Equal Voice testifies before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on civic resilience in Canada
On April 23, 2026, Equal Voice Interim Executive Director, Lindsay Brumwell, appeared before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC), a permanent House of Commons committee currently studying the state of civic resilience in Canada.
In her opening statement, Lindsay argued that civic resilience comes down to whether Canadians believe our democratic institutions are open, responsive, and worth participating in. When that trust erodes, participation follows.
And the data suggests trust is fragile. Equal Voice's national research reveals that less than half of Canadians believe there are real opportunities to get involved in politics, and 8 in 10 say politics isn't very welcoming to newcomers. For women in particular, barriers often arise long before someone considers becoming a candidate, from harassment and online abuse to financial pressures, caregiving responsibilities, and a simple lack of encouragement or clear pathways into public life.
"Many capable people self-select out before they ever reach the starting line," Lindsay told the committee. "That is a loss not only for those individuals, but for Canada as a whole."
A resilient democracy, she argued, depends on drawing leaders from the broadest possible talent pool, and women make up 50 per cent of that talent pool.
There are reasons for optimism. Equal Voice's research shows 58 per cent of women are interested in getting involved in politics at the municipal level, and young women are more likely to engage when they understand the opportunities and process. Equal Voice's multi-partisan model, which brings women together across party lines to build relationships and support one another in public life, is designed to meet that interest with real pathways.
Lindsay closed by urging the committee to act on three fronts: to invest in public life leadership development initiatives, take online harassment seriously as a barrier to participation, and strengthen data collection on representation and participation trends.
Canada's democracy is strong, but strength requires regular reflection – specifically during the quiet times between elections, and Equal Voice is proud to be part of that work.
