Backgrounder -The Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Status of Women Canada – Women’s Program

One of the ways Status of Women Canada advances gender equality in Canada is by providing funding to eligible organizations through the Women’s Program. Projects are selected via calls for proposals on specific themes, as well as through a continuous intake process that allows the Women’s Program to address emerging issues as they arise.

The Women’s Program funds projects that address barriers to women’s participation and equality in Canadian society in three priority areas: ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles.

Funded Project

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. Members include Canada’s largest cities, small urban and rural communities, and 19 provincial and territorial municipal associations.

Project Description

The FCM will receive $547,300 for a 36-month project entitled, Towards Parity in Municipal Politics.

FCM’s research shows that women face many barriers when running, winning and maintaining positions in municipal politics, which include: a lack of support for families; intimidation and harassment based on gender norms; lack of ability to mobilize financial and political support; and people’s perceptions of women’s career paths.

Through this project, the FCM will work with partners, such as their 19 provincial and territorial municipal associations, Equal Voice, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, and the private sector to develop and implement a national strategy. The FCM will do consultations with their partners towards their national strategy to better determine what changes are needed so that women can better participate in political life at the municipal level in an effort to increase the number of women in decision-making positions at the municipal level to over 30%. 

The process will be led by a national working group composed of FCM staff, their 19 provincial and territorial municipal associations, and representatives of women’s organizations.

A knowledge hub of tools and best practices will be used in this project.