Question Period Note: Gender Equality in Leadership and Decision Making Positions

What is the Government of Canada doing to support gender equality through access to leadership and decision-making positions?

*The Government of Canada is committed to gender equality in leadership and decision-making positions, in both the public and private sector, and is taking various measures to achieve this.

*Based on recent changes to the selection process, the representation of women in Governor in Council appointments is now at
49%.

*Also, the Government now requires that all federally-incorporated organizations disclose the diversity of their senior management and board of directors. This will increase corporate transparency and advance gender equality and diversity in Canada's boardrooms.

In 1990 and 1995 the United Nations Economic and Social Council passed a resolution calling on governments, political parties, trade unions, as well as professional and other representative groups to adopt a 30% minimum proportion of women in leadership positions, with a view to achieving equal representation. As of 2019, Canada has yet to achieve this goal in most forms of leadership, including various levels of elected office, business and public sector leadership.

In February 2016, the Government established an open and transparent process for selecting Governor in Council appointees. This process has helped strengthen trust in Canada's democracy and ensure the integrity of its public institutions. Women now represent more than half of all Governor in Council appointments made by the federal government under the open, transparent, and merit-based approach. This has led to an increase of 15 percentage points in the representation of women serving as Governor in Council appointees, which is now at 49%.

On May 1, 2018, Bill C-25 received Royal Assent. This Bill amends the Canada Business Corporations Act to require corporations to disclose diversity information to their shareholders, including representation of women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities’ on their boards of directors and senior management teams.

The Department for Women and Gender Equality, through its Women's Program, supports projects that address systemic barriers impeding women’s progress and advancement in three priority areas, including increasing women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles.

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