A report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce shows women are still seriously underrepresented in top jobs, with just 21 percent holding a seat at the boardroom table. (Shutterstock)
A recent report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce highlights the persistent underrepresentation of women in Canadian boardrooms, indicating that achieving gender parity may take decades at the current pace. Lead author Marwa Abdou, the senior research director, emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue in the modern era.
While women constitute 48 percent of the Canadian workforce, their presence in senior leadership positions remains limited. In 2020, only 21 percent of board directors were women, a marginal increase from 18 percent in 2016. Abdou underscored the far-reaching impact of this underrepresentation, noting its influence on management structures within companies.
The report identifies several factors contributing to the stagnation of women's advancement, including outdated corporate cultures and inadequate recruitment and retention practices. With Canada lagging behind many OECD countries in female managerial representation, Abdou stressed the importance of nurturing women across all stages of career progression, particularly during life events like maternity leave.
To address these disparities, the report advocates for comprehensive measures, including enhanced tracking of hiring and promotions, upskilling opportunities, and flexible work arrangements. Abdou emphasized the necessity of holding corporations and stakeholders accountable to drive meaningful change in boardroom diversity.
Despite these challenges, Deborah Rosati, the founder of Women Get on Board, remains optimistic. Her organization focuses on empowering women through networking and mentoring initiatives, recognizing the value of gender diversity in fostering better decision-making within companies.
International Women's Day served as a platform for discussions on advancing women in male-dominated industries. Chantal Gosselin, a director at several mining companies, highlighted the importance of breaking entrenched beliefs and encouraged women to seek board opportunities, even in non-profit organizations.
While Europe has enacted legislation mandating gender quotas on corporate boards, Canada has yet to adopt similar measures. Although federally incorporated public companies have been required to disclose gender diversity metrics since 2015, there are no mandatory targets in place.
For Kiwana Scott, who aspires to secure a seat at the table, witnessing women in leadership roles serves as a source of motivation. She, like many others, hopes for accelerated progress toward gender equality in Canadian boardrooms.
