OTTAWA - Advocates are calling for federal political parties in Canada to implement gender quotas and electoral reforms to improve the representation of women in Parliament. Over the past 25 years, Canada's ranking on gender parity in politics has significantly declined. The Inter-Parliamentary Union now places Canada at 71st in the world for the percentage of women in national legislatures, a sharp drop from 28th in 2000.

As of August, women hold less than one-third of the seats in the House of Commons and 55 percent in the Senate. Shari Graydon, a representative from the group Informed Perspectives, emphasized the need for concrete actions rather than vague promises. "What we want to see are concrete actions, not vague promises," she stated during a news conference on Parliament Hill.

Prime Minister Mark Carney recently highlighted that his party has the largest women's caucus in Canadian history, with nearly 40 percent of elected Liberal MPs being female. However, advocacy groups argue that this is insufficient. Graydon pointed to successful examples from other countries, such as Mexico, which enshrined gender parity in its constitution and elected its first female president last year. "Like all of the other countries ahead of us, Mexico used policy — not good intentions — to make systemic change to bridge the gender gap," she said.

Graydon urged all political parties to commit to running a minimum percentage of women candidates, stating that this should not be limited to less competitive ridings. She believes that well-managed quotas can enhance democracy and ensure that only the most qualified candidates, regardless of gender, are selected.

A recent poll commissioned by Graydon's group, conducted by Abacus Data, revealed that a significant majority of Canadians, 86 percent, believe equal representation in Parliament is important. Julie Savard-Shaw from The Prosperity Project highlighted that access to child care and the ability to work from home are crucial for advancing women in both corporate and political spheres.

Liberal MP Chi Nguyen added that public harassment and harsh rhetoric in the House of Commons are discouraging women from pursuing political office. "We need an ongoing dialogue with Canadians about what it means for people to be serving in these ways," she said. Nguyen also emphasized that addressing these issues is a collective responsibility that requires collaboration among elected officials, political institutions, and communities across Canada.

The call for gender quotas and reforms reflects a growing recognition of the need for systemic change to improve women's representation in Canadian politics.