Politics

Closing the gender gap in Manitoba politics – CTV News

Published

5 years ago

March 7, 2020

WINNIPEG —
As the world prepares to mark International Women’s Day, there is a renewed push to close the gender gap in Manitoba politics.

“If our issues are going to be heard, you really have to be intentional and be focused on the things that matter to women and to children and to families,” said Malaya Marcelino the NDP MLA for Notre Dame and Immigration and Status of Women Critic.

Marcelino won a seat for the first time in the last provincial election. The mother of two young boys said she often gets questions that have nothing to do with politics while meeting with constituents.

“I always get questions like, ‘Are you married? How old are you? Do you have any children? What does your husband think of this?’“

Marcelino is one of 16 female MLAs, the other 41 are men. The lack of female representation cuts across all levels of government. According to the organization Equal Voice Manitoba, women make up just 10 per cent of mayors in the province and 21 per cent of MPs.

Despite the disparity, St. Paul’s College political scientist Christopher Adams said there are signs of improvement.

“It used to be 20 or 30 years ago, you throw women into the unwinnable ridings, whereas now we see many women being nominated for all the parties in winnable ridings.”

Adams said the gender gap remains widest in rural Manitoba, particularly for the Progressive Conservatives.

“The problem the PCs face is nominating women in non-urban southern parts of Manitoba. The Progressive Conservatives are behind in terms of gender equality, but they’ve made great strides over the past 10 years.”

Women who do enter politics often face bullying and verbal attacks. Last October, a vulgar slur was spray-painted at the campaign office of former Federal Climate Change Minister and Ottawa MP Catherine McKenna.

Marcelino said she hasn’t been singled out in person or online, but some of her female colleagues have.

“What’s concerning in general is just how people are on social media. It’s a negative space.”

Marcelino said encouraging women to enter politics starts from within.

“It’s up to the parties. If the members are saying this something we want and need, that’s going to happen for women to be able to run in the winnable ridings.”

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source link

Politics

NDP caving to Poilievre on carbon price, has no idea how to fight climate change: PM

Published

14 hours ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to their stance on the consumer carbon price.

Trudeau says he believes Jagmeet Singh and the NDP care about the environment, but it’s “increasingly obvious” that they have “no idea” what to do about climate change.

On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldn’t say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.

Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.

Poilievre responded to that by releasing a video, pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the Liberals’ carbon price.

British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to “big polluters,” if the federal government dropped its requirements.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

Source link

Politics

Quebec consumer rights bill to regulate how merchants can ask for tips

Published

2 days ago

September 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

Quebec wants to curb excessive tipping.

Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, has tabled a bill to force merchants to calculate tips based on the price before tax.

That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated based on $100, not on $114.98 after provincial and federal sales taxes are added.

The bill would also increase the rebate offered to consumers when the price of an item at the cash register is higher than the shelf price, to $15 from $10.

And it would force grocery stores offering a discounted price for several items to clearly list the unit price as well.

Businesses would also have to indicate whether taxes will be added to the price of food products.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

Source link

Politics

Youri Chassin quits CAQ to sit as Independent, second member to leave this month

Published

2 days ago

September 12, 2024

Anne Joseph

Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.

He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.

In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.

Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.

He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.

Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.

He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

Source link