March 28, 2025 Story by: Editor
Only twenty. That’s the total number of Black Canadians who have ever been elected to Canada’s House of Commons. In contrast, there have been 372 MPs named John and 77 named Jean. While data is readily available on women in Parliament, MPs with military backgrounds, and even those who passed away while in office, finding a comprehensive record of Black Canadians in politics remains a challenge. Their contributions are often absent from historical accounts, leading to their political impact being overlooked or disregarded. This omission hinders governments, political parties, and researchers from effectively addressing political inequalities.
Without accurate racial data on candidates and electoral outcomes, progress cannot be measured, nor can barriers be properly identified. Moreover, the absence of Black Canadians in politics means public policies are less likely to reflect their unique circumstances and needs.
A groundbreaking study by Carleton University and Operation Black Vote Canada seeks to address this gap. Using archival research, a survey, and over 30 in-depth interviews, their report, Black on the Ballot, examines the presence, backgrounds, motivations, and experiences of Black Canadians in politics. Here’s what they discovered.
Black Canadians in Elected Office
The study identified over 380 Black Canadians who have run for or served in elected positions across school boards, municipalities, provincial legislatures, and Parliament in the past two decades. However, historical records remain incomplete, particularly for municipal and school board elections, where record-keeping is often inconsistent.
Researchers were able to contact 212 potential participants and, in January 2023, invited them to take part in the first-ever national survey of Black Canadian political candidates and officeholders. Ninety-five responded, revealing important insights.
Local government serves as a crucial entry point for Black candidates. Most survey participants had contested municipal elections, with 52% running for city council and 6% for mayor, while 23% sought school board trustee positions. The lower financial burden of these campaigns and the absence of political party gatekeeping make local elections more accessible. Meanwhile, 19% of respondents had run in provincial elections and 21% at the federal level.
A significant majority of Black Canadian politicians are first- or second-generation immigrants, with 62% identifying as Caribbean. Their educational background is notably high, with 40% holding a graduate or professional degree and 56% having completed college or university.
Business is the most common career path for Black Canadian politicians, followed by government, politics, and law—mirroring trends among other elected officials.
Unlike the general trend in politics where women are less likely to run for office, Black men and women participate at similar rates.
More than one-third of survey respondents had run for a provincial or federal political party. Among them, 47% were affiliated with the Liberal Party, 26% with the New Democratic Party, 12% each with the Green Party and Conservatives, and 3% with the Bloc Québécois or Parti Québécois.
Motivations for Running
When asked about their reasons for entering politics, 73% of Black candidates cited the importance of having strong representation in government for people like them. Additionally, 52% were motivated by a desire to address specific policy issues.
While Black men and women run for office at similar rates, their paths to candidacy differ. Just over half of the surveyed women said they only considered running after someone else suggested it, compared to 28% of men. In contrast, 47% of Black men stated that running for office was entirely their own decision, while only 26% of women said the same.
This highlights the significance of encouragement, especially for Black women. Other studies suggest that women are generally less likely to be recruited by political parties. This pattern is reflected in the survey results, where 52% of Black women said a party official encouraged them to run, compared to just 16% of Black men. Women were also ten times more likely than men to say that party recruitment influenced their decision. Political parties thus play a significant role in fostering Black women’s political participation through what is known as “affirmative gatekeeping.”
Addressing Barriers to Black Representation
The study also identified several obstacles to political participation, including fundraising challenges and difficulties in recruiting volunteers. Half of the respondents said they had been discouraged from running for office, and 71% reported experiencing discrimination while campaigning or serving in office.
Participants emphasized the importance of sharing Black political success stories, implementing diverse recruitment strategies, simplifying the process of running for office, and ensuring that elections remain accessible to all voters. Additionally, they stressed that diversity efforts should focus not only on increasing the number of Black candidates but also on fostering inclusive political spaces. Many candidates and officeholders reported hostility, isolation, and both individual and institutional failures to address discrimination. These experiences are echoed in the podcast accompanying the report.
Despite these challenges, an overwhelming 87% of survey respondents said they would run for office again—demonstrating Black Canadians’ deep commitment to public service and community representation. It is vital to support and nurture this dedication rather than let it fade.
Source: The Conversation
