There are 22 per cent more women running for a seat in the Ontario election this year than in 2003, said a group that advocates for more women in government.
But Equal Voice, which surveyed the gender breakdown of candidates in the province's Oct. 10 election, said that won't necessarily translate into more women in the legislature.
That's because about half are running in ridings their party will likely lose, said Lesley Byrne, a researcher for the group.
She believes women would have a better chance if they were running in about the 25 per cent of ridings that don't traditionally support the same party every time.
"So what you need to do is get women in those ridings where they have a very good shot and really support them once they've been nominated," Byrne said Monday.
According to Equal Voice, this year the three major parties have all increased their number of female candidates:
- The NDP have 42, up from 34.
- The Liberals have 38, up from 23.
- The PCs have 24, up from 21.
The Green Party of Ontario has 23 female candidates this year.
Loss of income a concern
Financial and time constraints have been cited as the main barriers to women entering politics.
First-time candidate Andrea Nemeth, who is running for the NDP in the Toronto riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore, said loss of income during the campaign was her biggest concern.
She has chosen to campaign only during the evenings and continue working during the day.
"Even though we're very optimistic and we think we're going to do very well here," she said, "I didn't feel good to give up my job with that insecurity."
When the Ontario legislature dissolved two weeks ago, 26 seats (25 per cent) were held by women, which is a proportion slightly higher than the parliament of Iraq and slightly lower than that of Afghanistan, Equal Voice said.
In Canada, the province with the lowest percentage of women in its legislature is New Brunswick at 12.7 per cent and the highest is Manitoba with 31.6 per cent, as of July 2007, according to Equal Voice.
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Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
