All parties could have done a better job recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds than has been demonstrated by the current slate of candidates running in the provincial election.

That’s according to local political scientist Amanda Bittner.

Less that 25 per cent of the current slate are female, and while some are attributing that to the fact that the NDP is only fielding 14 candidates this time around, Bittner says neither the Liberals nor the PCs have many women or people from diverse backgrounds running.

She says both parties have no more than 10 or 11 women running, and while that can be because the election call was early, that’s no excuse for the Liberals who she says had all the time in the world to recruit a more diverse slate.

Bittner says the NDP has traditionally attracted more diverse candidates, but with less likelihood of winning.

She says a lot of those women often run in so-called “sacrificial lamb” districts where they have little chance of winning, and the key is to get more women to run in districts where they have a good chance of changing the face of the legislature.

Listen to Amanda Bittner speak on the VOCM Morning Show below: