The number of candidates who “identify as a visible minority” has jumped.
The face of the candidates in the municipal elections in Montreal is changing. The number of elected candidates who “identify themselves as a visible minority” has jumped from last year.
No less than 71 candidates for one or other of the elected positions identify themselves this year as a visible minority, against 43 in 2017, according to a survey published by Élection Montreal.
Almost half (48%) of the candidates surveyed identify as either Aboriginal, a visible minority, a person with a disability or someone whose mother tongue is neither French nor English. This proportion was 32% in 2017.
The lists of candidates also respect gender parity. This year, women represent 46.9% of candidates for various elective positions, while men represent 53.1% of candidates received.
As for the experience of the candidates, this election gives pride of place to newcomers. In 2017, 30.5% of people were outgoing candidates while this year, only 17.4% of outgoing candidates applied for any of the 103 positions. “This means that the 2021 election presents several new faces,” said Élection Montréal.
The non-partisan organization released this data based on a “self-identification” questionnaire. A total of 281 candidates out of 343 completed the form, for a response rate of 81.9%.
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