City Launches Women in Government Initiative

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Greater Sudbury Council have endorsed a new initiative that seeks to encourage more women to run for public office in the next municipal election. While women hold prominent, leadership roles in many industries throughout our community, research indicates that those qualities are not being transferred to the political sector. 

"What staff is looking to do is plant a seed amongst women in our community to encourage them to consider running for office," Caroline Hallsworth, Executive Director of Administrative Services with the City of Greater Sudbury said. "Through this project staff is seeking to demystify the political process for women in our community, and make it familiar, real and relatable to their everyday lives."

The next municipal election will be held in 2018, which is also the 100 year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.  

During the 2014 municipal elections, over 90 per cent of the candidates running for Greater Sudbury council were men, 78 compared to only 8 women, four of which were elected to Council seats. 

As part of the Women in Government initiative, the City of Greater Sudbury will host two Women in Government Project events aimed at facilitating an environment for like-minded women to come together, and to make the political process more familiar to them. The first event will occur in September of this year, the City will invite women to participate in workshops and hear from others who have run or who have participated in political campaigns. 

The second event, Mentor Speed Dating, will pair female candidates with a mentor who will act as a resource and support as they run for office.

"We've based our model on projects that have already been run through Equal Voice and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities," Hallsworth said. "We have and will continue to meet with community stakeholders to foster support and awareness." 

Provincial numbers have similar numbers for municipal elections. Over 77 percent of candidates were male, 5,480 while only 1,591 women ran. However, 772 of the women who ran, won. This tells us that when women run for Council, they are 10 percent more likely to be elected than their male counterparts.

Quick Facts:

Municipal Councils

Men
Candidates for Council
77.49 per cent (5,480)
Elected Council Members
72.95 per cent (2,082) 

Women
Candidates for Council
22.5 per cent (1,591)
Elected Council Members
27 per cent (772) 

City of Greater Sudbury

Men
Candidates for Council
90.69 per cent (78)
Elected Council Members
69.23 per cent (9) 

Women
Candidates for Council
9.3 per cent (8)
Elected Council Members
30.77 per cent (4) 

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