The Committee has heard that moral suasion can be helpful in increasing the proportion of women considered for a job. An example is the Canada Challenges issued by Equal Voice to report on the number of women candidates being fielded by political parties during elections. This campaign invited “federal leaders to demonstrate their political leadership so that in anticipation of a federal election they actually commit to working hard to improve the numbers within their own parties in terms of the numbers of women nominees”.[49]

Several witnesses have suggested that it is not enough to provide information and encourage change, noting that more proactive measures are needed to increase the participation of women in the skilled trades. A number of witnesses identified the need to ensure that the federal government use its purchasing power to promote the integration of women into non-traditional occupations, pointing out that most of the funding in building and infrastructure spending flows into the creation of traditionally male-dominated jobs. They suggested that infrastructure moneys should be tied to employment equity requirements or the development of gender equity plans.

The Committee has heard that this is being done in some cases. For example, Ms. Ashley Turner, Industry and Community Liaison, Women in Resource Development Corporation told the Committee:

Our government in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the federal government, has recognized the importance of having gender equity requirements in relation to large-scale projects in order to increase the participation of women on these projects. In relation to our offshore oil and gas industry, the Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, under subsection 45(4), states that the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, CNLOPB may require that any Canada-Newfoundland benefits plan include provisions to ensure that disadvantaged individuals or groups have access to training and employment opportunities…[50]

Women in Resource Development Corporation has “found this to be very effective in that many contracting companies now have gender equity plans, which don't necessarily have quotas in terms of targets, nor have they necessarily been firm; however, they do have criteria for supporting programs such as the ones we run in encouraging young girls and providing information to young girls and women about opportunities in non-traditional occupations and opportunities in their companies”.[51]

While the incorporation of gender equity requirements in projects funded through federal government funding was supported by several witnesses, others objected to the implementation of gender equity requirements, concerned that this could perpetuate the backlash against women in those non-traditional jobs.

7.   The Committee recommends that the federal government promote the integration of women and other disadvantaged groups into non-traditional occupations by requiring gender equity provisions in federally funded building and infrastructure agreements.