Ryerson’s Diversity Institute Applauds the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge

December 10, 2020: Today, the Government of Canada launched (external link)  the 50-30 Challenge to advance and recognize diversity, inclusion and economic prosperity from coast to coast to coast. The Government of Canada has been working together with private sector and diversity-focused (external link)  organizations including the Diversity Institute in a co-creation effort to develop the Challenge. So far, more than 470 organizations (external link) —of every size and from every province and territory—have signed up for the challenge.

Our research shows that now more than ever we must act. The Diversity Institute’s Diversity Leads 2020 study, which builds on similar research by the Institute over more than a decade, shows women continue to make slow progress on boards, but in some cases representation of racialized people is moving backwards. White women still out-number racialized women in corporate board roles in Toronto by 12:1 (compared to 16:1 in 2017 and 17:1 in 2014).  The situation for Black leaders in Canada, is particularly dire. Among 1639 corporate board members, the study found only 13 who were Black (0.8%).

The Diversity Institute’s founder, Wendy Cukier participated virtually in the announcement today. “The Diversity Institute has been working for decades to improve diversity and inclusion on boards and in leadership roles. We have helped many organizations improve their policies and practices and also have worked to ensure that Bill C-25 legislation included racialized people, persons with disabilities and Indigenous people along with women as a minimum requirement for reporting. We are proud co-creators and supporters of the 50-30 initiative which we know through our research will support Canada’s economic recovery, growth and innovation in addition to improving the performance of the organizations that participate and the advancement of under-represented populations.”  

The 50-30 Challenge goals are for organization: gender parity (50%) and significant representation (30%) of under-represented groups at the board(s) and senior management level.  The Challenge offers three streams for participation: large corporations; small and medium-sized enterprises; and post-secondary institutions, not-for-profit organizations and charities. Organizations in all three streams will commit to working toward the 50-30 objectives in ways that show meaningful progress toward creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities in which they operate across Canada.

The Diversity Institute will continue as a co-creator of the initiative as well as take action to move the dial forward on diversity and inclusion through its leading research and existing and new programs including:

• The “See it. Be it” campaign for Women Entrepreneurs and for Diverse Leaders
• Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub which supports Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
• Mainstreaming our Diversity Assessment Tool across organizations and systems
• Future Skills Centre includes research on skills gaps barriers and innovative solutions to develop skills for success and create inclusive environments which fully utilize them
• Skills development programs for underrepresented groups including:
  • The Black Business Professional Association’s Boss Entrepreneurship Training Program Scadding Court’s Newcomer Entrepreneurship Hub
  • Study Buddy with the Jean Augustine Centre and Lifelong Leadership Institute
  • Advanced Digital and Professional Training (ADaPT) program
  • Ontario Inclusive Innovation Action Strategy
• DiversityLeads
• Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network
• The Workplace Innovation and Inclusion Project
• Diversity Institute Best Practices Playbook
• ALiGN, in partnership with Magnet and OTEC
• She-covery Project with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce

The Diversity Institute encourages organizations, large or small, to join them and sign up for the 50-30 Challenge. Learn more and sign up at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/07706.html (external link)