Equal Voice

Founded in 2001 by Christina McCall, Libby Burnham,Rosemary Speirs, and Donna DaskoEqual Voice: Electing More Women in Canada is a multi-partisan, non-governmental, non-profit organization that promotes the election of more women in Canadian politics. Through public awareness campaigns, a campaign school, election tracking, and lobbying the political parties, Equal Voice seeks to increase the numbers of women elected to public office federally, provincially and municipally.

In order to ensure that more women are elected in Canada, it is critical that Canada’s political parties adopt action plans to break down barriers for women in politics. Equal Voice encourages the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party of Canada, to be proactive in their recruitment and support of women candidates.

Equal Voice Chapters and University Campus Clubs aim to increase public awareness about the underrepresentation of women in politics by hosting events and providing networking and mentoring opportunities across Canada. In order to found a chapter, leaders must prove they support a multi-partisan approach to promoting the cause of electing more women in politics. Chapters must be devoted solely to the cause of electing more women. There are currently chapters in Ottawa, Toronto, Alberta South, Alberta North, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to regional chapters, there are student chapters at: The University of McGill, The University of Ottawa, Carleton University and York University, with chapters quickly emerging across the country.

Launched on International Women's Day (2010), "Be Her or Support Her"is an action campaign created to galvanize women into being the candidate or support another woman to do so. Members can take part in this specific campaign by taking individual action, through community initiatives, or by political party action. This includes running for election, donating money to help fundraise for women politicians, holding a Particip8 event, joining a riding association, and celebrate existing women candidates and men who support the cause of electing more women to political office.