective case studies, realist synthesis, and Spradley’s taxonomic analysis. The VLRs of 11 cities were initially examined, narrowing to four based on their relevance to the GVA. A typology of governance, measurement, and implementation models was developed to compare these cities’ practices with primary data from interviews, assessing the most suitable VLR model for the GVA. Chapter 4 presents preliminary findings from secondary data analysis, which identified models of VLR development in multi-jurisdictional, medium-sized cities. Chapter 5 provides insights from interviews with GVA stakeholders, shedding light on governance, SDG measurement frameworks, and policy implementation. These findings informed the preferred VLR model for the GVA. Chapter 6 addresses the research questions. For strategies, policies, and best practices (research question 1), the study recommends a hybrid governance model that integrates local leadership with external support, data-driven mapping with transparent systems, cross-sector collaboration, and policy alignment with SDG frameworks. Case studies from Thunder Bay and Orlando highlight the importance of combining internal expertise with external guidance, clear indicators, and inclusive stakeholder engagement to drive SDG localization. These practices can be adapted in the GVA to ensure equity and reflect local priorities. For adapting lessons to the GVA (research question 2), the research emphasizes hybrid governance, data transparency, cross-sector collaboration, comprehensive policy alignment, and equitable approaches as critical components for tailoring SDG localization to the region’s unique governance structure. Regarding stakeholder engagement across multiple municipalities (research question 3), the study finds that cities with VLRs rarely integrate SDG efforts across multiple jurisdictions due to political and logistical challenges. However, consistent metrics and benchmarks could streamline regional coordination, especially on shared priorities like climate action. Another approach involves categorizing SDG thematic areas that align with each municipality’s strengths, reducing duplication, and fostering collaboration. Lastly, on challenges and solutions for VLR implementation (research question 4), the research identifies staffing shortages, financial constraints, political will, and data complexity as significant barriers. In rectifying these challenges, the research suggests applying solutions that involve partnerships with external organizations, hybrid funding models, and collecting localized data on the SDGs to embed municipal planning into the VLR to ensure its long-term commitment and sustainability. Chapter 7 makes six key recommendations for municipalities in the CRD to implement a VLR. These recommendations address the CRD's multi-jurisdictional governance challenges, align local SDG priorities with global frameworks, and overcome practical barriers such as resource constraints, political will, and stakeholder engagement. Chapter 8 emphasizes collaborative governance, transparent measurement systems, and Indigenous engagement as crucial to creating a successful VLR. While this study focuses on four municipalities within the GVA, future research should expand to include broader CRD municipalities and Indigenous nations. The GVA is well-positioned to set an example for other medium-sized cities in Canada and globally by localizing the SDGs through a VLR. Policymakers and researchers can build on these findings to advance the 2030 Agenda, ensuring long-term regional benefits from the SDGs.Item Journeying to be in a good way: Lessons in gift-reciprocity relations from the Choctaw Nation and the Irish(2024) Quilty, Ethan Connor; Mainprize, Brent; Thiessen, SusanneAlmost two centuries ago, a Nation in need was offered a hand in solidarity from another Nation an ocean away. The resulting relationship formed by this gift of support has since resulted in a longstanding, diplomatic and equitable Nation-to-Nation relationship, founded in the principles of gifting and reciprocating. This thesis explores the ongoing gift-reciprocity relationship between the Choctaw Nation and the Irish, its origins, history, and impacts. Using a storywork methodology, this thesis weaves together personal and shared stories to provide a practical guide to being in a good way. A terminology connected to the processes of reconciliation and reconstruction, being in a good way represents a means by which individuals can learn, reflect, and act upon their positionality to be better allies, advocates, and collaborators. Through the exploration of personal and shared stories, in addition to historical examples, this thesis confirms that the ongoing relationship between these Nations is unique and important for relationship-building efforts for other Nations, individuals, communities and organizations. From this relationship, this thesis offers several key actions that could guide readers to begin their own journeying in a good way.Item Bridging intent and action: Uncovering barriers to Indigenous collaboration in Metro Vancouver’s climate action development(2024) Taylor, Laura; Wiebe, Sarah MarieThis thesis investigates the critical alignment between intention and process in the pursuit of ‘genuine collaboration’ with First Nations and Indigenous communities on climate action within Metro Vancouver. This study