Doug Dobrowolski

Only 14% of municipal councils in Manitoba include women, that from Association of Manitoba Municipalities President Doug Dobrowolski who says their organization is working to change that number. The United Nations has cited 30% as the threshold necessary to ensure women’s views are included, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has initiated a campaign to try to reach that goal by 2026. Dobrowolski notes however, during the 2010 municipal election the number of women in local politics dropped.

    Dobrowolski says A.M.M. is holding a Lunch and Learn session today at Brandon University for women who are interested in becoming part of the political scene in Manitoba. He explains this workshop is a continuation of the organization's report from a few years ago called Ballot Box Barriers: an action plan for engaging more women in the municipal democratic process and will feature keynote speaker Shari Decter Hirst, the Mayor for the City of Brandon.

    Dobrowolski adds A.M.M. also sends out material throughout the year, continuing to encourage women to put their names up for election. He notes there may be two more Lunch and Learns on this topic taking place in other areas of the province in the future.