Few women running for municipal office in northeastern Ontario
The vast majority of names on the ballots in this municipal election belong to men in Sudbury, and elsewhere around northeastern Ontario.
Joanne Savage is the mayor of West Nipissing and is acclaimed, so she will stay in the job for the next 4 years.
She said she believes the "old boys club" of municipal politics is fading away, however she noted she had to assert herself when she first led a council full of men.
"They had one advantage over me, which was conducting business in the men's washroom,” she said.
“But [I told them] beware, that would not be tolerated, because I'd be joining them."
Former Sudbury city councillor Janet Gasparini said female politicians feel they are being watched more closely than their male counterparts.
She said women have to find a balance in a political arena where women can be perceived as talking “too much,” not talking “enough” or “not being assertive enough."
In Greater Sudbury, there are 70 candidates running for mayor and council — only seven of whom are women. That's up from five female candidates in 2010 — four of whom were elected, including the city's first elected female mayor, Marianne Matichuk.
Gasparini said she tried to convince dozens of people to run in this election, but the perception is public life has become "dirty.”
That view is scaring off many talented women and men, she added.
"I can tell you from those 100 cups of coffee, [it’s] very difficult to convince people that taking that talent and treasure and investing it in politics is a good use of their time."