Saskatchewan reached an important milestone after Monday’s provincial election. Women should represent more than 30 percent of members of Parliament.

Equal Voice, a charity dedicated to improving gender representation in Canadian politics, says the 2024 election marks a transformative moment for Saskatchewan, especially as progress toward gender equity gender in provincial politics has been gradual.

The Saskatchewan NDP told CBC that 48 percent of its projected winners are women and Equal Voice said Saskatchewan’s 24 percent. The party’s projected winners are women.

“One of the things that’s really exciting for us is that the Saskatchewan Legislature has passed what we call critical mass,” said Chi Nguyen, executive director of Equal Voice.

“The concept of critical mass means that if you have one or two people out of 50, those one or two people might feel really symbolic in their experience. And so what happens when you reach critical mass, those 30 percent is that the culture can begin to shift and evolve and change.”

Nguyen calls this increase in representation “an important milestone.”

The charity aims for 50 per cent representation of women and gender diversity in all provinces.

Saskatchewan. reaches a milestone with over 30% women MPs expected in the Legislative Assembly

More than 30 per cent of projected winners in Saskatchewan’s 2024 election are women. Chi Nguyen, executive director of Equal Voice, explains why this figure represents a significant “critical mass”.

Women in leadership positions

Brittney Senger, a non-profit organizer who previously worked at Equal Voice, is the projected winner in the riding of Saskatoon Southeast.

Senger said that when she considered running for parliament, one of the deciding factors was that she needed a leader and a party she could support.

“I saw the work that the women of the NDP caucus were doing in the Legislative Assembly. And that’s one of the things that really motivated me,” Senger said.

She said she saw strong women who “fought hard” to improve the lives of people, and women in particular, across the province.

“Strong women who brought their babies to the Legislature, breastfed on the floor. I mean, it’s incredible.”

Senger said she was also inspired to run because of what she saw in Saskatchewan. NDP Leader Carla Beck is doing it in politics.

“Having a leader who is a woman, but a strong, bright woman who works hard and who, you know, can offer vision and inspiration… it was such a motivation.”

Senger said the fact that all of the candidates she faced in southeast Saskatoon were men helped build momentum during the campaign.

“It was just a little extra push to keep me going. To, you know, show that as women we have so much to offer and we can contribute so much.”

Saskatchewan. Party candidates

Saskatchewan. Party spokesperson Julie Leggott told CBC in an emailed statement that about 25 per cent of the nominated candidates who put their names on the party’s ballot in the 2024 election were women.

“Of course, beyond the candidates on the ballot, many, many people who participated in the nomination process or volunteered for a campaign were women,” Leggott said.

“We are grateful for the continued participation and feedback from women, which has helped deliver many of the commitments we have made to the people of Saskatchewan, such as new cervical screening options, a new tax credit for in vitro fertilization and breast health center under construction in Regina. right away.”

Even though the number of women in the Legislative Assembly is at an all-time high, Saskatchewan. The party lost several high-profile MPs in this year’s election, including Laura Ross, Christine Tell and Bronwyn Eyre.

Recruitment efforts continue

Equal Voice said Saskatchewan’s achievements follow notable victories in British Columbia and New Brunswick.

In its last election, British Columbia achieved “a record” with 53 percent female representation in the provincial legislature. Equal Voice Executive Director Nguyen said this sets a new standard for gender parity.

New Brunswick recently elected its first female premier and increased the proportion of women in its legislature to 35 per cent, which Nguyen said marks another important step forward.

At the same time, she said there is much to be done in terms of recruiting women and people of diverse gender identities into politics.

“We just went through this election cycle, but now we have to start the next recruiting cycle. And a lot of people who are asked or asked to think about it need some questions,” Nguyen said.

“We know that, anecdotally, it takes a woman seven times to be asked the question before she says yes to running.”

Nguyen said there are many things for women to consider, as many tend to take on more of the caregiving responsibilities within their families.

“You know, how will I find a work-life balance? How will this fit into our family cycle? Do I also manage caregiving responsibilities with older parents and/or younger children?”

Nguyen said the work to recruit more women into politics is never done and the more equitable the representation, the better the leadership in a democracy.