Question Period Note: Gender Equality in Politics

What is the Government of Canada doing to support gender equality in politics?

• The Government of Canada is committed to building a more diverse government. This will be accomplished, in part, by having a gender-balanced Cabinet once again.

• We will continue to increase and strengthen gender equality within both the political and civic realms.

• We are also committed to improving work-life balance for members of Parliament and the House of Commons, as well as ensuring that federal workplaces are free from harassment and violence.

Barriers that prevent gender equality in politics include a lack of support for families, fear of negative attacks based on gender norms, difficulty obtaining private donations, and biased perceptions about appropriate career paths.

Research indicates that women who participate in politics experience a spectrum of gender-based violence that includes physical, psychological, economic and symbolic actions or threats resulting in harm or suffering.

Violence against women in politics is intersectional, as racialized minorities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two spirit (LGBTQ2) community, the economically disadvantaged, religious minorities, disabled persons, and younger women tend to experience violence in politics disproportionately based on their social identities and diverse characteristics.

Progress has been made to improve work-life balance in the House of Commons, including but not limited to scheduling votes after Question Period instead of in the evenings.

To reduce barriers to participation in the electoral process, Bill C-76 amended the Canada Elections Act, including amending rules on candidates' expenses related to childcare and to the care of a person with a disability.

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) published a report in spring 2019 entitled, Elect Her: A roadmap for improving the representation of women in Canadian politics. This report offered 13 recommendations to provide possible solutions to the barriers women face in electoral politics.

The Department for Women and Gender Equality, through its Women's Program, supports several projects that strengthen the participation of women in politics, including but not limited to:
o Support for Women's Empowerment: Over $13.9M in funding for 30 projects to promote and enhance women’s participation in civic and political life by addressing barriers, as well as to strengthen the voices of Indigenous women in their communities.
o Funding to Advance Gender Equality: Over $18M in funding for 50 projects that engage some 150 women in leadership positions from across the country to advance gender equality locally and as part of a pan-Canadian network.
o Equal Voice: $3.8M in funding was announced in October 2018 for a project to empower the next generation of women leaders, and increase women’s participation in politics with a view to creating more gender-balanced governments.

The Department has also created the Indigenous Women's Circle, which brings together Indigenous women to offer their guidance and expertise in order to address the systemic inequalities experienced by Indigenous women, including their experiences in relation to leadership roles.

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