Manitoba’s “C” on CCWESTT’s Gender Equality Report Card: Data, Direction, and Opportunity
The Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT) has released its first-ever Gender Equality in SETT (Science, Engineering, Trades & Technology) Report Card. Manitoba received a C. A result that invites reflection, but more importantly, offers a roadmap for progress.
Beyond the grade: a tool for nation building
The Report Card evaluates how well provinces and territories are creating the policy and system conditions that enable women and gender-diverse people to thrive in SETT careers. It’s a diagnostic, not a judgment, highlighting where systems are supporting equity and where barriers remain.
At a time when governments are emphasizing nation-building investments, housing, infrastructure, clean energy, and innovation, this kind of data has never been more relevant. Building Canada’s future will require a resilient, inclusive workforce that draws on the full spectrum of talent. Gender equity in SETT isn’t just a social commitment; it’s an economic and nation-building imperative.
Manitoba’s results in brief
- Grade: C
- Strengths: A legislated gender-equality office (WAGE Manitoba), established public-sector pay-equity framework, and a strong foundation in affordable childcare policy.
- Gaps: Limited private-sector coverage for pay equity, no pay-transparency legislation, and persistent childcare access challenges for families working non-standard hours.
These findings mirror national patterns, where accountability, transparency, and accessibility consistently emerge as the key levers of progress. By benchmarking these across provinces, CCWESTT has created a shared evidence base to guide collaboration and policy alignment.
From evidence to action
Having contributed to CCWESTT’s Systemic Change research, I view this Report Card as a strategic tool, a bridge between data and decision-making. It offers credible, comparative insights that governments, industry, and educational institutions can use to align their workforce strategies with equity outcomes.
In the current climate of economic renewal and productivity investment, this is not a side conversation. Gender equality in SETT is a foundation for innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth. Data like this gives us a way to connect inclusion with impact, to ground our strategies in evidence and accountability.
Looking ahead
Manitoba’s “C” grade is not a verdict. It’s a reflection of both the work done and the opportunities ahead. The Report Card provides a framework to help policymakers, institutions, and employers identify where their efforts will have the greatest impact, and how collective action can strengthen outcomes for all.
I see this as a moment to turn insight into implementation. By using this data to guide policy, investment, and engagement, we can move from isolated initiatives to systemic change, and contribute to the nation-building agenda unfolding across Canada.
Explore the Report Card:
- Manitoba’s Report Card and full PDF
- National overview and Executive Summary
- Independent research reports (including my contribution)
This reflection is part of my ongoing work supporting equitable, evidence-informed systems change. Continue the conversation with me on LinkedIn, where colleagues across Canada are exploring how to turn this data into collective action.