Media: New book a call for more women in politics

Originally published in the Hamilton Spectator on September 23, 2019.

By Nicole O’Reilly, The Hamilton Spectator

Betsy McGregor is at Hamilton City Hall Monday night for a book launch of “Women on the Ballot,” which includes interviews with 95 female politicians and aims to inspire more women to put their name forward. - submitted photo

For three years Betsy McGregor interviewed 95 women across Canadian politics about their decision to put their name on the ballot, the challenges they faced and what they learned.

The result is the book "Women on the Ballot" — part short stories delving into the lives of remarkable women, and part road map to inspire more women to step into politics.

"The goal is to inspire, to equip and to empower women to take their seats at the decision-making tables of Canada," said McGregor, who previously ran for Parliament in Peterborough.

Women's voices are missing in the corporate world, charities, and municipal, provincial, federal and First Nations politics, she said. It's not "just about the numbers," but what is missing when women aren't represented.

With more women comes better decisions, better representation of the communities politicians are representing and a better decision-making process that includes more collocation and inclusion.

McGregor will be at a Hamilton book launch at city hall on Monday night. Panellists include former Liberal deputy prime minister and former Hamilton MP Sheila Copps — who is among several Hamilton voices featured in the book.

The women interviewed come from across the country, span municipal, provincial, federal and First Nations politics. All political stripes; rural, urban and suburban. They represent different races, religions and sexual orientations. They spanned five generations: from age 23 to 93 at the time they were in politics.

Importantly, McGregor notes, she included women who attained the highest levels of political success and those who lost.

McGregor explores the challenges and barriers that women face that are different than men.

This includes fewer mentors and role models and different networks that often don't have the long-standing established clubs. Without access to these often traditional networks, women face barriers when it comes to donors and fundraising.

Women also still "disproportionality carry the home base load," she says, particularly when it comes to child care and caring for aging parents, so there are "complex trade offs" for family life when considering politics.

McGregor said the book and the book launch event is not just for women already considering politics. She hopes to reach women who had never considered it before, and teachers, parents and those with influence on the next generation of girls.

The back part of the book draws a road map to women about how they can get started in politics and offers information on resources available, including "campaign colleges." Finally, the book explores why female representation matters and what differences women can make.

The book highlights examples of amazing legislation put forward by women.

In her interview with Copps, McGregor said the Hamilton politician spoke about civic literacy and the importance of remembering the role women have played in history and teaching those stories in school.

"If you can see her, you can be her," McGregor said.

noreilly@thespec.com

905-526-3199 | @NicoleatTheSpec