Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Women as Caretakers

Women in the NWT said one of the biggest barriers to their participation in politics is their role as caretakers of household and family. Overall, there was a strong sense that women are expected, and often expect of themselves, to be the caretaker of extended families. Their professional work and caring for family often leaves little time for preparing to participate in politics.

The committee also heard about poverty and how it heightens the pressure on women to provide for children and family. We heard often that women provide financially for the extended family and have little to spend on themselves.

We have heard that men should not keep women at home to have babies and take care of the house. We have also heard that, in today's world, it is the women who have gone to school and have jobs.

Members have heard that stigma plays a big role in women's decision-making on political participation. Women explained that they felt that being a politician is still seen as a man's job, and therefore many women shy away from political leadership as a choice for themselves.

Financial Risks of Campaigning

The committee heard from many residents that deciding to run for election requires quitting full-time jobs or interrupting business activities. With the outcome of the campaign being unknown, they felt that the financial risk of running is too great.

Proposals to mitigate this risk include convincing employers to keep the position open and offer unpaid leave to employees who run for elected office. We also heard that some women will not consider running for election because they do not want to take a pay cut and reduce their current level of income to the level of earnings made by a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Fundraising strategies are impacted by the size of a riding and the type of transportation required. Committee heard there is considerable effort required when running for election in ridings with small and fly-in communities to visit people and households.

Being reliant on flight schedules can even further extend the time away from home. For those who require childcare, the expenses are also higher. It was also suggested that eligible electoral expenses include childcare expenses.

The resources required to cover far distances within one riding are a key concern. There was mention of an imbalance in the costs of campaigning amongst NWT's ridings, as, for example, ridings within Yellowknife do not require much travel.

Recommendation 1

The Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly recommends that the Legislative Assembly Board of Management consider childcare expenses as a constituency work allowance expense.

An important factor when discussing the extended time away from home due to necessary travel is the increase in number of days for which childcare is required, and the increase in related expenses. One former woman candidate explained she took her child along on her campaign tour, covering the extra travel, in this case airfare, in addition to accommodation expenses.

Recommendation 2

The Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly recommends that the Legislative Assembly make childcare an allowable election expense.

Campaign Schools

The UN Women's programs on leadership and participation work with civil society to uphold women's rights, including the right to vote and campaign free from electoral violence. The programs advocate legislative and constitutional reforms to ensure women's fair access to all political areas. Training and empowerment are essential components of the UN Women's commitment to advance gender equality. The UN Women Training Centre offers training courses, programs and resources, including an eLearning campus and knowledge-sharing platforms.

Significant efforts to overcome barriers are being made by non-governmental organizations in Canada. A prominent example is Equal Voice, a multi-partisan organization dedicated to electing more women in all orders of government. Its Daughters of the Vote project is receiving $3.8 million in federal support over three years to encourage young women to consider a career in politics.

In the Northwest Territories, the Status of Women Council has offered information on campaigning for many years. Starting in March 2019, the Status of Women Council and the Native Women's Association will pilot a new Campaign School curriculum. Additional initiatives currently ongoing include Women on the Ballot workshops provided in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I will now hand the report over to the honourable Member for Thebacha.