Women Leaders in the Canadian Public Sector

According to the EY reports, “It’s easier for women to feel more confident, like they are actually competent enough to [become leaders] when they see other women in these leadership positions”. Leading by example also means speaking up against negative behaviours and attitudes that challenge the goal of gender equity, the study finds.

So what are Canadian public sector employees and politicians doing to promote women in the workforce?

On Our Way to a Richer and Diverse Future: The Government of Canada

In recent years, there have been great strides made for promoting female leadership in the public sector. According to the Status of Women Canada findings, the government’s support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2007, rising from $10.8 million to close to $19 million and supporting over 600 projects. Since 2007, more than $21 million has been budgeted for projects that promote women’s leadership and democratic participation.

In late July 2013, Honourable Dr. Kellie Leitch, the Minister of Labour and the Minister of the Status of Women announced the government’s support for a new project to strengthen leadership opportunities for women.

[pullquote] “Women are the key to Canada’s economic success, and we are committed to increasing leadership opportunities for Canadian women.”[/pullquote]

“Government is focused on what matters to Canadians—creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Leitch in a news release. “Women are the key to Canada’s economic success, and we are committed to increasing leadership opportunities for Canadian women.”

This project, recently funded by the government in recognition of the theme of this year’s Women’s History Month, Canadian Women Pioneers: Inspiring change through ongoing leadership, will promote guidance through economic empowerment for women in Toronto. Modeled as a best practice, “Roots/Routes to Women’s Leadership and Empowerment” is a program that can be applied across the nation to help the women who sign up to receive training and mentorship, and to help strengthen their skills and confidence in taking on leadership roles in their communities. Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government of Canada introduced an advisory council of leaders from both the public and private sector to promote the participation of women on corporate boards. The issue of diversity in the boardrooms is still lacking today—in a recent report, Rona Ambrose, the Minister for the Status of Women, noted that women make up only 14.5% of the total board seats at the Financial Post 500 companies in Canada, a situation that is simply “unacceptable in a country like Canada,” she says.

“We don’t need another report. We don’t need another study,” Ambrose says. “It is time for bold action. Our government is committed to helping women succeed and contribute to the prosperity of our nation. It is not only the right thing to do—it is the smart thing to do.”

With the high percentage of women holding positions in the public sector, an increase in diversity in management positions has the potential to contribute substantially to the positive performance of the Canadian public service. Promoting female leaders with legislation and equity laws, creating programs in which female role models can mentor aspiring individuals for future leadership positions, and remaining conscious about the invisible barriers that women face in the workforce are all important initiatives to increasing female leadership in the public sector.

The public sector must continue to stimulate the growth of women in leadership positions and in contributing to the crucial decision-making of the country for a richer and more diverse future for all Canadians.

Elizabeth is a full-time Communications student at Carleton University and a part-time day dreamer who believes that her two passions of traveling and writing unanimously is the key to her consummate bliss. LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/elizabeth-palmieri/59/221/936

Image Courtesy of Wai Young.