The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Equal Voice (EV), a national multipartisan organization dedicated to the election of more women in Canadian politics, is calling on young women to make their mark on the 2011 federal election.

Equal Voice has launched the iCommit Campaign, a peer-driven initiative that asks young women (ages 18–25) to commit to vote in this federal election and beyond.

“Equal Voice aims to ignite in young women a lifelong commitment to politics, a commitment that begins by casting a ballot on May 2, 2011,” said Nancy Peckford, executive director for Equal Voice.

Using the catch phrase “iCommit to Vote/Run/Lead,” EV is encouraging young women to vote on May 2 and to lead their friends and peers to the polls to do the same.

Further, young women are invited to champion the cause of electing more women and, ultimately, to consider running for office or running a campaign themselves at the university, community or provincial/territorial/federal level. 

“We recognize young women’s views are often not sought, represented or heard in the political process,” added Michal Harewood, Equal Voice National Youth Chair.  

In the last parliament, there were five women under the age of 40 in the House of Commons (1.6 per cent), compared with 25 men under age 40 (8 per cent). Female MPs comprised just over 22 per cent overall.

Equal Voice and its partners at the YWCA Canada, Apathy is Boring, the Girls Action Foundation and the Canadian Women’s Foundation invite young women to exchange their views and experiences online through iCommit statements, YouTube videos and other social media tools. 

In particular, young women will elaborate on why voting, running and being a leader are important to them and how Canada’s democracy would benefit if more women were involved.

For more information, phone Nancy Peckford at 613-292-7941or e-mail npeckford@equalvoice.ca. Or phone Amy Kishek at 613-608-7040 or e-mail her at akishek@equalvoice.ca. Website: www.icommit.org. Twitter: @EqualvoiceCA.