Canada must reaffirm important role of women in conflict, experts tell Senate Liberal Caucus
As the Liberal government strives to work toward gender equality here at home, they must also ensure that the threat to women and girls in the world’s conflict zones and the advantage to having women participate in peace building efforts is addressed in Canada’s international peace and security efforts. This was the sentiment shared by […]
Liberal MP Tan challenges MPs to mentor Syrian refugees to help them find work
Now that the government has brought 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada, the next step is to help them find jobs, and MPs of all parties can do that by mentoring and letting them work in their constituency offices, says a rookie Toronto Liberal MP. “[MPs] are the leaders in their communities. They’re the leaders in […]
Canada falling behind on economic, political gender parity
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s now-infamous line, “because it’s 2015” garnered global praise for being a simple and confident rationale for his creation of gender parity in the federal Cabinet, experts used March 8—International Women’s Day—to emphasize that Canada is still a long way from being a worldwide leader in gender equality. A panel of […]
Nine new MPs came to Canada as refugees or from current or past war zones
Nine newly-elected MPs in the 42nd Parliament, which is considered the most diverse crop of MPs in Parliament’s history, came to Canada either as refugees or fled from war-torn countries. Out of the nine, according to research conducted by John Chenier, former editor of The Lobby Monitor and now editor of ARC Publications, four came to […]
Diversity in political backrooms still lacking
OTTAWA—The Liberal government included in its mandate letters to all ministers a “commitment to transparent, merit-based appointments, to help ensure gender parity and that indigenous Canadians and minority groups are better reflected in positions of leadership.” To recall, the prime minister appointed a Cabinet with gender parity (15 each of men and women) and almost […]
Diversity in political backrooms still lacking
The Liberal government included in its mandate letters to all ministers a “commitment to transparent, merit-based appointments, to help ensure gender parity and that indigenous Canadians and minority groups are better reflected in positions of leadership.” To recall, the Prime Minister appointed a Cabinet with gender parity (15 each of men and women) and almost […]
Conservative MP Wagantall’s private member’s bill causing fissures in Conservative caucus
A rookie Saskatchewan Conservative MP’s private member’s bill is causing fissures in the Conservative caucus with some describing it as “an indirect way for the pro-lifers to advance their agenda from a new angle.” Some are worried it will reopen the abortion debate causing an unnecessary distraction for potential leadership candidates ahead of the party’s leadership convention in […]
Diversity on parliamentary committees: Does it matter?
With the recent election of the remaining parliamentary committee chairs, we have the final piece in the puzzle of how the overall increased diversity in the 42nd Parliament is reflected in the remaining leadership positions. To recall, the Prime Minister appointed a Cabinet with gender parity (15 each of men and women) and almost 17 […]
Female politicos, PM, pack Rideau Club for Equal Voice’s welcome to the Hill shindig
Okay ladies, now let’s get in formation, as Beyoncé says. And in so many words that was the direction to the dozens of female Members of Parliament filling the room overlooking the Hill at the Rideau Club on Wednesday night as they gathered for an historic photo opportunity organized by Equal Voice, the non-partisan group […]
The cause for fairer science, because it’s 2016
OTTAWA—When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made his famous remark—”because it’s 2015″—about gender parity in his newly-appointed Cabinet last year, it attracted a lot of attention at home and abroad. He followed it up with a high-level panel on gender parity at Davos where he promoted women’s rights across the spectrum of society, including science and […]
