st

41

Canadas
Parliament: Still a
Vertical Mosaic?
IRPP Workshop,
October 25, 2013
Dr. Livianna Tossutti,
Brock University
Jane Hilderman,
Samara
DATE:
October 25, 2013

Why A Diverse Parliament Matters

1. Descriptive Representation

2. Substantive
Representation

Visible Minority MPs & Candidates

Visible Minority Representation (%) 1993 to 2011

20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

Population
MPs
Candidates

1993 1997 2000 2004 2006 2008 2011

Explaining Representation Patterns

A number of barriers to increased representation of
visible minorities in elected office have been raised:

Political System and Media

Recruitment and Selection Process

Candidate Supply

Voter Preferences

Representation Imperative

Methods
Research Q: Following a fairly significant shake up in 2011, how does the 41st
Parliament fare in terms of visible minority MPs? And of foreign-born MPs?
Data collection: MP demographic details collected through MPs websites and
the Parl.gc.ca website. Data is current to September 2013 with exception of
Committee Chairs.
Analysis: Summary Statistics and Proportionality Index (PI), which measures a
groups share within a sub-population relative to their presence in a corresponding
benchmark population.
Groups
MP Cohort
Party Caucuses
Party Leaders & Deputies
Cabinet & Shadow Cabinets
Parliamentary Secretaries
Committee Chairs & Vice Chairs
Political officers of Parliament

Population Benchmark
Canadian Population
Canadian Population
House of Commons
Party Caucuses
Party Caucus (CPC)
House of Commons
House of Commons

41st Parliament: Visible Minority MPs

28 MPs = 9% of
Parliament

vs.

19% of Canadian
population

Visible minority MPs across the parties

NDP: 14% (14/100 MPs)

CPC: 7% (11/163 MPs)

LPC: 6% (2/34 MPs)

Visible Minority MPs Appointments

1.6
Proportionality Index Score

1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0

41st Parliament (September 2013)

Score 1.0 = mirror rep.
Score -1.0 = underrep.
Score +1.0= overrep.

Foreign-born MPs

40 MPs = 13% of
Parliament

vs.

20% of Canadian
population

Foreign Born MPs Appointments

Proportionality Index Score

1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0

41st Parliament (September 2013)

Score 1.0 = mirror rep.
Score -1.0 = underrep.
Score +1.0= overrep.

Note:
Left of pair = visible minority
Right of pair = foreign born

Final observations
1

Progress: Growing representation of visible minorities

among MPs over past 30 years; 2011 federal election saw a
new zenith in #s.

Opportunity & Challenge: The next federal election will

elect 30 additional MPs: this represents both a huge
opportunity for these communities, but there are barriers.

Climbing the Ladder: Once elected, many visible minority

(and foreign-born) MPs are obtaining positions of seniority
(Present cabinet is a success story) though some powerful
roles, like party leadership, remain elusive for visible
minorities.

Annex: Overlap?

17 MPs were both born outside of Canada &

are visible minorities = 6% of Parliament