Honourable senators, how do we increase the number of women elected to our parliaments and legislatures? One thing we must do is encourage young women to take an interest in politics and to see it as a worthy and rewarding career.

Last week, a nonpartisan NGO called Equal Voice took a major step in that direction. Over the course of four days, 338 young women aged 18 to 23, 1 chosen from every federal riding across the country, met virtually to learn about Parliament and public policy. They heard from all of Canada’s party leaders, parliamentarians; those who work in politics, and from a diverse, multi-partisan and coast-to-coast panel of women senators. They also took their seats virtually in the House of Commons.

The delegates gathered as part of the program called Daughters of the Vote, a program created by Equal Voice in 2017 and is normally held every two years, in person, in Ottawa.

I thank Senators Martin, Laboucane-Benson, Miville-Dechêne and Bernard for serving on our insightful panel, which was very well received by delegates. Many thanks to Senator Saint-Germain for her warm welcome to francophone delegates. I am confident that these young women left the conference with a sense of purpose and a sense that politics and public life can be rewarding.

However, colleagues, we cannot wait until the next generation of women steps forward to change politics. We must elect more women now.

In the 2019 federal election, all political parties increased the number of women they nominated, and that was commendable. Unfortunately, that translated into a modest 29% of our Parliament being female in that election. Canada is now ranked fifty-second in the world in terms of our representation of women. We must do better.

A federal election will likely be held sometime this year. Under the radar, parties are now nominating their candidates left, right and centre. Parties, I say this: What are your plans? Tell us what your plans are to nominate women, especially in your key ridings. And I say to the parties: Make a commitment now to do better than last time. That is the only way to make progress.

Meegwetch. Thank you.