The opposition parties say the current government talks the talk about putting more women into leadership roles, but doesn’t walk the walk.
Numbers compiled by Liberals and New Democrats indicate there are fewer women running government agencies and Crown corporation, sitting on boards and working in management under the Conservative government now in power, than there were under the Liberals.
In 2005, under a liberal government, women filled 37 per cent of leadership roles.
Fewer female federal leaders
“Outstandingly well,” is how Status of Women Minister Kellie Leitch described the current Conservative government’s performance on this issue. “We do way better than corporate Canada: 31 per cent of governor-in-council appointments are women right now and we’re aspiring higher.” However the opposition says these figures include federal deputy ministers and associated deputy ministers, and the numbers go down when you include appointments made to Crown corporation boards and executive roles.
The opposition compiled the numbers after the governing Conservatives put out a series of recommendations last week aimed at getting private sector companies to put more women on their own boards.
‘Plenty of qualified women’
New Democrats say there is no shortage of women qualified for the job, since more women are graduating with higher levels of education including MBAs and other backgrounds in management fields. “Nobody is saying that there aren’t enough qualified women out there,” said New Democrat Niki Ashton. “…This is about a lack of leadership.”
Look for the criticism to mount as we get closer to a federal election slated for 2015.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.