Stories by Nancy Peckford
Political developments over last 10 days astonishing, but don’t overestimate impact of this moment
OTTAWA—In an arena defined by power, ego, and the rise and fall of leaders, the political developments over the past 10 days are still astonishing. Patrick Brown, Kent Hehr, and Erin Weir—all confronting unexpected consequences…
OTTAWA—In October, after a hard-fought leadership race, NDP MP Niki Ashton gave birth to twin boys. Little has been made of it because, after all, women give birth every day in this country. While remaining…
OTTAWA—As North Americans witnessed this past week, unforeseen breakthroughs for women in Quebec’s municipal elections and in state elections across the border, their wins signal a potential new (and better-late-than-never) era for women in politics.…
In celebrating Persons Day every year, Canada salutes five tenacious women from Alberta, the “Famous Five,” who 90 years ago insisted that women be regarded as persons. In 1927, after hitting a roadblock with Canada's…
OTTAWA—We always wondered when she would emerge. Bruised and battered from an American election campaign like none other in the country’s history, Hillary Clinton took a well-deserved, and much needed break from the limelight. Except…
OTTAWA—This past week the federal government marked the sixth annual GBA+ Awareness week. This year’s theme was GBA+: Inclusion. Innovation. For the next 150. The federal agency leading the file, Status of Women Canada (SWC),…
OTTAWA—May 9 was election day in British Columbia. It was a tense, uncertain, and long night. Candidates, supporters, and British Columbians watched as an incredibly close election race unfolded, so close in fact that the…
OTTAWA—Much ado has been made about the strong participation by both women and men at the various Women's Marches held after Donald Trump’s inauguration. There’s no doubt that the turnout took many by surprise, including…Author
OTTAWA—Just a year after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made history with his gender-balanced cabinet, he has seized the occasion to make some important adjustments to his team. This is not unusual for a new government, particularly…
OTTAWA—This past week, Sandra Jansen stood in the Alberta legislature and recounted some of the awful and misogynistic commentary being thrust her way in recent weeks. As is well known by now, Jansen courageously called…
OTTAWA—It’s a girl! These were the words for the balloons that were supposed to be released at Hillary Clinton’s victory party, celebrating the election of the first female president of the United States. This anticipated…
OTTAWA—As the Trump campaign has descended to new lows that even the most cynical politicians could not have anticipated, we are having our own mini-dramas here in Canada. Thankfully, no one has been called a…OTTAWA—In just over three weeks, our neighbours south of the boarder will elect their 45th president. For many, the campaign can’t end soon enough. Count us among them. Most races are competitive and contain their…
OTTAWA—Fifty-one weeks ago, parties were entering the final stretch of a 10-week federal election campaign, the longest in Canada’s history. With the writ having dropped in the dead heat of summer, candidates had knocked on…
In 2016, the days of parliamentary committee meetings dominated by often well-meaning but largely male experts and organizations that often speak for only half of the population should be long gone. This should be especially…
OTTAWA—On the eve of the 100th anniversary of some women in Canada gaining the federal franchise in 1917, women in Canada are enjoying newfound success and power in politics. Despite the fact that elected women are often…
This past week, Equal Voice spoke at a quickly convened memorial for the late Jo Cox, the U.K. legislator who was stabbed and gunned down in her constituency. In a world where women remain a…
Last week, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark waded into the broader discussion of sexual assault by breaking her own silence about her experience of sexualized violence. She recounted her childhood, which, she noted, included not…
This past week, Hillary Clinton made history when she became the first woman to secure the nomination of a major party for president of the United States. While the competition with Senator Bernie Sanders was…
WINNIPEG—At the risk of invoking the overused motherhood-and-apple-pie analogy, it was clear from both the Liberal and Conservative conventions this past weekend that the amplification of women’s voices within each party is changing the tenor…OTTAWA—It would be no exaggeration to say that most MPs are relieved to be en route to their ridings to undertake, for a whole week, the arguably more rewarding work of connecting with their constituents. This…
This week, the private member's bill C-237, the Candidate Gender Equity Act, drafted by NDP MP Kennedy Stewart, will be debated in the House of Commons. It's a provocative bill in a country that has…
OTTAWA—Conservative MP Michelle Rempel’s article about everyday sexism on the Hill in last week’s National Post is another sobering reminder of a male-dominated workplace in which women who occupy positions of power are met with…OTTAWA—This past week, the Trudeau government made headlines for its international engagement, particularly at the United Nations. The media widely reported on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to the United Nations, not just because of…
The challenging work of the Procedures and House Affairs Committee is now under way. The task: modernizing the House which means modifying how the House of Commons conducts business so that it is more family…
OTTAWA—After three weeks back in Ottawa, most Members of Parliament have fully functional offices, their staff are getting into the swing of things and everyone is adapting (or re-adjusting) to life as they straddle time…
What a year it has been for women in politics in Canada. The developments have been dramatic in some cases, lacklustre or downright disturbing in others. While generally there’s been progress, the devil is in the details.…
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