Export Development Canada (EDC) is participating in a three-year Private Sector Gender Equality Leadership Project focused on developing, testing, and implementing a set of tools that will lead to a blueprint for gender equality in the private sector, and a certification methodology.
The Government of Canada commissioned the Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC) to lead the project and engage corporate partners to help eliminate barriers facing women in the workplace. As a proponent and champion for gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, EDC was one of eight companies selected for the project.
The Minister of Status of Women, Maryam Monsef, announced the progressive business initiative at an event hosted at EDC’s head office in Ottawa.
Quotes:
“Increasing diversity in the workplace and striving for equal representation is not only responsible business practice, it’s also smart business because it provides a competitive advantage to those companies that embrace it,” said Catherine Decarie, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs at EDC. “Inclusive workplaces take work, and we’ve learned through our experience at EDC that they need to be developed and nurtured through dedicated programs aimed at achieving specific goals. We are excited to work on this project to help other organizations make similar progress because a more inclusive business ecosystem is also a more competitive one.”
“Our goal at EDC is to have a workforce that mirrors Canadian society,” said Benoit Daignault, President and Chief Executive Officer at EDC. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that representation of women in leadership roles – at all levels and in our core lines of business – is increasing. Our senior leadership group remains committed to finding opportunities to level the playing field for women.”
EDC Quick Facts
- The percentage of women in leadership roles at EDC has increased from 39% at the start of 2015 to 45% at end of 2017
- EDC’s goal is to have internal representation for each of the four designated groups (women, visible minorities, Aboriginals and persons with disabilities) equal to their external availability by 2020
- EDC was recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2018 by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers at Mediacorp Canada Inc.
- EDC’s 2017-2020 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan serves as a roadmap for increasing the diversity and representation of the workforce
- EDC’s emerging leaders program helps employees who have been identified as having leadership potential get on track for greater responsibilities (60% of participants are women)
- Women@EDC was launched in 2016 with a goal of creating a forum for women at EDC to connect, share thoughts and ideas, grow their internal networks and inspire each other. Since then, the committee with over 201 members on a distribution list, has been busy hosting a variety of monthly events and activities
