ACT NOW FOR PARITY

This editorial is especially for the ladies. Election season seems like a long time away. We have many barriers to overcome due to the COVID -19 crisis before that day, and it is hard to focus on long-term political matters. The pressures of our upended work lives, educating children and a general sense of uncertainty are understandable preoccupations.

It is important, however, for the people of Saskatchewan to be thinking of gearing up for casting their ballots and for letting their names stand for elected office. Statistics show a specific need for more women to become nominees for all levels of government, but especially in the smaller centres.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan’s municipal directory, female representation on elected councils is 38 per cent in northern municipalities, 25 per cent in villages, 21 per cent in resort villages, 21 per cent in towns, 20 per cent in cities and six per cent in rural municipalities.

Women make up 26 per cent of elected members in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly; 29 per cent of members of Parliament are female. We have never had a female premier.

Women like Judy Harwood, the reeve of the R.M. of Corman Park, have broken through the glass ceiling. In a 2019 interview, she encouraged other women to follow in her footsteps.

“We bring a different voice. We certainly bring a different thought process, right or wrong,” she said.

To run, a person must be 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen and meet residency requirements. For full qualifications, visit the saskatchewan.ca website. Nomination periods open at least 10 days before the deadline date, and require supportive signatures from local residents.

It is difficult to predict what changes might come about because of COVID-19, but the first elections slated to be held will be for mayor and councillors in resort communities, on July 25. The date to elect mayors and councillors in urban municipalities (cities, towns, villages) and to elect reeves and councillors representing odd-number divisions in rural municipalities is Nov. 9. (Elections for even-number rural municipalities are in 2022.) And although there are rumblings of a change in the provincial election date, it is still slated for Oct. 26.

If you are a woman interested in running for office, there are resources to help you. The national organization Equal Voice, for example, has a Saskatchewan chapter.

With elections looming, now is the time to consider a run or actively work for a candidate you believe can make a difference.