Halifax election sees fewest number of women run for office in 12 years
Municipal leaders are trying to narrow Halifax's political gender gap
Red and white signs dot the highway near Shelley Fashan's home: "No More Dumps In Our Community."
That fight against a construction and demolition waste site in Lake Echo, N.S., pushed the busy community volunteer to finally to run for municipal politics this fall.
"I have three sons, and I thought about it, and you know, this time I just said I'm going to do it," Fashan said.
Fashan is one of 15 women who put their names forward for Halifax Regional Municipality council.
That's the fewest in 12 years, despite efforts to increase participation, according to a CBC News analysis of the gender of election candidates.
"We want to have a diverse council that reflects the people you serve," Fashan said. "At the same time, you will be questioned and challenged on the fact that you are not like the other councillors."
A lot more men
The number of women running in elections between 2004 and 2016 has hovered around the high teens over the last decade or so. The most, 20, ran in 2008.
On any given election year, between 40 and 70 men run for council. The gap between men and women in Halifax municipal politics has barely improved; it only narrows in years when fewer men run.
In this election, about 2.7 men are running for each woman.
The lack of diversity in council and among candidates has gotten attention this year. Council is currently all white and only a quarter are women — Coun. Jennifer Watts refrained from seeking re-election this year, saying it was to encourage a more diverse candidate to take her place.
The average across Canada also is about a quarter, despite women making up half the population, according to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
Search for solutions
Ahead of each municipal election, governments and community groups hold workshops to encourage greater political participation.
Some have suggested more practical solutions such as setting term limits, contributing public funds to campaigns and making donations tax deductible.
The municipality know something's not working, said Késa Munroe-Anderson, Halifax's African Nova Scotian affairs adviser.
"Historically, very few women run, and historically, there's only been one non-white person who's been elected," she said.
That person was Graham Downey, who was the councillor in District 12, but was defeated in 2000.
'It won't happen overnight'
Halifax is one of five Canadian municipalities participating in a program, Diverse Voices for Change. Part of the program tracks who's running for council and applying for jobs in five Canadian municipalities, in hopes of finding solutions that work.
"Those systemic barriers that have been put in place for hundreds and hundreds of years will take time to dismantle," said Munroe-Anderson, who's working on the program.
"It won't happen overnight, because from the beginning of time women have been fighting this battle to be equal."
'On my radar for years'
In HRM, there are women, like Fashan, who have long debated running for council. Michelle Porter, founder of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, has been vocal about poverty reduction and increasing affordable housing, yet feels she's not qualified to run.
"Have I ever thought about it? Yes. Has anyone approached me about it? No. It would have to come from someone else just because of how I am," Porter said.
"It's something that definitely has been on my radar for years."
Time, money a problem
Gabriel Enxuga, Halifax's first transgender candidate, said he's able to run in part because he's single and childless.
"Entering into politics is a pretty big undertaking," he said.
"It's a big time commitment. It's a big financial commitment, especially for people who are maybe not represented in traditional politics."
Enxuga said it helps that he's backed by an anti-capitalist group called Dartmouth Solidarity, which supports him by organizing help.
'An incredible resource'
The person who is leading the FCM study nationally says she's heard "pretty horrifying" stories about what some women have faced in office, such as bullying. She's hopeful Halifax's lack of council gender diversity changes.
"Women, they're an incredible resource, and they will make our communities that much stronger," said Chris Fonseca, who's also a councillor in Mississauga, Ont.
"They're still very resourceful, they're resilient and they're coming up with policies to make change not only for themselves and their family, but for the community."
The election wraps up Oct. 15.
On mobile? View the graphic showing Halifax's political gender gap here.
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