Going Global
Not only was 2022 a successful year for the Cumberland Strategies Women in Politics Program, but it was a successful year for women in politics across Canada. Several provinces with elections saw record numbers of women elected to their respective legislatures, remaining provinces signed a childcare deal with the Federal Government and Alberta appointed its third female Premier. While this is fantastic progress for women in Canadian politics, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure we have equal representation across the country.
As we venture into a new year, the Women in Politics Program will shift its focus. While we have spent time focusing our energy on Canada’s political leaders, policies and electoral systems, we believe it’s important to look at how all three of those factors impact one another. Does more female representation really mean more progressive policies that benefit women? And do different electoral systems support or hinder progress for women? The only way to answer these questions is to look to other countries with the answers – or at least some.
This past year, we examined the institutions and policies affecting women across Canada. We highlighted various strains on women’s economic, political and social prosperity, such as the Covid-19 pandemic that caused women to lose twice as many jobs as men in Ontario. We examined Canada’s efforts to create equitable pay for pink-collar jobs – through the Pay Equity Act. We followed the journey of many elected officials in two elections this year with our Women to Watch series and highlighted both the ups and downs of female representation across Ontario.
For this next year, we are looking for lessons learned elsewhere that Canada should emulate to support the participation and advancement of women in politics. Where does Canada stand in relation to other countries? What can we still work on and how do we get there? These are some of the questions the Cumberland Strategies Women in Politics Program will aim to answer in 2023.