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Canadians Believe in Diversity and Inclusion: <\/strong>As Canadians, we pride ourselves on being compassionate and fair-minded. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate equally in all aspects and every level of Canadian life. Together, we have made great strides in the removal of barriers to create a more level playing field for Canadians living with disabilities. But there is more we need to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About Us:\u00a0 <\/strong>A Seat at the Table is a project by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP). Our objective is to encourage corporations to appoint people with disabilities to their boards of directors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Business Community Support:<\/strong> We were formed with the support and guidance of some of Canada\u2019s top business leaders, many of whom serve on our candidate Selection Board<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current Situation: <\/strong>An estimated eight million Canadians, over 27% of the population age 15 or older, live with a physical or developmental disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that many of Canada\u2019s leading corporations have begun implementing progressive employment policies and strategies aimed at recruiting people with disabilities into their work forces and creating barrier-free work environments. Many have also joined the Canadian government’s 50-30 Diversity Challenge.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there exists a glaring lack of progress at the corporate board level. Studies<\/a> reveal less than 1% of corporate directors identify with a disability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Call for Change: <\/strong>It\u2019s time for corporations to start looking beyond the usual candidate pool when filling board seats and to consider people who are equally qualified for the role yet also have the experience of living with a disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awareness Campaign: <\/strong>Canadians place great value on the concepts of equal opportunity and fairness. Corporations are reflections of society \u2013 and we expect them to hold similar principles and ideals. When it becomes evident to us that they are falling short, we expect them to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, a key part of this social-change initiative is a public-awareness campaign to increase awareness of the lack of board representation by people with disabilities and to promote the business benefits of board diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The campaign features full-page ads in the Globe and Mail, along with a robust communications and social media plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Candidate Recruitment Service:\u00a0 <\/strong>The central focus of A Seat at the Table is the creation and ongoing management of a new recruiting and matching service that serves the needs of both corporate board recruiters and board candidates with disabilities. This innovative service \u2013 the first of its kind in Canada \u2013 provides an effective mechanism for individuals on both sides to reach out, connect and form relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are compelling business arguments for why corporations should strive for greater board diversity. In general, as a board’s diversity increases, the growing mix of viewpoints leads to more nuanced and constructive debate, new ways of thinking and different perspectives on consumer wants and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific benefits to boards of having members with disabilities include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The driving force behind A Seat at the Table is the Honourable Vim Kochhar, CFPDP\u2019s founder and chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a strong supporter of social equality, Vim cheered from the sidelines as advocates for greater inclusion of women on corporate boards helped drive a slow but steady increase in representation \u2013 from practically zero only a few decades ago to nearly 30% today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, he concluded that the disability community should borrow a page from the women\u2019s playbook and similarly begin advocating for board representation as well as creating business mechanisms to support this desired change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2018, Hon. Kochhar was inspired to take action after hearing former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney talk about the benefits of his decision to appoint \u2013 for the first time in Canada \u2013 a cabinet minister as \u201cMinister Responsible for Disabled Persons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking at a CFPDP event, Mr. Mulroney said the presence of a senior-level advocate for disability issues at the cabinet table was instrumental in guiding his government to make numerous progressive policy and program decisions on behalf of the disability community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hon. Kochhar immediately saw the parallels with corporations appointing people with disabilities to their boards of directors and soon after began work on what would become A Seat at the Table.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Everyone Deserves a Seat at the Table: Promoting the Inclusion of People with Disabilities on Canadian Corporate Boards Canadians Believe in Diversity and Inclusion: As Canadians, we pride ourselves on being compassionate and fair-minded. We believe everyone should have the …<\/p>\nHow the CFPDP is Promoting Change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Why Should Boards Care? The Business Case for Diversity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Inspiration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n