Toward Parity in Municipal Politics (2018-2021)

Creating a national plan to get more women involved in local politics.

At the start of Toward Parity, in Canada, women occupied 18% of mayors’ positions and 28% of councillors’ seats. Through this initiative, and our Standing Committee on Increasing Women's Participation in Municipal Government, we worked to shift those numbers upward.

Our objective was to create a pan-Canadian plan to level the playing field for women who run in municipal elections. We wanted to make it easier for them to participate and have their voices heard.

We worked with provincial and territorial municipal associations, Equal Voice, the Canadian Women's Foundation and other organizations at the national, regional and local levels. Through consultations and pilot projects, we identified the barriers that keep women from participating in the political life of their community and looked for the most effective ways to overcome them.

This three-year initiative (2018-2021) was funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada.

Featured resources

See featured resources, news, events and training related to Toward Parity in Municipal Politics (2018-2021).

Guide

Toward Parity: Inventory of Strategies

An inventory of strategies, ideas and engagements to support womenès participation in municipal politics.

Tool

Run, Win, Lead: Toward Parity Framework

A municipal sector framework to help local governments achieve gender parity.

News release

FCM and Status of Women Canada launch Toward Parity

Today, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Status of Women Canada, with partners Equal Voice and the Canadian Women Foundation announced the launch of their latest partnership addressing gender parity in office at the local level: Toward Parity. FCM President Vicki-May Hamm issued the following statement

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This program is funded by the Department for Women and Gender Equality and implemented in partnership with Equal Voice and the Canadian Women’s Foundation.