Canadian Regulators Release New Results On Women On Boards And In Executive Officer Positions

The securities regulatory authorities in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan and Yukon (the participating jurisdictions) today published CSA Multilateral Staff Notice 58-308 Staff Review of Women on Boards and in Executive Officer Positions – Compliance with NI 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices.

The notice summarizes a review of the corporate governance disclosure of 677 non-venture issuers with year ends between December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 as it relates to women in leadership roles.  This is the second review following the implementation of rules under National Instrument 58-101 Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices, which require non-venture issuers to disclose certain information regarding women on boards and in executive officer positions.

The review revealed an increase in the number of women on boards in all size categories of issuers, with large issuers still leading the way.