April 5, 2013
TORONTO, ON – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today introduced an advisory council to promote the participation of women on public and private corporate boards.
"Increasing opportunities for women to serve on corporate boards makes good business sense for Canadian women and for Canada's economy," said Minister Ambrose. "Businesses with more women on their boards are more profitable and routinely outperform those with fewer. The role of the advisory council will be to advise our government on how industry can increase women's representation on corporate boards."
While many women lead successful businesses and are active members of corporate boards, they remain under-represented. Through Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012, the Harper Government announced the creation of an advisory council of leaders from the private and public sectors to promote the participation of women on corporate boards. The Harper Government will work with the private sector to promote the participation of women on corporate boards and champion their leadership.
The role of the advisory council is to:
- Provide advice on how industry can increase women's representation on corporate boards.
- Suggest how industry and government can track and measure progress in this initiative and what tools, if any, government should employ to achieve this goal.
- Make recommendations on how the government could recognize leaders in industry and applaud companies that have succeeded in reaching their targets. The advisory council will come back with recommendations by the fall of 2013.
The new advisory council is comprised of women and men representing a wide range of experience within the corporate sector. All have distinguished themselves as inspired, forward-thinking leaders and decision-makers committed to the principles of equality, diversity and excellence in our country's boardrooms.
The Harper Government is committed to strengthening Canada's economy with initiatives that create jobs while supporting families and communities. The federal government's support through Status of Women Canada for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, from $10.8 million to close to $19 million, its highest level ever.
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For media inquiries only:
Amber Irwin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and
Minister for Status of Women
819-997-5421
For all other inquiries, contact:
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
613-995-7839
