Women in Mining (WIM) Canada has received funding from the Status of Women Canada (SWC) to implement a national action plan to increase the number of women working in the mining sector.
The focus will be on women in senior executive roles and non-traditional occupations such as trades, heavy equipment operators, miners, and engineers, according to a WIM news release.
Currently, women in the Canadian mining industry represent roughly 14 per cent of the workforce. Recent research has revealed that the Canadian mining and oil and gas industries have less than 1.4 per cent of CEO roles occupied by females. Only 5.9 per cent of board positions and 12.3 per cent of senior roles are occupied by women.
“We welcome this support from the Government of Canada,” WIM Canada president Tabetha Stirrett said in the release. “This funding will allow us to work closely with our industry partners to find new strategies to step up the hiring, retention and advancement of women in the minerals and mining sector.”
WIM will work with mining companies across Canada to share best practices. Participating companies and organizations include Cameco Corp., Rio Tinto, Teck Resources, McEwen Mining, Mosaic Company, DeBeers Group of Companies, Agrium Inc., Suncor, Agnico-Eagle Mines, Vale Inc., BHP Billiton, Barrick Gold, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, and the Mining Industry Human Resources Council. They collectively make up the Gender Advisory Committee that will inform the development of the Women in Mining National Action Plan.
Each company will implement its own action plan through the communities in which they are operating. The first kickoff meeting of the committee was held Nov. 15.
There is a growing body of knowledge that speaks to the benefits of women in senior leadership roles. Specifically, women bring a different style and approach to problem solving, mentoring, and achieving results that makes for a balanced approach to the workplace. In the fall of 2013, the Ontario government developed new rules requiring public companies to set targets for the number of women in senior roles.
Given the expected decline in workforce numbers in the mining sector due to an aging demographic, and recognizing the benefits of women in senior roles, mining companies are now seeking to fill these positions with women, thereby ensuring a greater supply of local labour while simultaneously strengthening their approach to doing business. Both factors that companies recognize will improve their bottom line.