explores the unique regional barriers that impede meaningful partnerships toward epistemological pluralism by identifying and analyzing the vital role of Indigenous perspectives in shaping practical, holistic, and inclusive climate responses. Aligning closely with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and subsequent federal and provincial directives, Metro Vancouver has committed to fostering genuine collaboration with First Nations and enhancing Indigenous inclusion in climate policy. This includes adopting trans-local guidance to engage First Nations in projects in an ‘early and ongoing’ manner. However, despite these commitments, current engagement with First Nations on climate initiatives often begins at a stage when draft policy documents and project definitions are already established, limiting the capacity to incorporate diverse epistemologies—a core principle underpinning reconciliation-driven collaboration and foundational to effective planetary health interventions. This study investigates the challenges and barriers Metro Vancouver faces in cultivating deep, collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities around varied climate knowledge systems. To focus this exploration, the research examines Metro Vancouver staff’s experiences initiating 'early' engagement as an initial step towards achieving ‘meaningful engagement’ and ‘genuine collaboration’ with First Nations. Using interpretive policy analysis and a critical policy lens, this research explores findings from a literature review, critical document analysis and ten qualitative interviews with regional staff to determine how Indigenous climate engagement guidance like ‘early involvement’ is interpreted, communicated and implemented to pursue genuine collaboration. Finally, the study makes recommendations on how to move forward, albeit incrementally. Findings revealed that for climate policy, development specifically, ‘early’ is a misnomer, and the process requires ongoing dialogue around climate issues outside of a reductionist project scope to accommodate holistic approaches. A co-developed dialogue space that democratizes knowledge would be a step towards meaningfully considering the systemic drivers of climate change through epistemic pluralism and would help build collaborative relationships built on trust with First Nations, both of which are needed to create holistic environmental interventions. Effective co-developed climate policy should not seek to overcome differences to co-create but work to accommodate plural epistemologies that challenge Western dualism by focusing on connection and relationships to build transformative futures together. This thesis advances regional efforts towards more effective and socially just climate solutions in Metro Vancouver by identifying barriers and proposing pathways for stronger Indigenous climate collaboration through equal partnerships.Item A just transition for oil and gas regions? A comparative analysis of just transition policies in Denmark, New Zealand and Scotland(2024) Kiernan, Sophie; Krawchenko, TamaraOil and gas regions across the world are undergoing significant changes as the pressure to decarbonise economies and reduce emissions becomes increasingly necessary to limit the effects of climate change. Concerns regarding broader impacts to the economy, uncertainty surrounding what we are transitioning toward, and, vitally, the inherent risks to workers and their communities are important considerations for ensuring a just transition. This comparative policy review examines just transition commitments, drivers, institutional structures, and accountability mechanisms in three oil and gas dependent regions, drawing out key lessons and leading practices. The regions of Taranaki (New Zealand), Aberdeen (Scotland), and Esbjerg (Denmark) have all committed to transitioning away from the oil and gas sector and employ place-based policies to drive their transitions, with distinctive challenges and opportunities that can inform Canada’s own transition. These cases utilise expert interviews to guide an in-depth analysis of academic and grey literature to reveal key characteristics of a just transition that Canada can integrate into its own policies.Item An evaluation of the District of Sooke’s official community plan from a planetary health perspective(2024) Mountfort, Kai Robert; Brousselle, AstridThe District of Sooke is drafting an Official Community Plan (OCP) that once adopted will set the vision for Sooke until 2050. Given the nature of municipal jurisdiction, municipalities are critically positioned to respond to the current international environmental crises. This mixed-methods study evaluated the draft OCP using a Planetary Health Framework (PHF), multi-sector focus groups and questionnaires. The study assessed if and under what conditions the draft OCP contributes to planetary health. Focus group participants saw the draft OCP as promoting many of the PHF’s dimensions positively. However, participants noted concerns around inadequate community engagement, the OCP’s design/clarity, the risks to mental and physical health, government coordination and decision-making bias. Recommendations for how Sooke could better contribute to planetary health were raised by participants and presented in this thesis. This evaluation was the first application of planetary health approaches for a