Order of Canada Recipients 2016 – Diversity

The above slides analyze this year’s appointments along with last year’s for comparison purposes.

Two aspects strike me:

• despite the previous government’s efforts to encourage representation more in lines with provincial populations, Ontario, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada remain over-represented, the Prairies and Quebec under-represented; and,
• the share of women declined substantially. Although visible minorities and Indigenous peoples data is less certain (based upon names, short cvs and photos), representation of these groups also appears to have declined.

As these are not under the direct control of the government, and the lengthy nomination and appointment process, it is not surprising that this year’s appointments do not reflect the current government’s diversity and inclusion agenda.