Abstract

In the context of Canadian political organization, political parties assume the crucial role of protecting representative democracy, and therefore the society at large. The Canadian political culture has been significantly influenced by the Liberal and Conservative parties and more recently by the NDP in the past few decades. Furthermore, globalization has had an impact on the way political parties operate. They break down modern day society's multiplicity of interest into simpler coherent units. They inform the society, act as lawful and organized channels of criticism and bring about transformations. The introduction of the representative conventions to select party leaders in Canada has greatly influenced its politics in that, leadership became one of the defining factors of intra party discipline and winning elections. Women’s political representation in Canada has changed somewhat largely as a result of more women being elected to parliament recently. That said, women still contend with a number of obstacles including the lack of gender diversity among cabinet members and the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions. The Liberal Party has been steeped in reformist traditions and this has seen a steady rise in female members of the party thanks to the Women’s National Liberal Commission and gender sensitive cabinets under PM Justin Trudeau. The key policies that the liberals have placed great value on include, but are not limited to, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as it stands in support of liberty, equality and freedom. However, the Conservative Party which has been one of the prominent parties in Canada also has been criticized for turning a blind eye when it comes to women’s affairs especially during the administration of Stephen Harper from 2006 to 2015. Their policies such as the strict budget for women’s programs and the lack of funding for childcare provisions showcased a lack of effort in-raying gender equity policies. However, various Conservative governments in the past have actively engaged in policy formulation for social welfare and human rights, although women joined politics in smaller numbers. It has always been the NDP which has been at the forefront in trying to tackle women related problems, putting forward women candidates and educating people on discrimination against women. It has been consistency that has helped NDP in putting issues related to poverty, sexism, and gender imbalance on the agenda of several discussions, therefore making it possible for women to have a stronger voice in Canada. Canadian politics has transformed from 1984 to 2015 with women at the center of it, but there still exists a gap. Women are often the nominees in constituencies that are perceived to have little chances of winning or are given junior ministries. The Talk by Trudeau concerning gender proportionality made a difference, but there still are issues out there regarding women and their positions, especially in important areas such as defence.There is a consistent growth of representation for the Liberals, which is not the case for the Conservative Party which has been increasingly depriving emphasis on women’s issues. The NDP’s activism persists in stressing the need to keep working towards actual gender equilibrium in the institutions of the Canadian political system.

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