Local government positions for women becoming more equitable

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) exceeded its target of achieving 30% women representation in elected positions by 2026, reaching 31% ahead of schedule, as per a report released during Gender Equality Week. The report underscores the significance of women’s leadership in municipal governance, emphasizing their role in shaping public actions. While celebrating the progress made, the report acknowledges that more efforts are needed to ensure meaningful participation and gender parity in local governments, especially for underrepresented groups such as Indigenous, Black, and other racialized women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The study also highlights ongoing challenges, including high levels of harassment faced by elected officials, hindering the retention of women in politics. It calls for continued support and advocacy efforts, stressing the importance of creating environments free from harassment and violence to foster women’s leadership in local government.