Research & insights

Canadian women’s policy priorities are clear, and they’re going to the polls to protect them

Highlights – January 2025

New national survey data shows that the engaged women segment is growing steadily, they know their top policy priorities and upcoming provincial and federal elections can expect a high turnout from this demographic in 2025.

Women are tuning in more than ever

Engaged women are well informed. They take in the news, understand the connection between the economy and energy and want a voice in the conversation. They are interested in learning more and how they can support dialogue about issues facing Canadians including wealth and prosperity.

Engaged women are present in all provinces across Canada aligned with the national population.

The number of Canadian women who identify as an “engaged woman” has grown from 34.5 per cent in 2024 to 42 per cent in just the last year — now representing 6.7 million women (21 per cent of Canadians).

Policy priorities for families and personal well-being

How much will a political party’s positions or policies on the following influence your voting decisions?

Percentages indicate the selection of top priority/plays an important role.

90% – Health care

80% – Economy and jobs

75% – Taxes and housing affordability

67% – Affordable and reliable energy, social issues, crime

66% – Environmental protection

Voting frequency

Engaged women are more likely to vote in most or every election at all levels — municipal, provincial and federal — than Canadians on average.

Percentages indicate the selection of every/most elections.

Municipal
80%

(compared to 68% of Canadians)

Provincial
94%

(compared to 80% of Canadians)

Federal
95%

(compared to 81% of Canadians)

If a federal election were held today, 97% of engaged women are likely to vote, compared to 87% of Canadians.

Focusing on energy policy: What’s important to engaged women?

“With more Canadian women engaged than we’ve seen in recent years, their growing influence is shaping conversations around economic stability, prosperity and the policies that matter most to them. Energy plays a key role in this dialogue — reducing the cost of living, driving innovation and growth, while also balancing environmental considerations.”

— Paige Schoenfeld, Senior Vice-President at Leger

Methodology

The survey data is from Leger’s Omnibus Study, conducted from January 17 – January 19, 2025, among 1,578 Canadians, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel.

The women who were classified as Engaged Women identified as someone who reads/listens to the news, is informed on politics, believe to be somewhat left/in the middle/on the right, and is neutral or in agreement with the many statements related to having an interest in: influencing government, learning about the future, learning more about topics that could impact Canadians future wealth and prosperity, understanding what I can do to support important issues facing Canadians, and having a voice about the future of oil and gas and energy.