Equal Voice

Founded in 2001 by Christina McCall, Libby Burnham,Rosemary Speirs, and Donna Dasko^[1] Equal Voice: Electing More Women in Canada is a multi-partisan, non-governmental, non-profit organization that promotes the election of more women in Canadian politics. Through public awareness campaigns, a campaign school, election tracking, and lobbying the political parties, Equal Voice seeks to increase the numbers of women elected to public office federally, provincially and municipally.

Electing women in Canada: challenges and strategies

In order to ensure that more women are elected in Canada, it is critical that Canada’s political parties adopt action plans to break down barriers for women in politics. Equal Voice encourages the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party of Canada, to be proactive in their recruitment and support of women candidates.

Regional and youth chapters

Equal Voice Chapters and University Campus Clubs aim to increase public awareness about the underrepresentation of women in politics by hosting events and providing networking and mentoring opportunities across Canada. In order to found a chapter, leaders must prove they support a multi-partisan approach to promoting the cause of electing more women in politics. Chapters must be devoted solely to the cause of electing more women. There are currently chapters in Ottawa, Toronto, Alberta South, Alberta North, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to regional chapters, there are student chapters at: The University of McGill, The University of Ottawa, Carleton University and York University, with chapters quickly emerging across the country.

Launched on International Women's Day (2010), "Be Her or Support Her"is an action campaign created to galvanize women into being the candidate or support another woman to do so.^[2] Members can take part in this specific campaign by taking individual action, through community initiatives, or by political party action. This includes running for election, donating money to help fundraise for women politicians, holding a Particip8^[3] event, joining a riding association, and celebrate existing women candidates and men who support the cause of electing more women to political office.

Equal Voice Experiences is a national mentorship program funded by Status of Women Canada which aims to engage girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 25 to learn about the impact of politics on their lives and how they might become involved in the process.

The Canada Challenge is intended to promote change among political parties to elect more women in Canada. In May 2009, EV launched its second Canada Challenge, where in anticipation of the next federal election, Equal Voice secured the commitment of the five federal party leaders to nominate more women to run for their parties. This resulted in an increase in the numbers of women nominated and elected in 2011,from 22 percent of parliament after the 2008 election to 25 percent of parliament after the 2011 election.

The Ontario Challenge was created to help elect more women to Queen’s Park. In 2006, Equal Voice asked the leaders of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, Liberals and New Democratic Party to commit to nominating more female candidates. All three party leaders agreed to take up the Challenge, and as a result, the number of women elected to Queen’s Park in one election cycle increased by 7 per cent overall.

Getting to the Gate Online Campaign School^[4] is an online campaign school that provides practical tools for women of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life interested in running for public office in order to boost women’s participation in all levels of government. The course is led by Equal Voice and funded by Status and Women Canada, and was made possible by the contributions of many individuals and organizations.

EVE Awards: Honouring Outstanding Women is awarded by Equal Voice to recognize significant achievements by women in political life and efforts to promote women in politics in Canada. Previous Eve Award recipients include the Right Honourable Kim Campbell, the Honourable Anne McLellan, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament Carolyn Bennett, former Member of Parliament and federal cabinet minister Flora MacDonald, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, former Ontario cabinet minister Frances Lankin and the Hon. Belinda Stronach.^[5]

Advisory Board members

• Kim Campbell, former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister
• Pat Carney, Conservative Senator
• Sheila Copps, former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister
• Janet Ecker, former Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPP
• Judy Erola, former Liberal MP
• Barbara Hall, former Mayor of Toronto
• Alexa McDonough, MP, former leader of NDP and Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
• Audrey McLaughlin, former NDP leader
• Lyn McLeod, former leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
• Anita Neville, Liberal MP
• Flora MacDonald, former Progressive Conservative MP
• Lucie Pépin, Liberal Senator
• Nancy Ruth, Conservative Senator

References

External links

• Equal Voice
• Equal Voice Youth
• The Equal Voice Experiences Mentorship Program
• Equal Voice - Canadian Political Parties and Political Interest Groups - Web Archive created by the University of Toronto Libraries