March 8, 2025 - Ottawa, ON – As Canada celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD), Equal Voice is urging all Canadians to act in closing the persistent gender gap in politics. While women make up approximately 30% of elected officials at the federal level, representation varies across provinces, municipalities, and local governments. Progress has been made, but more work is needed to achieve real and sustaining gender parity in political leadership.
“In 2025, Canadians in general do not think politics is very accessible, nor is involvement accepted. But for women and gender- diverse individuals, they continue to face more and significant barriers to entering politics—harassment, lack of access to networks, fears of stigma, and financial constraints remain top concerns,” said Lindsay Brumwell, Interim Executive Director of Equal Voice. “This International Women’s Day, we’re not only celebrating women’s contributions in politics to-date — we’re identifying challenges, proposing solutions, and expanding our partnership base.”
A recent Abacus Data survey commissioned by Equal Voice highlights both optimism and a need for action. The study found that most Canadians believe that having more women in politics would positively impact government policy and lead to decisions that better reflect Canadians' needs, yet many remain unsure of how to support women who want to run for office.
This International Women’s Day, Equal Voice is inviting Canadians to be part of the solution:
- Donate to support training and network development for first-time and repeat candidates.
- Encourage women in your community to consider running for office. Research shows it takes women and gender-diverse individuals 5–7 times of being personally asked before they consider running.
- Volunteer your time on a political campaign. Every door knocked, phone call made, and hour given helps build a more representative democracy.
“Volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to create change,” added Brumwell. “Behind every successful candidate is a network of supporters who believe in them. If we want more women and gender-diverse individuals in politics, we need more Canadians volunteering their time on political campaigns to make it happen”.
By working together, we can ensure that more women and gender-diverse individuals have the opportunity to lead and shape the future of our country. This International Women’s Day, Equal Voice is celebrating progress achieved to-date and inviting all Canadians to take part in building a more inclusive and representative democracy.
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A Bold Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Equal Voice will launch its new five-year strategic plan, Our Time to Lead: A Bold Vision for Women in Canadian Politics, this spring. As the organization approaches its 25th anniversary in 2026 and with multiple elections on the horizon, this plan will set the stage for increasing representation, dismantling barriers, and fostering a more inclusive political landscape. Equal Voice remains committed to ensuring more women and gender-diverse individuals are empowered to run—and win.
About Equal Voice: Equal Voice is a registered charity dedicated to improving gender representation in Canadian politics through research and education. Since 2001, Equal Voice has been at the forefront of advocating for equal representation of women and gender-diverse individuals in Canada's Parliament, provincial and territorial legislatures, and municipal and Indigenous councils. Through advocacy, education, and leadership development, Equal Voice works to create an equitable and inclusive political system across the country and at all levels of government.
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Barbara Barrett
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