Bilodeau said Wednesday that not only artists, but everyone in the music industry, including festival organizers, have a role to play to increase female representation.

A House of Commons committee is making a cross-party call for the federal government to offer financial incentives to political parties that nominate more women candidates to run for election.

As Canada 150 approaches, one group is hoping to use the sesquicentennial to address what it says is an under-representation of women in the community.