Canada

This chapter demonstrates that women’s relationship with Canadian political parties varies substantially from one sphere of political activity to another. In general, the history of the political emancipation of Canadian women defies coherent analysis except within a framework of a region-by-region assessment. Urbanization, immigration and industrialization are key features of Canada’s recent socio-economic history but their timing, character and political impact as well as their extent varies significantly from region to region. These regional differences may, in some circumstances, be more important in our assessment of their impact on women’s political participation than national trends. The majority of Canadian women candidates are deprived of the most important recruitment opportunity leading to election to public office – the opportunity of contesting election where their party has at least a chance of victory. Party appointments will be our final consideration of women’s relationship with Canadian political parties.