Symbolic victories matter, yet they do not erase the reality that our political institutions still don’t consistently look like the people they serve. If we want to change that, we must look earlier in the pipeline.

Opinion | BY LINDSAY BRUMWELL | November 27, 2025

Canada narrowly sidestepped a second general election this year. And while each election cycle—whether expected or not—brings hope for more women, more diversity, and more representative leadership, it can also create the false impression that progress hinges on the ballot box. It doesn’t. Representation is built—or lost—in the countless days between elections.

We’ve made meaningful gains, but we are still far from parity. Women hold roughly a third of federal seats. Indigenous, racialized, and gender-diverse communities remain significantly underrepresented. Yes, we’ve seen historic milestones: British Columbia and Yukon surpassed the 50 per cent threshold, and some cabinets are becoming more reflective of their populations. But the national picture is uneven.

Symbolic victories matter, yet they do not erase the reality that our political institutions still don’t consistently look like the people they serve.

If we want to change that, we must look earlier in the pipeline. By the time a name appears on a ballot, many of the forces shaping who succeeds in public life are already set. Barriers show up long before a campaign launch: in party recruitment practices, nomination processes, access to mentors and networks, and in who is made to feel that politics is a place for them. These less obvious spaces, the ones most people never see, are where representation is truly won or lost.

Canadians understand this. A strong majority believe gender-balanced leadership improves decision-making and strengthens our democracy, society and economy.

Why? Because when more expertise and lived experiences are included, solutions become more grounded, voters are better served, and institutions earn greater trust.

This is the work Equal Voice does every day. Our vision is to make gender equity in Canadian politics the norm, and that means showing up in the long stretch between elections, through campaign schools, network-building, leadership training, championing civic and political literacy, and the steady, everyday actions that build confidence and open doors.

We work with every political party and at every level of government because gender equity in politics isn’t about partisanship, it’s about the health of our democracy and good governance. And Canadians agree, with 86 per cent believing that advancing gender representation strengthens our political institutions.

We hear directly from aspiring leaders about what stands in their way: uncertainty about where to begin, balancing public and private responsibilities, safety concerns, and navigating institutions not built with them in mind. These are real hurdles. But they are surmountable when political actors, parties, elected officials, and communities, choose to remove them.

That choice matters. Canada has never reached gender parity in the House of Commons or elected a woman prime minister through a general election. Plus, 16 per cent of municipal councils across the country still don’t have a single woman at the table. Local and provincial gains show what’s possible, but progress only holds if we sustain it. History tells us representation doesn’t improve by accident; it happens when people commit to it and then do something about it.

To the women and gender-diverse leaders across Canada wondering whether public life is meant for them: if the idea has crossed your mind—even quietly—there is space for you. Equal Voice is here to walk with you from that very first spark of interest to wherever your journey takes you.

As we continue this work, Equal Voice is bringing people together on Dec. 10 in Ottawa for our annual Gala; a gathering of leaders, allies, and emerging change-makers committed to strengthening gender equity in politics. If this mission resonates with you, I hope you’ll join us. This event is our largest fundraiser, especially at a time when we do not receive significant government or operational funding.

After 24 years, we’ve learned that the work between elections is what truly moves representation forward. It may not be as glamorous as a gala, but it really matters, and it’s most powerful when we do it together.

I hope to see you with Equal Voice soon.

Read the full article in The Hill Times here.