Despite making up half of Winnipeg’s population, women remain underrepresented on city council. Just 37 per cent of council seats are currently held by women.<\/p>\n
Barriers are still excluding many women from entering \u2014 or even considering entering \u2014 the Canadian political sphere, said Kelly Saunders, a political science professor at Brandon University.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On average, women hold about one-third of elected positions across all levels of government in Canada, she said.<\/p>\n
“We make up half the population in this country and in this province and in the city, so I would certainly like to see more representation of women,” Saunders said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Saunders isn’t surprised women aren’t running to become Winnipeg’s next mayor. <\/p>\n
They may be choosing not to run due to the harassment, threats and personal attacks that politicians can face, both online and in person.<\/p>\n
These attacks can be more vicious and sexist when women and other gender-diverse people run for office, Saunders said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Last year, the Winnipeg constituency offices of Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Housing Minister Bernadette Smith were targeted by vandalism and fires. <\/p>\n
Smith said the incidents were an “attack on democracy” and Fontaine said the acts wouldn’t scare the ministers out of politics. <\/p>\n
Despite the hazards of working in politics, Saunders sees more and more young women filling the seats in her political science classes, she said.<\/p>\n
‘Blood sport’<\/p>\n
“It’s not that women aren’t interested. It’s \u2026 the fact that there are larger structural systemic barriers that make it that much harder for us to run and to be successful at running,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I think until we really address the larger problems in our political system \u2026 it’s going to remain a pretty exclusive place, where a lot of people just don’t feel welcome.”<\/p>\n
When Thompson first ran for public office in Winnipeg, she was warned that politics is a “blood sport.” <\/p>\n
But she worked to avoid hostility in order to focus on important issues and meeting municipal goals, she said.<\/p>\n
She “wouldn’t allow bad behaviour” while leading the city, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“You want to see honesty, integrity, courage, leadership \u2014 and you want to see the job done. You don’t want to see bad behaviour,” Thompson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788096011_232_default.jpg\")
Waverley West Coun. Janice Lukes announces in June that she won’t run for re-election in October, after three terms on Winnipeg city council. (Cameron MacLean\/CBC)<\/p>\n
Waverley West Coun. Janice Lukes, a longtime fixture on Winnipeg city council, agreed that “politics is not for the faint of heart,” in an interview on Up to Speed.<\/p>\n
“It can get really nasty, but if you’re dedicated and committed, you will succeed and move mountains,” said Lukes, who was first elected in 2014.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lukes decided not to run for re-election this year. In June, she told reporters<\/a> that she felt she had accomplished what she set out to do when she entered municipal politics.\u00a0<\/p>\n While she doesn’t want to run for mayor, Lukes believes Winnipeg will eventually see another woman at the helm. <\/p>\n In Brandon, Manitoba’s second-largest city, there are no women on the mayoral ballot either.<\/p>\n As of Saturday morning, only incumbent Jeff Fawcett and former Progressive Conservative MLA Len Isleifson were registered to run.<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788096012_564_default.jpg\")
Women make up less than 10 per cent of Brandon’s city council. (Chelsea Kemp\/CBC)<\/p>\n