Regina’s civic election is quickly approaching, and there’s a familiar trend with the 2016 crop of candidates. A majority of them are men.
Fifty candidates are running for mayor and city council. Out of these 50 only 12 are women. It is an increase from 2011 though — in that election 11 out of 50 candidates were female.
Ward Six candidate Ashley Deacon said this gap is disappointing.
“We don’t see a lot of younger female candidates, and we really need to encourage young girls, while they’re forming their identity, that they’re powerful, and they do have the skills and ability to run for council,” Deacon said.
As a younger candidate, the 32-year-old said she feels there is a responsibility to show young girls and women that they can run too.
However, sometimes life gets in the way. That’s the case for Ward Seven candidate, Leanne McKay.
She said she can’t speak for why fewer women run for municipal office than men but said she couldn’t have ran earlier in life because a bigger job took priority.
“I was working on supporting a family. I was a single mom,” McKay explained.
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“If you’re a single parent you’ve got to be mom and dad. If you’re doing that, it’s hard to take on responsibility for all the other people. I’m now a senior, widowed, my children are all grown. I can do it now.”
McKay said you can’t force more women to enter politics, but mothers can raise their sons to be more sensitive leaders.
Ward One incumbent candidate Barbara Young said most councillors work another job, as councillors don’t make enough money for it to be their only source of income.
“In my case I was working full-time, going to school, and had four children. So I wouldn’t have even attempted this in my younger years,” Young said.
Young believes another barrier is that fewer women hold senior administration or boardroom positions, and there’s a perception councillors need that kind of experience.
“This might not be something that they feel qualified for. However, you don’t need that experience to be able to do it,” she explained.
“But you do need to be at that level to take time out from your job and come to City Hall. So that’s helpful too.”
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