Women in Local Government: Getting to 30% by 2026
Canada needs more women in government, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) wants their numbers increased from the current 21.4% of municipal councils to 30% by 2026.
The United Nations defines 30% as the minimal percentage of women required for government to reflect women’s concerns. Women represent 12.9% of mayors and 22.9% of councillors in Canada, for an average of 21.4%, and a total of 5,242 women out of a total of 24,542 mayors and councillors.
Based on current statistics, Canada would need 2,120 more women in elected office today to reach the 30% target. That means increasing the number of women in municipal government by roughly 100 every year for the next 20 years.
To support this effort, FCM has developed a set of strategies and tactics that municipal councils can use to further the involvement of women in municipal government. These are based on discussions from a series of workshops and events held across the country in 2005–2006.
Canada needs more women in government, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) wants their numbers increased from the current 21.4% of municipal councils to 30% by 2026.
The United Nations defines 30% as the minimal percentage of women required for government to reflect women’s concerns. Women represent 12.9% of mayors and 22.9% of councillors in Canada, for an average of 21.4%, and a total of 5,242 women out of a total of 24,542 mayors and councillors.
Based on current statistics, Canada would need 2,120 more women in elected office today to reach the 30% target. That means increasing the number of women in municipal government by roughly 100 every year for the next 20 years.
To support this effort, FCM has developed a set of strategies and tactics that municipal councils can use to further the involvement of women in municipal government. These are based on discussions from a series of workshops and events held across the country in 2005–2006.