Securities regulatory authorities in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec have published results from the sixth year review of women on boards and in executive officer positions.
It found the total number of board seats occupied by women increased to 20 per cent in 2020, compared to 11 per cent in 2015. Seventy-nine per cent of issuers had at least one woman on their board, an increase from 49 per cent in 2015. Six per cent of issuers had a female chair of their board. Over half of issuers adopted a policy relating to the representation of women on their board, representing a significant increase since 2015.
The review covers 610 issuers with year-ends between December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020. It focuses on public disclosure regarding women on boards and in executive officer positions.