N.W.T. women's council to offer election campaign skills workshop
Just two of 19 current MLAs are female, more than 30 women have signed up for weekend campaign workshop
More than 30 women have signed up for a workshop run by the Status of Women Council of the NWT, designed to encourage and give them the technical skills to run in this fall's territorial election.
It's the third time the organization has put on such a workshop, which runs Feb. 4–6 in Yellowknife. Lorraine Phaneuf, the Council's executive director, says it's an important tool in encouraging women to get involved in politics.
"They don't see themselves represented at the Legislative Assembly, because there's such a small number," says Phaneuf.
"So, oftentimes, when there's not a lot of role models in a situation, it may seem a little scarier to run."
When it comes to representation of women in territorial politics, the Northwest Territories' track record is anything but sterling. In the last territorial election, only nine of 47 candidates were female. Two of 19 sitting MLAs are female, and neither hold cabinet positions.
Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro is one of those two. Public office comes with a lot of scrutiny, she says, with harsh criticisms of everything from tone of voice to wardrobe.
"Anybody who is running for office knows that, and you have to be prepared to put up with that kind of stuff, and to accept it and deal with it," she says. "There's not a lot of people willing to do that.
"Men tend to, in general, get greater support and are propped up more than women are."
The Status of Women Council hopes to change that. Over the course of the two-day workshop, participants will be led through sessions on networking, campaign rules and regulations, door-knocking and cold-calling, media training, fundraising, and assembling a team. The Council will also provide support for any women who choose to run in the upcoming election.
As for why women are under-represented in territorial politics, Bisaro says that long hours and lack of facilities for children at the legislature are barriers for people with families. However, she pointed out that plenty of women are already contributing to their communities, and suggested the upcoming workshop is an important initiative to encourage them to run.
"We need to back them," she says. "We need to encourage them, say: 'Yes, this is something you should do. I'm going to support you. You're going to do a good job.' We need to provide them with the backing and support they need."
Phaneuf says that she hopes the workshop will be eye-opening for participants.
"I hope that they get a sense of the importance of their voice at the legislative assembly," she says, "and how important it is to be part of that decision-making process."