comprehensive evaluation of an existing policy.Item Turnover and the retention of Indigenous executives in Indigenous organizations(2024) Ducharme, Qátsya7 Mason; Lindquist, EvertThis dissertation explores the phenomenon of executive turnover within Indigenous organizations in Canada, addressing a critical gap in the literature on Indigenous leadership and governance. Drawing on mixed methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups with Indigenous executives and organizational leaders, the study examines the demographic and professional characteristics of Indigenous executives, the causes and impacts of turnover, and strategies for retention. It reveals that executive turnover is driven by factors such as lateral violence, burnout, inadequate compensation, and governance challenges, significantly affecting organizational stability and performance. Findings emphasize the importance of culturally grounded retention strategies, fair compensation, and improved governance practices to support Indigenous leadership. By identifying actionable insights and theoretical propositions, this work contributes to the development of effective policies and practices to strengthen Indigenous governance and self-determination.Item Exploring the experiences of non-traditional military spouses concerning the impact the Canadian Armed Forces has on their careers and lives(2024) Maul-Wilson, Sonja; Marcy, RichardPolicies concerning Canadian military families established by the Government of Canada (GoC) and Department of National Defence (DND) have been described as ingraining traditional family constructs. However, demographic transformations away from the traditional family among the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) highlight the importance of having an accurate view of the demographics and experiences of all manner of Canadian military families and spouses. This study explored the experiences of Canadian, male non-traditional military spouses concerning the CAF’s impact on their careers and lives. It shed light on an understudied sub-set of the military spouse community and their unique experiences. The findings include limited negative impacts on their careers as a result of being a military spouse, plus a shared ownership among domestic division of labour between them and their spouse in the military. In exploring this under-studied population, this study highlights the need to understand and account for the diverse spectrum of military families and spouses, and their realities and needs vis-à-vis the Canadian military.Item Aboriginal rights : Canada's specific claims policy, and the case of Lax Kw'alaams(1995) Shaw, Dominique (Nikki) MariaItem Accounting for natural capital in BC : forestry and conflict in the Slocan Valley(1998) Green, Thomas LeslieBC's timber industry appears to be unsustainable. Government has drawn on economic analysis applied in a Multiple Accounts framework to reduce social conflict and arrive at more rational forest management decisions. Such studies report income in a way inconsistent with its Hicksian definition reinterpreted in a "full" world. This inconsistency and related deficiencies favour industrial forestry over ecosystem-based approaches. Building on Hicksian income and a societal commitment to sustainable development, I propose that economic analysis of renewable resource extraction be required to account for natural capital through an "interest/depletion" approach, whereby scenarios are evaluated against an ecosystem-based baseline. Applying these proposals to BC's Slocan Valley, where a struggle to protect ecosystems from industrial forestry culminated in civil disobedience, I illustrate how economic consequences are recast in a way relevant to sustainability. Political economy considerations temper the prognosis: values, perspectives, and interests are diverse and contested; power is concentrated; reform unlikely.Item Exploring the role of emissions-economy trade-offs in climate policy support : comparative survey evidence from the United Kingdom and Australia(2024) Bell, Christopher; Rhodes, EkaterinaCountries vary in their success in decoupling greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth to meet emissions reduction targets. Using a web-based survey of citizens in the United Kingdom (n = 1,009) and Australia (n = 1,029), with different decoupling rates, this study assesses levels of citizen support for different types of climate policies, beliefs in trade-offs between emissions reduction and economic growth, and associations between these emissions-economy trade-off beliefs and support for climate policies. The results show compulsory policies, including carbon taxes and bans, receive the highest opposition. There is little variation between the studied countries for climate policy support and emissions-economy trade-off beliefs. The results also show that citizens who are agnostic about economic growth support policies the most. Therefore, decision-makers should focus on communicating climate policies’ economic and social benefits for the economic growth-concerned citizens to increase overall policy support.Item Ground truthing: An Exploration of Ancestral Governance in Nuxalk Homelands(2024) Thompson, Caitlin; Wiebe, Sarah MarieThis thesis explores how Indigenous governance, as specific to Nuxalk, is important to Canada’s understanding of historic land