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Women at the Centre

Leadership. Safety. Real policy.

In her hands.

A Place Built Around Women’s Real Experiences

Women shape the core of Ontario’s communities. They are the decision-makers in homes, schools, workplaces, and public life. They manage care, drive local economies, and carry more than their share of the burden.

This council is built around that reality. It is a space for women to bring forward their experiences, their priorities, and their leadership in a way that affects how politics is done in this province. It is not symbolic. It is practical, necessary, and overdue.

Why This Matters

There is no Centrist movement without women. And not just women in office—women in real life. Women who raise families, who work in hospitals, who run businesses, who volunteer, who fight for safety and fairness every day. Their voices must help shape the policy decisions that affect all of us.

This council exists to make that contribution direct, visible, and lasting. Women at the Centre is where lived experience becomes public leadership.

We are not adding women into politics. We are building politics around the lives of women.

Our First Priorities

  • She Votes. She Speaks. – A storytelling series featuring 20 women from across Ontario. Not edited. Not polished. Just real voices, shared with care.
  • Policy in Her Hands – A set of open public conversations where women bring forward ideas and feedback that shape our party’s platform.
  • Riding Team Challenge – We are recruiting 50 women this year to take active roles in their local communities as part of CPO’s organizing network.

We also support local meetups, mentorships, and quiet one-on-one conversations that build trust and confidence over time. Not every voice needs a stage. Every voice needs a space.

Who Can Join

If you are a woman who wants to see better outcomes in your community, you are welcome here. You don’t need experience in politics. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to care about what happens next and want to take part in it.

Women at the Centre is open to women of every background, every faith, every part of the province. You are the centre we are building around.

We would be honoured to work with you.

Women At The Centre
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Events and Updates

We will begin hosting roundtables, community gatherings, and civic training sessions across Ontario this summer. More details coming soon.

Looking Ahead

This group is forming now. Our goal is to create a council that truly reflects the women of Ontario—young and old, rural and urban, professionals and caregivers, newcomers and lifelong residents. Every perspective adds value. Every contribution matters.

This isn’t about performative politics. It’s about building something real, together.

Let’s get started.

Tags: Women in politics, Ontario leadership, gender equity, public voice, civic participation, Ontario Centrist Party

Women in the Centre – Guiding Agenda

Dear members,

Thank you for stepping forward to lead. Your time, your experience, and your voice are deeply respected. This group represents some of the most thoughtful, capable, and community-rooted women in Ontario. This agenda is not a list of tasks — it’s an open invitation to shape meaningful change, together.

Vision & Core Deliverables

Women in the Centre is grounded in three long-term goals:

  • Policy Development: Drive policy that reflects lived experience and supports real progress for women in Ontario.
  • Leadership Pipeline: Identify, mentor, and support women into leadership and political roles across the province.
  • Community Mobilization: Build networks that inform, connect, and empower women to lead change where they live and work.

🗓️ Year One Priorities

1. Women’s Health & Reproductive Care

  • Establish a taskforce focused on OB/GYN access, postpartum care, and rural health gaps.
  • Advocate for improved mental health resources, including perimenopause and trauma-informed care.
  • Push for stronger data collection and research on women’s long-COVID and cardiovascular risks.

2. Affordable Childcare & Early Learning

  • Design policy for affordable, publicly funded childcare with real municipal flexibility.
  • Support pilot programs for workplace-supported childcare in partnership with local employers.

3. Economic Empowerment

  • Launch a Women Entrepreneurs Fund: grants and mentorship for women-owned businesses.
  • Create a provincial directory to promote women-owned vendors for public procurement.
  • Advocate for fair parental leave and re-entry supports in private sector hiring practices.

4. Leadership & Participation

  • Develop a “Women Candidate Bootcamp” covering fundraising, organizing, and digital campaigning.
  • Establish leadership fellowships with post-secondary and professional institutions.
  • Create a Women’s Advisory Council to influence the party’s platform and policy focus.

5. Equity in Policy & Budgeting

  • Push for mandatory Gender-Based Analysis (GBA+) in all provincial budget decisions.
  • Host an annual Ontario Women’s Budget Summit to assess equity outcomes and impact.
  • Publish annual equity performance reports across key ministries and social programs.

Ongoing Initiatives

Initiative Goal Frequency
Policy Roundtables Bring experts and community members together Quarterly
Mentorship Circles Connect aspiring women leaders to mentors Monthly
Public Forums & Town Halls Direct public engagement on women’s issues Bi-Annual
Research Partnerships Collaborate with think tanks and academics Ongoing
Media & Messaging Amplify women’s leadership stories and ideas Monthly

Measuring Progress

  • Policy Wins: Are our proposals being adopted, heard, or debated?
  • Participation Growth: How many new women are engaging, mentoring, and leading?
  • Community Reach: Are we showing up in the places where women need support?
  • Recognition & Visibility: Are our voices shaping platforms, media, and public thinking?

Next Steps

  • Convene a launch session to align around our top two goals for the year.
  • Establish working groups based on interest and expertise.
  • Start small, stay consistent, and let your voice lead the way.

With respect and appreciation for your leadership,

Mansoor Qureshi
Leader, Ontario Centrist Party

Women At The Center | Blog