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By Tyler Marr

WOMEN IN POLITICS

Report makes cross-party recommendations to get more women into politics

Apr 16, 2019 | 5:29 PM

A cross-party committee in Ottawa has put forward a report that includes a number of recommendations on how to turn the page on the ongoing underrepresentation of women in politics.

Titled “Elect her: A roadmap for improving the representation of women in Canadian politics,” the report from the status of women committee said that despite growing participation, “women represent only 35 per cent of all legislators in Canada and remain under-represented at all levels of government.”

The report said increasing women’s representation in electoral politics is essential as it can “lead to greater gender equality and to better social, economic and political outcomes for all Canadians.”

Alongside the 14 recommendations are calls to address sexism, discrimination, and other biases that could affect a woman’s decision to enter public life.

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One potential fix, the report suggested, is to offer financial incentives for all registered parties to nominate more women and get them elected.

Other suggestions included examining the processes and rules behind nomination and election campaigns, as women could benefit from increased “transparency and accountability in the nomination and election campaign processes, as this would confirm all candidates are subject to the same rules.”

Calls are made in the report for publicly funded campaigns and training programs to counter gender-based violence and the harassment of female politicians in traditional and social media. A heavy focus on providing mentoring, role modelling and guidance to build women’s confidence and willingness to take risks were among the recommendations.

Many of these ideas were echoed by female municipal councillors when asked what they believed could be done to persuade more females to chase elected positions.

In the Town of Battleford, three women hold elected positions, which is half of all the seats. The town has a history of electing one or two women to council, though the pictures on the wall of council chambers show this is a more recent trend.

Coun. Susan McLean Tady said she and her elected colleagues need to act as ambassadors.

“I think we should try to go out of our way to find some people we think would be excellent councillors and see if they would be interested in running,” she said.

She said the four-year term limit can also prove problematic.

“Four years to plan to be away from kids and be tied up is huge,” she said. “There are a lot of obstacles.”

Coun. Judy Pruden echoed this statement, adding there is no way when she was younger she would have been able to make the time commitment.

“There is no way when I was working at the jobs I had that I could have given the time I think it deserves to be able to fulfill what I feel is a requirement,” Pruden said. “I just never had the time.”

For Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais, she believed more work has to be done at the grassroots level by encouraging more women to pursue public office, be it at the federal, provincial or municipal level.

But she highlighted many women in the community who are heavily involved in various projects as potential future politicians.

“They are really eager and they really care about the community and I think those are the people you have to encourage to run for the positions because sometimes they think ‘Oh, I can’t do that.’ Well, actually you can do that,” she said.

“I think just need to encourage the younger people that it is achievable and yes you can do it,” she said. “I think there is a lot of people who could be good leaders and I think there are a few of them out there who could take that next step.”

President of the Prince Albert Council of Women Patricia Leason was impressed with the report, noting the organization’s longterm work to level the playing field so more women can be equal participants in the electoral process.

“We all win when the best person is chosen to be the nominated candidate but we are still hopeful it can be a woman, too,” she said.

While Leason pointed to the potential financial incentives, she said a number of political parties already offer any nominated candidate financial backing to secure election and run a campaign. She said a change in social perceptions could be more beneficial in coaxing more women into legislatures across Canada.

“Even if you have got the money, how are you going to be treated when you run?” she said.

She has spoken to female politicians who are constantly asked who is taking care of the kids or making meals if they are out.

“We still have so many things we have to deal with. It is not just money, I think the societal perceptions are a real drawback for women,” she said.

But Leason believes perceptions are changing for the better. Just the fact the report came out, she said, pushes the subject to the front of the agenda.

Leason is of the same mindset as the female councillors, believing groups like her own need to more vigilant in ensuring they are encouraging young women to become involved.

“That was one thing I really liked [about the report] was the stress on supporting organizations and men who are working to get women into these positions by providing personal and monetary support.”

— with files from Glenn Hicks, Canadian Press

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr