Women in municipal politics - Barriers and solutions
Candidates and elected officials

Barriers to women's participation in municipal government (EN)

Toward Parity in Municipal Politics is a project being implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with funding from the Department for Women and Gender Equality (formerly known as Status of Women). The project will be developing a national action plan to help address some of the barriers that exist for women entering into, being elected to or remaining in municipal politics.

The project recognizes that not all women will experience these barriers or may not experience them in the same way, while others, especially women of inter-sectional backgrounds, may experience multiple barriers concurrently. We also recognize that these barriers will often be compounded by other forms of discrimination.

Your feedback will be instrumental in helping us build our national action plan. Thank you for taking the time to respond to the survey. It should only take 5 minutes of your time.

Si vous préférez répondre au sondage en français, veuillez suivre ce lien :

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* 1. What best describes your role, or the role you ran for, on council?

Mayor

Councillor

other

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* 2. Please prioritize the following 6 barriers based on your perception of their impact on women's decision to run or ability serve in municipal politics in your community. (Please rank from most significant impact (1) to the least (6).

Lack of Information (resources, tools, training for candidates)

Lack of practical support for women (child care, transportation, timing of meetings)

Lack of encouragement support and mentorship opportunities by leaders

Lack of inclusive policies (maternity leave, virtual participation/telecommuting)

"Old boys club" attitude or perception/ Informal decision making processes

Intimidation and harassment (Sexual, violence, cyber bullying etc)

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* 3. The accessibility of resources, including information about roles and responsibilities, fundraising, application, etc. is easily accessible for women who are new to municipal politics.

Resources are easily accessible

Somewhat accessible

Very accessible

Resources are easily accessible

Somewhat accessible

Very accessible

Please provide examples of tools or initiatives that need to be available or should be accessible to all.

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* 4. What tool, resource, or information did you require or would have appreciated having to support your bid for or mandate in municipal politics, but couldn't find?

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* 5. There are adequate practices/services in place within municipalities that would help women balance their personal responsibilities with their position on council.

No support

Some support

Excellent support

No support

Some support

Excellent support

Please provide any examples of good practices or suggest practices that should be included to support candidates and officials.

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* 6. A lack of inclusive policies, such as parental leave and telecommuting options, would be a deterring factor in a woman's decision to run for or stay in municipal office.

Little to no influence

Some influence

Significant influence

Little to no influence

Some influence

Significant influence

Please provide examples of such policies or suggestions on how they should be improved.

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* 7. Women can easily access support or mentorship from a prominent community member and/or other leaders for a campaign.

False

Somewhat true

Very true

False

Somewhat true

Very true

Please provide examples or suggestions to improve the situation?

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* 8. The "old boys club" or informal networks and processes are a significant factor for women deciding to run or to stay in politics.

False

Somewhat true

Very true

False

Somewhat true

Very true

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* 9. Please indicate which methods (listed along the top) could be improved in order to minimize the effects of each barrier. Select all that apply.

	Policies	Information and training	Community engagement	Funding	Technology	Administrative/practical support	Other
Lack of information	Lack of information Policies	Lack of information Information and training	Lack of information Community engagement	Lack of information Funding	Lack of information Technology	Lack of information Administrative/practical support	Lack of information Other
Lack of inclusive practices	Lack of inclusive practices Policies	Lack of inclusive practices Information and training	Lack of inclusive practices Community engagement	Lack of inclusive practices Funding	Lack of inclusive practices Technology	Lack of inclusive practices Administrative/practical support	Lack of inclusive practices Other
Lack of inclusive policies	Lack of inclusive policies Policies	Lack of inclusive policies Information and training	Lack of inclusive policies Community engagement	Lack of inclusive policies Funding	Lack of inclusive policies Technology	Lack of inclusive policies Administrative/practical support	Lack of inclusive policies Other
Lack of mentorship	Lack of mentorship Policies	Lack of mentorship Information and training	Lack of mentorship Community engagement	Lack of mentorship Funding	Lack of mentorship Technology	Lack of mentorship Administrative/practical support	Lack of mentorship Other
"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks	"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks Policies	"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks Information and training	"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks Community engagement	"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks Funding	"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks Technology	"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks Administrative/practical support	"Old Boys club"/ Informal networks Other
Intimidation and harassment	Intimidation and harassment Policies	Intimidation and harassment Information and training	Intimidation and harassment Community engagement	Intimidation and harassment Funding	Intimidation and harassment Technology	Intimidation and harassment Administrative/practical support	Intimidation and harassment Other

Please provide any details regarding your responses

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* 10. Are you?

Female

Male

Non-binary

Prefer not to answer

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* 11. Are you

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

I prefer not to answer

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* 12. Which Province do you call home?

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* 13. Do you identify as coming from an urban or rural community?

Urban

Rural

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* 1. What best describes your role, or the role you ran for, on council?

Question Title

* 2. Please prioritize the following 6 barriers based on your perception of their impact on women's decision to run or ability serve in municipal politics in your community. (Please rank from most significant impact (1) to the least (6).

Question Title

* 3. The accessibility of resources, including information about roles and responsibilities, fundraising, application, etc. is easily accessible for women who are new to municipal politics.

Question Title

* 4. What tool, resource, or information did you require or would have appreciated having to support your bid for or mandate in municipal politics, but couldn't find?

Question Title

* 5. There are adequate practices/services in place within municipalities that would help women balance their personal responsibilities with their position on council.

Question Title

* 6. A lack of inclusive policies, such as parental leave and telecommuting options, would be a deterring factor in a woman's decision to run for or stay in municipal office.

Question Title

* 7. Women can easily access support or mentorship from a prominent community member and/or other leaders for a campaign.

Question Title

* 8. The "old boys club" or informal networks and processes are a significant factor for women deciding to run or to stay in politics.

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* 9. Please indicate which methods (listed along the top) could be improved in order to minimize the effects of each barrier. Select all that apply.

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* 10. Are you?

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* 11. Are you

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* 12. Which Province do you call home?

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* 13. Do you identify as coming from an urban or rural community?

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* 14. Thank you for your time and responses! If you have any other information you wish to share please include your comments below.

* 14. Thank you for your time and responses!
If you have any other information you wish to share please include your comments below.