As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada increase funding to Statistics Canada with the goal of expanding survey data collection about the participation and engagement of diverse groups of women in political activities, including, but not limited to, women’s leadership in community work and women’s participation and engagement in volunteering and donating to a political party.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada develop and implement a public education campaign whose goal is to positively shift how women in electoral politics are perceived.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada, at the next meeting of Canada’s Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Education and for the Status of Women, encourage all jurisdictions to incorporate the topics of gender equality, gender stereotypes and women’s participation in politics into their education curricula with the goal of increasing women’s political participation and building girls and young women’s confidence.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada continue to strengthen the application of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in all federal departments and agencies’ programs, initiatives, and strategies.

Recommendation 5

That the Government of Canada increase funding for organizations and projects that:

• support the political engagement and empowerment of diverse groups of women;
• provide relevant training, both in person and online, for women interested in seeking elected office;
• provide women with internships and similar opportunities in political workplaces;
• provide mentorship, role modelling, networking opportunities and guidance to women in order to increase their confidence and willingness to take risks and encourage them to seek elected office; or
• involve men in efforts to encourage women to run for elected office.

Recommendation 6

That the Government of Canada encourage elected officials to engage women in their communities by providing guidance, job shadowing and networking opportunities, including through local women’s councils and youth councils.

Recommendation 7

That the Government of Canada, in collaboration with provinces and territories, consult and collaborate with diverse groups of women to develop a strategy to encourage women from diverse backgrounds to participate in electoral politics and a strategy supporting Indigenous women in electoral politics, and report back to Parliament on the implementation and outcomes of these strategies on an annual basis.

Recommendation 8

That the Government of Canada consider making changes to encourage gender equality and diversity in electoral politics; to ensure more transparency and consistency in nominations processes; and to require registered parties to publicly report on their efforts to recruit female candidates from diverse backgrounds after every federal general election.

Recommendation 9

That the Government of Canada encourage registered parties and registered electoral district associations to set goals and publicly report on their efforts to nominate more female candidates, to achieve gender parity on their boards of directors, including in positions of leadership, and to establish search committees for candidates in federal general elections and by‑elections.

Recommendation 10

That the Government of Canada create a financial incentive for all registered parties to nominate more candidates who are women in general elections and by‑elections.

Recommendation 11

That the Government of Canada consider making changes to allow, with candidates’ permission, the collection of intersectional data on candidates in nomination races, including data on gender identity.

Recommendation 12

That the Government of Canada request that the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, at the next meeting of Canada’s Federal-Provincial-Territorial Status of Women Forum, urge all jurisdictions to discuss ways to make legislatures more gender-diverse.

Recommendation 13

That the Government of Canada develop and fund awareness campaigns and training programs to counter the negative effects of gender-biased treatment and harassment of female politicians, both in traditional and social media.

Recommendation 14

That the Government of Canada support data collection on the barriers faced by minority women and women from diverse backgrounds in electoral politics, and that this data be publicly available.