Electing a Diverse Canada

Electing a Diverse Canada presents the most extensive analysis to date of the electoral representation of immigrants, minorities, and women in Canada. Covering eleven cities as well as Canada’s Parliament, it breaks new ground by assessing the representation of diverse identity groups across multiple levels of government.

The book begins by introducing the literature on electoral representation and the main concepts and frameworks underlying research on immigrants, women, and minorities. Using survey and census data, its chapters provide snapshots of officials elected at municipal, provincial, and federal levels, and compares these to portraits of the general population. The volume concludes by reviewing key findings and discussing patterns of over- and under-representation in Canadian government.

Electoral representation is an important indicator of a democracy’s health, yet there is limited research on how well elected representatives reflect the characteristics of voters. Electing a Diverse Canada provides a baseline for future research, not only by assessing electoral representation, but also by outlining key challenges impeding the future health of Canadian democracy.