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 […]
Women remain a distinct minority in House, time to change that
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 on the Hill with the demands of their ridings. Newly-minted ministers, including Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, […]
Politics This Morning: AG Ferguson to release reports
Auditor General Michael Ferguson will release his Fall 2015 reports today on a number of important topics. There will be six reports and a special examination on Crown corporations. The first report takes a look at whether departments performed adequate gender-based analysis in its government decisions following the recommendations in the 2009 report on this […]
Politics This Morning: Trudeau to meet Tory
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Toronto today to tour the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine and to meet Toronto Mayor John Tory. Mr. Trudeau will tour the facility at 8:45 a.m. with International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains where they will make an announcement. Mr. Trudeau and Mr. […]
Trudeau should welcome opportunity to turn Senate on its head
OTTAWA—It is 2016, eh! All the more reason for the countrywide Senate parity push. The unprecedented number of vacancies provides an historic opportunity. When a non-partisan body, representing women across the political spectrum can achieve consensus on the need for Red Chamber equality, you know the political winds in Canada have shifted dramatically. From the […]
Canadian Mint to celebrate 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote with $1 coin
A Royal Canadian Mint proposal for a historic commemorative dollar coin to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in Canada appears to have been on the drawing boards for at least nine months before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet authorized its production soon after taking office last November. Up until that time—until […]
Implementing diversity and inclusion in Parliament: A more complete picture
With the appointment of parliamentary secretaries and opposition critics, we now have a more comprehensive picture of gender and visible minority diversity in Parliament’s leadership positions. How well has the Liberal government implemented its overall diversity and inclusion commitments, and how have the other parties responded to the “because it’s 2015” challenge? Although Prime Minister […]
