Status of Women committee  Madam Chair and members of the committee, I would like to thank you for allowing me to speak today about some aspects of the realities that women face in municipal politics. Politics at the municipal level are one of proximity, and often serve as an incubator or a springboard fo

Status of Women committee  We need to start by talking about the disparities in our RCMs. We have RCMs and towns with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. On these town councils, the mentalities are often very masculine. Women don't feel like they have a place on these councils. When women do want to carve out a

Status of Women committee  The project you are talking about is Défi parité.

Status of Women committee  The length of the project Défi parité, for which we received a subsidy from the Groupe femmes, politique et démocratie, is three years. Within the framework of this project, we are expected to implement an egalitarian governance policy among RCMs, for example. In fact, we are act

Status of Women committee  There was mention earlier of equal qualifications. That subject comes up often. When it comes to current elected officials, if we set up a balanced council, women have to be given the opportunity to be part of it. Défi parité aims to integrate women into a man's world. Indeed, mu

Status of Women committee  The most effective tool is networking with women who have been elected, and peer experience. We do a lot of networking and activities where there are exchanges between women holding office and women who have been elected who come and share their experiences. They tell young women

Status of Women committee  Personally, I think that parties are very important at all levels. We lay the groundwork, but women need to know that they have a place within parties. Like you, women may run for a nomination, but if the nominations are made by the leaders, this is not an option. Sometimes, men

Status of Women committee  No, there is no difference.