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 increasing the number of women in leadership and decision-making positions, particularly in central agencies and security services, and to supporting gender equality and diversity in Canadian companies.

• 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.

• Additionally, women now represent 49% of all Governor in Council appointments as a result of changes made to the selection process; 53% of all new appointees have identified as women.

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 represent more than half (53%) of all new Governor in Council appointments made by the federal government under the open, transparent, and merit-based approach. As of June 20th, 2019, women represented 49% of all Governor in Council appointees.

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. The 2019 mandate letter directed the Minister to renew her commitment to a Federal Plan for Gender Equality, which will also support the work in advancing gender equality in leadership and decision-making positions.

The mandate letter also directed the Minister to work with the President of the Treasury Board and the Prime Minister to increase the number of women in senior decision-making positions across government, particularly in central agencies and in our security services. In addition, the Minister will work with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry to support continued gender equality and diversity in Canadian companies.

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