Canada: Equal Voice Urges PM to Boost Women in Cabinet as Number of Women Elected to Parliament Stalls Below the 21 Percent Bar
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Last night’s election may prove a major setback for women’s representation if the final results show we have fewer women—or at best the same number-- in the House of Commons. Equal Voice issued an urgent call to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to appoint women to 50 per cent of cabinet positions, to ensure women’s voices are heard at the highest level of decision-making.
Shortly before midnight, the results suggested that up to 64 women would be elected again this time—the same as in 2006. Members of Equal Voice had been hoping for a breakthrough of the 21 per cent glass ceiling on the election of women in Canada. Women are just one in five of members of Parliament, the provincial legislatures, and municipal councils.“Congratulations are due to the record number of women who stood as candidates in this election, and to the women who were elected in all parties,” said Raylene Lang-Dion. She is National Chair of Equal Voice, the influential, non-profit organization that works with all parties to improve the numbers of women elected at all levels of government in Canada.“However, the number of women elected is deeply disappointing. We are asking Mr. Harper to look to the example of Quebec Premier Jean Charest, who appointed a cabinet that is half women, or to overseas examples such as Spain, where women ministers hold some of the toughest portfolios.”Lang-Dion noted that experts say and experience demonstrates the need for at least one-third women in Parliament to make sure women’s perspectives are fully reflected in a nation’s agenda. Last night’s result means that Canada will still rank far behind other democratic countries in terms of the number of women elected to its national parliament.To read the full article, please visit the Equal Voice's Website.
Last night’s election may prove a major setback for women’s representation if the final results show we have fewer women—or at best the same number-- in the House of Commons. Equal Voice issued an urgent call to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to appoint women to 50 per cent of cabinet positions, to ensure women’s voices are heard at the highest level of decision-making.
Shortly before midnight, the results suggested that up to 64 women would be elected again this time—the same as in 2006. Members of Equal Voice had been hoping for a breakthrough of the 21 per cent glass ceiling on the election of women in Canada. Women are just one in five of members of Parliament, the provincial legislatures, and municipal councils.“Congratulations are due to the record number of women who stood as candidates in this election, and to the women who were elected in all parties,” said Raylene Lang-Dion. She is National Chair of Equal Voice, the influential, non-profit organization that works with all parties to improve the numbers of women elected at all levels of government in Canada.“However, the number of women elected is deeply disappointing. We are asking Mr. Harper to look to the example of Quebec Premier Jean Charest, who appointed a cabinet that is half women, or to overseas examples such as Spain, where women ministers hold some of the toughest portfolios.”Lang-Dion noted that experts say and experience demonstrates the need for at least one-third women in Parliament to make sure women’s perspectives are fully reflected in a nation’s agenda. Last night’s result means that Canada will still rank far behind other democratic countries in terms of the number of women elected to its national parliament.To read the full article, please visit the Equal Voice's Website.