dispossession, reconciliation, and community development. The study demonstrates how Nuxalk governance is inseparable from Nuxalk homelands, how governance supports Nuxalkmc’s rights and responsibilities related to their homelands and explores whether or not Nuxalk land governance is supported, broadly speaking, by specific goals in the Province of British Columbia’s Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan. Most importantly, the research will help to illuminate how Nuxalk governance is applicable, functioning, and practiced by Nuxalk people today.Item Exploring the “White Space” Between Leadership Training and Leadership Development Outcomes in the British Columbia Public Sector(2024) Kim, Han Na; Marcy, RichardMany public sector employees take leadership training to become better leaders. However, employing the knowledge learned to produce real-life outcomes does not happen automatically. A developmental space exists between acquiring leadership knowledge and the desired leadership outcomes, also called the “white-space.” This study explored this space between post-training and desired leadership outcomes to investigate how British Columbia public sector employees draw from leadership training and other experiences to become better leaders. This study conducted in-depth one-hour-long interviews with 21 public sector employees in leadership roles across various organizations in B.C. The study addressed how individuals attempt to achieve multidimensional, zero, first, and second-order leadership learning outcomes, what individual, group, and organizational attributes affect the “white-space,” and how individuals learn from their daily life experiences to further their leadership. Significant findings from the interviews include several ways in which B.C. public sector employees attempt to achieve multidimensional and/or zero, first, and second-order learning outcomes in the ‘white space’ post-leadership training. Individuals strive to attain these learning outcomes by supporting team members, nurturing others’ personal development, actively seeking avenues to augment leadership competencies, developing confidence, actively utilizing acquired skills and more. Findings also reveal the intrinsic motivators that drive public sector employees to pursue leadership development, such as the desire to grow and develop others, achieve tangible positive changes for the public, and foster positive relationships within their teams and organizations. Another key finding is the interplay between individual traits and interpersonal dynamics in shaping leader identity, particularly in the B.C. public sector context. While all participants viewed themselves as leaders, their perceptions of leadership and leader identity were influenced by their perception of their individual traits and who they are in relation to others. Some crucial findings related to individual, team, and organizational attributes that impact the public sector leadership development post-training have also emerged. For example, positive team attributes were supervisory support and peer support, successful collaboration on team projects and ideas, and clarity in roles and responsibilities within the team. Some of the critical negative team factors included uncollaborative team environment, “bad leaders/supervisor,” and lack of social interactions. Concerning organizational attributes, being provided with a mentor or a coach, organizational commitment to leadership development, and opportunities to practice leadership skills were deemed vital, such as opportunities for jobs, new projects, and tasks critical for leadership development. Key findings related to the negative organizational attributes in the public sector included factors such as lack of follow-up discussions or further training, public sector’s hiring and talent management culture that discourages leadership development process and disconnect between training and real-life situations. The last part of the study explored how participants develop leadership through daily life activities through participating in external committees or groups, coaching or volunteering, seeking out leadership training outside of work, reading books or listening to podcasts on leadership, and engaging in self-care activities. Overall, the study demonstrates a complex interplay between these factors that ultimately shape B.C public sector employees’ leader identities and the leadership development process post-training and ends with practical recommendations for public sector leadership development, particularly in the Canadian context.Item Understanding climate risks facing housing finance stakeholders in British Columbia: Interview-based empirical evidence(2024) Howley, Julia; Rhodes, Katya; Majerbi, BasmaThe effects of climate change are yielding unprecedented extreme weather events in British Columbia. The impacts of these climate changes are felt across many sectors, including the housing finance sector. This study seeks to gain an understanding of how physical climate change risks are manifesting in British Columbia (BC)'s housing finance sector and impacting homeowners and homebuilders, and to uncover potential market failures, with a goal of developing recommendations for policy and regulatory responses. Methods comprise conducting eighteen (18) in-depth semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, including: