The Decibel How seriously is corporate Canada taking DEI these days?
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Oct 9, 2025 Vanmala Subramaniam, the Future of Work reporter at The Globe and Mail, dives into the state of corporate Canada’s DEI efforts after the launch of the Black North Initiative. She reveals a notable decline in enthusiasm for diversity projects and discusses how economic pressures have impacted spending. Key findings show companies have made some progress, yet Black representation at the executive level remains stagnant. Vanmala also explores the importance of renewed commitments and the potential for shareholder accountability to enhance transparency in these initiatives.
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Rapid Corporate Mobilization In 2020
- The Black North Initiative rallied hundreds of companies in 2020 to pledge improved Black representation.
- It pushed firms to commit publicly during a global racial reckoning sparked by George Floyd's murder.
Concrete 3.5% Representation Target
- The pledge set 3.5% representation targets to match Canada's Black population share.
- That metric applied to boards, executives and the overall employee base as a benchmark.
U.S. Policy Rippled Into Canada
- U.S. executive orders targeting DEI created a chilling effect that reached Canadian firms.
- Companies with U.S. exposure pulled back from public DEI commitments to navigate legal risks.