Speaking Notes The Honourable Helena Guergis. P.C., M.P. Minister of State (Status of Women) Forum on Democratic Participation of Young Girls

March 3, 2009

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Your Excellency, Colleagues, Forum Participants…

I am thrilled to be here to see so many young women, and some young men,  who are eager to learn more about the political life of this country.

And so many of you not only want to learn about it  - you also want to be a part of it!

Good for you!

We need more women involved in the politics of Canada – in the House of Commons, in every provincial and territorial legislature, in every city and town hall, and in every rural community – right across this country.

We represent slightly more than half the population.  Today, the good news is that women are making major contributions to Canada’s economy, running successful businesses and leading the way in many areas of society.

There is room for us to occupy at least half (or more!) of the elected roles in all those bodies where public policy decisions are made.

Public policy decisions affect every aspect of our life – the way we live, our employment opportunities, the schools we attend, the social groups we belong to, the roads we drive on, the buildings we live in, and even the quality of the air we breathe.

So it is vitally important that our voices – the voices of girls and women -- be heard – loud and clear -- in all of these places.

That is why I am very proud that our government supports the work being done by the group Equal Voice and that Status of Women Canada is the major funding partner in the work we are doing together in the Experiences Program.  This program will help girls and young women who want to become actively involved in political and democratic issues.  By inviting young girls and young women to interact with mentors from all levels of government and business and across all party lines, we will help them achieve their dream of becoming civic leaders.

And I am also very proud that we are launching this new program right here in the beautiful and historic residence of Her Excellency, The Governor General of Canada.

The research and consultations carried out by Equal Voice show that one of the most effective ways to achieve the goal of having more women involved in public life is to start talking to them about it when they are young women about your age.  The old expression is to “put a bug in your ear”.   So that a bit later on you will be thinking about politics – at whatever level – as a potential career option.  And, even if you do not want to run for political office yourself, you can help others who do through your active support – from door to door canvassing to good political advice, to fundraising efforts to working in a political office.

Let me tell you why I think it is important to have more women involved in politics.

These days we talk a lot about economics, about budgets and deficits.  I believe that the insufficient numbers of women in public office in this country is part of the “democratic deficit” we have experienced.  It is hard to imagine, but this country was over half a century old before women were even allowed to vote in federal elections.  And even then, back in 1918  - when women were allowed to vote in federal elections they could not vote federally in some provinces unless they owned property!  Full federal voting rights came a few years later for the majority of women in Canada.  But in some provinces women did not have the right to vote in provincial elections or the right to be a candidate for provincial office until many years later.  In Quebec, for example, it was 1940 before women could vote and run for provincial office.  

And the situation was even worse for Immigrant women and Aboriginal women.  Aboriginal women living on reserves could not vote until the early 1960s.

I think some people imagine that it all happened all at once.  One day when the men running things were in a particularly generous mood !  It didn’t.  Every step was a clash with what used to be established beliefs.  Every bit of progress came slowly.  Every inch of movement forward toward greater equality was a struggle.

Today we can celebrate some progress, particularly achievements over the course of  the past twenty or thirty years. 

Sixty nine women sit in the House of Commons, for example, roughly 22% of the total.  We have the highest number of women ever in the federal cabinet.

That, in itself, is great progress – particularly from where we were 50 or 100 years ago!  And I also want to say that I am deeply proud of every woman who has achieved electoral success because I know first hand what an uphill battle it can be.

But we can - and must - do more!  As good as those numbers may look from the perspective of a woman living in 1867 or 1918, or in 1967– they are still not good enough for those of us living in 2009!  And they certainly will not be good enough by the year 2017 when Canada celebrates its 150th birthday.

Today as women and girls look to the future of Canada and changing the shape of our democracy, our conversation must be about building a critical mass of elected women in this country.  It is about working together to encourage all of you here, and all of the young women you know to get involved, to let your voice be heard and to assume your role as a leader in civic life.

Because your voice is essential to our nation’s ability to respond to the needs and demands of women, and men, over the next decades.  

We face incredible challenges.  And you have the opportunity to be architects of your own and Canada’s future – to create a society and a world in which you help to define the conditions of our success.

This project is a great example of how young girls and different political leaders, groups and individuals can come together and work for common goals. Some of our partners involved in this project include The Canadian Teachers Federation, Merck Frosst, The Toronto Dominion Bank, The Media Awareness Network, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation, The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Girl Guides of Canada, Historica, the Antigone Foundation, Canadian Women in Communications, YWCA Canada, Taking IT Global, and, of course, our host today, Her Excellency, Michaëlle Jean, the Governor General of Canada.

I think each generation of women must help pave the way for the next.  The women who came before my generation were pioneers without whose work, commitment and bravery I would not likely be standing before you today as a Member of Parliament and a Member of the Federal Cabinet.  I – and all of the other women involved in this project - intend to do all we can to pass along to you a wider choice of opportunities than our mothers and grandmothers were given.  We hope that you, in turn, will be able to do the same for succeeding generations.

I therefore salute you as our leaders of tomorrow.  I am sure that when I look out at the faces before me I can see the next female Mayor of one of Canada’s largest cities, the next female Premier of one of our provinces, several new female MPs and cabinet ministers and... perhaps even Canada’s next female Prime Minister!

It is up to you!

I wish all of you the best of success at this Forum and in all your future endeavours.

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