homeowners, construction industry representatives, mortgage insurers, insurance industry representatives, financial lenders, real-estate industry representatives, academic researchers, data providers, and financial and technical regulators. Interview findings focus on gaps or inefficiencies in BC’s housing finance ecosystem covering five key themes: (i) assessing and pricing risk, (ii) lender risk concerns and disclosures, (iii) improving data, modeling, and transparency, (iv) insurance accessibility (v), and adaptation education and incentivization. Based on interview findings, this study recommends policy and regulatory interventions be explored to address the gaps and market failures present within BC's housing finance ecosystem. Recommendations include expanding current and emerging adaptation policy and risk disclosure regulations, improving risk awareness, investing in data and modeling capacities, encouraging cross-collaboration between stakeholders, setting industry standards, incentivizing adaptation measures, and prioritizing risk mitigation.Item Neighbourhood Food Democracy: Participatory Food Asset Mapping in Vancouver’s Westside(2024) Stepkina, Ksenia; Wiebe, Sarah MarieFood insecurity represents a pervasive systemic issue that has a devastating population impact. Ordinary people, especially those most impacted by the failings of the food system, have little say in its governance. Food democracy aims to support regaining of the democratic control of the food system and enable its transformation by promoting active citizen participation in the decision-making processes. This research study presents a vignette to begin to consider potential pathways for supporting participation of equity-denied groups in addressing the issue that directly impacts them. Set in Vancouver’s Westside, this thesis explores the potential of participatory food asset mapping and a focus group discussion as tools for engagement of equity-denied groups in a democratic process. Based on the proposed conceptual framework of neighbourhood food democracy, these Community Based Participatory Action Research methods serve to support research objectives of community empowerment, knowledge co-creation and setting an agenda for social change. The research study engaged 15 community members with lived experience of food insecurity in the Westside in participatory mapping and focus group discussion. Participants identified neighbourhood food priorities, including values and barriers to local food access, as well as considered contributing systemic factors (knowledge co-creation). Participants suggested recommendations for the community, non-profit and public sectors to support community food security by maximizing value, reducing barriers to food access, and addressing systemic factors (agenda for social change). The research study validated the promise of CBPAR methods in supporting participation of equity-denied groups in a democratic process (community empowerment). To fully realize the promise of neighbourhood food democracy, the report recommends ongoing local opportunities for meaningful participation of marginalized groups in democratic processes on the issue that affects them.Item Public Sector Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting in Canada(2024) Coovadia, Zainab; Krawchenko, Tamara; Majerbi, BasmaReporting on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors began as a strategy for companies in the private sector to attract capital and meet investor demand for ESG data. In recent years, it has also been adopted by some governments as they interact with financial markets for their capital needs. Across Canada, several governments have gained awareness of leading ESG practices, frameworks, and standards from international organizations. This thesis explores why, how and the extent to which Canadian governments engage in ESG activities through a comparative content analysis of their ESG reporting. Informed by the literature on policy learning and transfer, the thesis discusses and analyzes the pathways through which ESG reporting guidance is issued, diffused among a wide policy network, and adopted by the public sector. As is shown, some governments are creating unique, jurisdictional frameworks for reporting on their own ESG performance (i.e., Toronto, Alberta, British Columbia). Other governments are integrating some aspect of ESG issues in their financial or investment reporting (i.e., Vancouver, Montreal, Mississauga, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary). A couple governments are applying ESG considerations to economic agreements and other instruments (i.e., Northwest Territories, Government of Canada). Overall, governments in Canada are monitoring the development of international ESG reporting standards, along with their stakeholders’ expectations regarding these standards, as they work to provide more transparent and higher quality ESG data that is comparable with their peers.Item Improving the Skill Development Framework of the Performance Audit and Related Assurance Portfolio for the Office of the Auditor General of BC(2024) Mosavi, Mercedeh; Lindquist , EvertItem Transparency, Accountability, and Accessibility: A Comparative Analysis of the Publication of Transition Documents through the Context of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Canada(2024-01-29) Olynyk, Madison; Speers, KimberlyThis