A century ago, Agnes MacPhail became the first female member of Parliament in Canada. Following this year’s election, only 30 per cent of elected MPs are women. It’s a step, but is it enough?
Women in politics
The event started with an informal discussion on the current state of diverse representation, or lack thereof, in the House of Commons.
The 2011 federal election saw a record-breaking 76 women elected to Canadian Parliament, though it still represented only a quarter of the 308 total seats.
While the country braces for an October federal election, a variety of female politicians spoke at the University of Ottawa last week hoping to break another record.
According to Statistics Canada, 34 per cent of women aged 25 to 34 have earned a bachelor’s degree compared to 26 per cent of men.
