Liberals promise gender equality but struggle to find women to run

As the leader of the Alberta Liberals vowed to close the gender-pay gap in the province, David Swann stood surrounded by male candidates eager to sit in the legislature.

"It's a challenge in this culture, it's a great challenge," Swann said Wednesday, on day two of the campaign.

He addressed the media from the Edmonton office of MLA Laurie Blakeman, one of just three or four female candidates Swann said have been nominated by his party.

"It's one of the issues that I think Albertans feel offended by," he said, "that it is not a welcoming environment for women, the political culture in Alberta. That has to change."

The issue of gender equality has been a plank for the provincial Liberals in past elections. But Blakeman said not much has changed.

"I think if there were more women in the assembly we would see more collaboration," said Blakeman.

"We don't have enough women in the assembly, and I sure hope we see some more as a result of this election."

Swann promised legislation to mandate that men and women receive the same wage for the same work, referencing how women in the province earn only about two-thirds of what men earn, based on a 2015 Parkland Institute report.

The Liberals currently have candidates nominated in 31 of 87 ridings.

Swann said the party is continuing to recruit candidates, and hope to attract as many women as possible.