The 50 – 30 Challenge: What Works Toolkit

Equity, diversity and inclusion are key to Canada’s competitiveness. Research shows that diverse organizations can tap into new markets, attract the best talent, drive innovation and performance, and reduce risk.

Yet Canada’s board rooms do not reflect Canada’s diversity, as our Diversity Leads research highlights. In Toronto, for instance, women account for 50% of the population but only 39% of board seats. And while one-half of women in the Greater Toronto Area are racialized, white women outnumber racialized women on corporate boards in Toronto by 12 to 1.

The 50 – 30 Challenge calls on Canadian businesses to aspire toward gender parity (50%) and more representation of equity-deserving groups (30%) in boards and senior leadership. The Challenge addresses the continued underrepresentation of women and non-binary people, Indigenous peoples, Black and racialized people, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ in Canada’s board rooms. 

To-date, more than 1,700 organizations have answered the call.

As part of the Government of Canada's 50 – 30 Challenge (external link) , we are working with partners to provide tools to support organizations implementing the 50-30 Challenge. Among these are our Diversity Assessment Toolkit (external link) , more than 500 best practices, training programs and the Micropedia of Microaggressions. (external link)  With the support of other 50 – 30 Challenge Ecosystem Partners (Colleges and Institutes Canada, Global Compact Network Canada, Women’s Economic Council and Egale), we will work together to help advance gender parity and increase diversity in leadership.

The Diversity Institute is also hosting the What Works Toolkit (external link)  online. The What Works Toolkit provides best practices and actionable strategies to business owners, leaders and individuals that are based on existing research for the recruitment, mentoring, promotion and retention of diverse staff. It also includes anti-racism and anti-harassment activities, and examples of successful diversity plans.

Find out how your organization can join The 50 – 30 Challenge (external link)  and learn more about the What Works Toolkit (external link) .

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