Advocate hosts ‘Empty Seats,’ a panel discussion with Tracy Richardson, Maryam Monsef and Diane Therrien

The lack of women in public office takes centre stage in downtown Lindsay on July 7.

A panel discussion in Lindsay called ‘Empty Seats: Why too many women are leaving elected politics behind and what we can do about it’ is hosted by The Advocate and Kindred Coffee Bar. It brings together three area women who know firsthand what it means to serve, to lead, and to withstand the increasingly hostile climate facing women in public life.

Coun. Tracy Richardson, former MP Maryam Monsef, and former Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien will sit down for a frank discussion with co-moderators Roderick Benns, publisher of the Advocate, and Dara Bergeron, owner of Kindred.

Across Canada, municipal councils, legislatures, and Parliament itself are seeing women decline to run, step back after one term, or leave politics entirely. The reasons are varied, but online harassment, in‑person intimidation, and a steady erosion of civility have created a climate that is driving women out of public service.

A 2025 analysis from the Canadian Municipal Barometer reports that harassment “is increasingly becoming the stated reason that local politicians resign early or choose not to seek re‑election,” and that it is a barrier to recruiting new people to run, “especially women.”

The same 2025 Canadian Municipal Barometer dataset found that 63 per cent of municipal politicians surveyed had experienced some form of harassment. Harassment was identified as “most pronounced for women, Black and racialized, and 2SLGBTQIA+ representatives.”

Tracy Richardson, Ward 8 councillor in Kawartha Lakes, has built her political life on community connections. Like many women in local government, she has navigated the pressures of being both accessible and visible in an era when public commentary can turn personal.

“Over time, the environment has become increasingly marked by incivility; being yelled at, unfairly blamed, and subjected to ongoing harassment, online abuse, social media trolling and personal threats,” Richardson told council in early May. Widely expected to run for mayor, she instead will decline to run at all.

Maryam Monsef, former MP for Peterborough–Kawartha and a federal cabinet minister, entered federal politics at just 30-years-old. Her tenure included high‑profile portfolios and national visibility — and with that came intense scrutiny, targeted misinformation, and waves of online abuse.

In interviews and panels, she has described the emotional and civic cost of online vitriol, and how it affects young people, discourages participation, and imposes particular pressure on women and racialized people within public life.

Diane Therrien, elected mayor of Peterborough at just 33, became known for her directness. She also became a lightning rod for hostility, especially during the pandemic, when municipal leaders across the country faced unprecedented levels of anger and harassment. She publicly pushed back at protesters and faced controversy for doing so.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ 2023 report found that women hold only 31 per cent of municipal elected positions nationwide. The report highlights the need to understand “conditions for women to enter or remain in politics.”

What can residents do to support women in public life? How can communities push back against harassment? What changes are needed to make politics safer, healthier, and more sustainable?

These are the questions on the table July 7.

Sponsored by Launch Kawartha, Kindred is located at 148 Kent St. W in Lindsay. The discussion is between 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Arrive earlier to purchase coffee or other beverages.