Daughters of the Vote

Equal Voice is a national, bilingual, multi-partisan organization dedicated to electing more women to all levels of political office in Canada.

Equal Voice embarked upon its historic and ambitious initiative, Daughters of the Vote, in 2017 to mark the 100th anniversary of women’s formal federal political engagement—along with Canada’s 150th birthday. In 2017, young women from across Canada applied to be one of the 338 emerging, diverse, community leaders who were brought to Canada’s Parliament.  Equal Voice will be continuing this historic initiative in 2019.

Young women, ages 18–23, from each of the 338 federal ridings across the county will be chosen to represent their communities.  Each delegate will take her respective MP’s seat in Parliament during an historic sitting in the House of Commons in Ottawa in April 2019.  They will be participants in a session of the house addressed by every federal party leader, and will engage with an array of Ministers, critics and advocates.

In addition to sitting in the house, the ‘Daughters’ can also participate in Daughters of the Vote workshops aimed at educating them about politics and encouraging them to recognize and use their own voices to create change in their communities.

Equal Voice’s objective is to ensure that 338 emerging young women leaders become familiar with Canada’s political institutions and the women and men who serve in them—so that they will be equipped and inspired to participate in the formal political sphere in the years and decades to come. The ultimate goal is for women to have an equal voice at every political decision-making table in Canada.

The young women who participated in 2017, included the daughter of OSSTF/FEESO member Irene Taylor (District 9, Greater Essex). She reported, “As a delegate for DOV, my experience has encouraged me to take action as a youth and to gain my social power as a woman.”  She also reported that the experience not only changed her future, but that she left feeling inspired and empowered.

For more information about Daughters of the Vote, visit www.daughtersofthevote.ca. The deadline for applications is January 6, 2019.