Advocacy

 

Position Statements 50-30 Challenge Seniors Strategy Truth & Reconc BPWO Resolutions BPWO Briefs Gender Wage Gap SDG's Human Trafficking

BPW Ontario has been recognized for its many projects over the years, from the Women's Empowerment Principles to Gender Wage Gap to Human Trafficking awareness campaigns to and submission of Briefs to Government.

Briefs result from Resolutions, developed mainly by local clubs and passed at the Provincial Conference/AGM, that contain directives to urge the provincial government and/or as appropriate specific ministries to take some sort of action. Opportunities to meet with the ministries affected by the resolutions enclosed in the brief are requested/granted. These meetings provide a further opportunity to strengthen our relationships with decision-makers and to reinforce how and why we feel our resolutions should be implemented.


Position Statements


The 50 – 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage

50 30Challenge We re in   50 30 Challenge


The 50 – 30 Challenge is an initiative co-created by the Government of Canada, civil society and the private sector that aims to attain gender parity and significant representation (at least 30%) of under-represented groups on boards and senior management positions in order to build a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant economic future for Canadians. 

The underrepresented groups include racialized persons, those who identify as LGBTQ2, First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples’, and people living with disabilities – in addition to women. The challenge will allow a variety of organizations to participate across three separate program streams including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and non-profit organizations, and those without Boards of Directors or senior management teams.

"The goal of the program is to challenge Canadian organizations to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace, while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table. The government has always believed in seeking the best available advice when making decisions."

The 50 – 30 Challenge asks that organizations aspire to two goals:

  1. Gender parity ("50%") on Canadian board(s) and senior management; and
  2. Significant representation ("30%") on Canadian board(s) and senior management of other under-represented groups, including racialized persons, people living with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities) and members of the LGBTQ2 community. The program and participants recognize that First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples as founding peoples of Canada are under-represented in positions of economic influence and leadership."

~ Source

Join BPW Ontario and Participate in the 50 - 30 Challenge

"Canada's 50 – 30 Challenge asks firms to make two aspirational commitments to increase diversity on Boards and in senior management over time, and report on their progress. Participating companies, organizations, and not-for-profits agree to voluntarily take action towards achieving meaningful and substantive improvements in supporting diversity and inclusion within their organization, as outlined in the Challenge. The Government is looking to partner with these organizations in their efforts, and is examining supports for participating organizations to help them achieve these goals." ~ Source

Benefits of Participation include:

  • Supportive resources, as well as connections with partners who specialize in the recruitment of diverse employees
  • Promotion, marketing, and official achievement recognitions

Sign-Up/Join

Complete 50 - 30 Details


Ontario Securities Commission - Seniors Strategy - March 2018

BPW Ontario congratulates Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) on the proactive stance taken on a key aspect of financial security for older women, a real concern of BPW Ontario and part of our advocacy work. 

OSC News Release, March 20, 2018: OSC outlines initiatives to respond to the needs of Ontario seniors and investment industry.

OSC Seniors Strategy (OSC Staff Notice 11-779 Seniors Strategy)


Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC)

TRC logo engIn June 2015, TRC released its final report on the Indian Residential System which was based on six years of work to gather the emotional and devastating stories of survival by Canada’s Aboriginal children.

According to Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the TRC, “reconciliation is not an aboriginal problem. It is a Canadian problem.”

Read the complete Call for Action Report, click here.

Read the summary of the 94 Call For Action Statements, click here.

End Coerced and Forced Sterilization of Indigenous Women

petition

BPW Bowmanville submitted a petition to the Government of Canada urging them to immediately enact legislation to abolish the practice of coerced and forced sterilization of Indigenous women. The petition closed for signatures May 25, 2021. The minimum number of signatures required to be certified by the Clerk of Petitions was achieved. It will now be presented to the House of Commons and tabled for a response. Further updates will be posted as they are available.

This petition received signatures of support from across Canada including the Northwest Territories. Thank you to everyone who joined us in voicing our demand to the Government of Canada to abolish this practice.

  • Coerced and forced sterilization is in contravention of Canadian Human Rights legislation;
  • The widespread practice of coerced and forced sterilization of women has been occurring across Canada since the 1930s;
  • There is minimal awareness of this practice;
  • The United Nations Committee Against Torture officially recognized that sterilizing Indigenous women without consent is a form of torture, and called on Canada to take action.

Read February 2021 Press Release

Equal Pay Day ON

#EqualPayDay in Ontario
April 7, 2021

Women are essential to Ontario's economy
#EqualPayON
#CloseTheGap
#AlwaysEssential
#PayTransparency

The close to 30% gender wage gap in Ontario is one of the largest in the world! Pay discrimination is not limited to one career or demographic, it affects women of all ages, races, and education levels – regardless of their family decisions.

0% Gap by 2025

Click here to learn about how you can make the difference and spread the word.