The Editor,
While the municipal elections have been the hot topic in the local media of late, many more national stories are emerging about gender inequality and violence against women. The relation between the two issues is closer than we think, and I hope voters will think about gender equality as you head to the polls.
Women represent 16% of mayors and 26% of municipal councillors in Canada, for an average of 24%. In absolute terms, of 24,113 elected officials, 5,826 are women, according to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in 2013. Based on current statistics from the FCM, Canada would need 1,408 more women in elected office today to reach the 30% target - that means increasing the number of women in municipal government by roughly 100 every year for the next 14 years.
There are many reasons men are more likely to enter politics than women - my belief, supported by actual studies, is that women often focus on different issues than men, such as gender equality, daycare and children's welfare - but with a growing number of initiatives, activities and programs, the number of female candidates is growing as well.
Port Coquitlam residents spent the last three years with an all-male council. I am certainly not a radical feminist but I am not comfortable with this gender imbalance of elected officials.
While I am certainly not suggesting anyone vote simply based on gender, I feel it is important to have more women in politics.
How can democracy deliver for all of its citizens if half of the population remains under-represented?
Jane Thomsing,
Port Coquitlam