thesis sheds light on transparency, accountability, and accessibility efforts through the lens of British Columbia’s recently published transition documents. Using a multiple case study approach, with cases being the Government of British Columbia’s British Columbia’s website and published transition documents from 2020 and 2022, this research discusses similarities and differences between three of British Columbia’s ministry’s transition binders and compares findings to government transition documents and websites in the Government of Canada and Manitoba. Ultimately, one of the key findings from this research is that British Columbia meets more of the transparency, accountability, and accessibility criteria outlined in this thesis than the Governments of Manitoba and Canada. The research finds that the Government of British Columbia makes it easier for citizens to hold their governments accountable than the Governments of Canada and Manitoba. Regarding accessibility and transparency, British Columbia performs well: on par with the Government of Canada and better than the Government of Manitoba. Additionally, ministry-specific findings in British Columbia prove that ministries may be given some level of independence when supporting these initiatives. The thesis also identifies the areas where British Columbia has the potential to improve these metrics when publicizing its binders.Item Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Implementation of Indigenous Relations and Leadership Competencies in Leadership Competitions at the BC Office of the Auditor General(2024-01-29) Moore, Natalie; Ney, TaraThe BC Public Service is working towards improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The BC Office of the Auditor General (BC OAG) is also making commitments to improve DEI in the organization. The purpose of this thesis is to assist with these improvements, focusing on how DEI can be better incorporated into hiring practices for leaders at the BC OAG. Specifically, this thesis is seeking to determine how the BC OAG implements competencies in leadership competitions in a way that aligns with these DEI commitments. To assess this, the researcher undertook a qualitative mixed methods research approach, consisting of a cross-jurisdictional scan of Canadian audit offices, structured interviews with BC OAG staff members who had been panelists on leadership competitions, and a document review of leadership competition files. From the cross-jurisdictional scan, the key finding is that Canadian audit offices value and plan around DEI quite differently from one another. The key finding from the structured interviews is that DEI is not a requirement in competency implementation at the BC OAG, nor is it a requirement for panelists to utilize a DEI lens in their role on leadership panels. The key finding from the document review is that the competencies the BC OAG utilizes in leadership competitions have the potential to incorporate DEI, but this incorporation is inconsistent. From these findings, an option was presented to the BC OAG to develop its own explicit DEI competency that is tested for in every leadership competition.Item Front-liners on the Sidelines: The credential recognition experiences of Filipino internationally-educated nurses (IENs) in Victoria, British Columbia (BC)(2024-01-19) Leonida, Micah; Krawchenko, TamaraThe impacts of the nursing labour shortage are being felt across Canada but especially in Victoria, BC where place-based realities have impacted internationally-educated nurses’ (IEN) professional pursuits. Rising inflation, housing costs, and living expenses create challenging contexts for IENs from the Philippines who aim to settle, integrate and complete professional recertification processes in order to become registered nurses in BC. As provinces across the country vie for nurses to alleviate strains on the health care system, this study explores Filipino IENs’ integration experiences and settlement barriers. The study examines to what extent these factors might have influenced their educational upgrading, professional recertification, and workplace acculturation experiences. This exploratory study rooted in an interpretivist paradigm examines the experiences of nurses from the Philippines who recently migrated to Victoria in the last ten years. The key findings of the study posit that financial barriers, time barriers, deskilling, and mental health challenges are the most prevalent obstacles encountered by Filipino IENs in Victoria, BC. These findings are further expanded upon in order to understand the impacts that migration pathways, post- and pre-arrival immigration processes, familial responsibilities, English-language requirements, workplace discrimination and professional recertification pathways have on the complex integration and settlement experiences of Filipino IENs in Victoria, BC. Nine recommendations are proposed including the creation of more efficient migration pathways, investing in accessible information supports, prioritising effective communication, designing equitable policies that account for familial responsibilities, supporting flexible English language requirements, developing local navigational supports for IENs, addressing deskilling, adapting professional recertification pathways, and increasing collaboration between clinical practice programs.