Local MPP aims to inspire more women to become involved in politics – Shoreline Beacon

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MPP Lisa Thompson says one of her main goals as head of a national woman parliamentarians committee is to inspire more women – both locally and around the globe – to become involved in their communities and politics.

The Huron-Bruce Progressive Conservative cabinet minister has been appointed chair of the Commonwealth Woman Parliamentarians (CWP) Canada Region steering committee, which has also earned her a seat at the international CWP. That steering committee includes 11 members from regions including India, South-East Asia and Africa.

“Around the commonwealth and around the world, we need to stand together to ensure that people understand that women have a role to play when it comes to effecting change and making sure that policies are up to date and align to support everyone in their communities,” Thompson said March 10 in an interview.

She said she “stands on the shoulders” of many great women in her new role, including her grandmother, who was a member of The Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario for more than 60 years, and the late Peggy Knapp, who held leadership roles with the Women’s Institute organization, right up to the international level.

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Thompson said she hopes to create awareness of the impact women have had on communities and provide similar inspiration to other women, as those women did for her, to become involved.

“We need to inspire and demonstrate that women of all ages can be their best selves by thoroughly researching what they care about and having an opportunity to have their voice heard. And when they are their best selves, people will recognize that and people will ask them to get engaged,” she said.

“Research shows that women tend to think about the broader community when they approach an issue and think about solutions. And I really hope that notion can be fostered during my time as chair of the CWP Canada Region.”

Thompson, who has served as Huron-Bruce’s MPP since 2011 and is also Ontario’s minister of government and consumer services, was named Ontario’s alternate representative on the Commonwealth Woman Parliamentarians Canada Region steering committee in 2012.

She became Ontario’s official rep in 2014.

In January, Thompson became the first Ontario representative to be appointed chair of the CWP Canada Region. Her term as chair – and as Canada Region rep on the international CWP committee – will run for three years.

“In having the honour of the role of chair for the Canada Region, I hope to inspire people to realize that if they truly care about something, they should be engaged in organizations and associations to have their voice heard and so they can impact change,” she said.

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The CWP, founded in 1989, aims to increase the number of female elected representatives in parliaments and legislatures across the Commonwealth and “ensure women’s issues are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation,” according to the organization.

“The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network provides a means of building the capacity of women elected to parliament to be more effective in their roles; improving the awareness and ability of all Parliamentarians, male and female, and encouraging them to include a gender perspective in all aspects of their role – legislation, oversight and representation and helping parliaments to become gender-sensitive institutions.”

The CWP’s Canada Region steering committee, founded in 2005, includes women parliamentarians from Canada’s House of Commons and provincial and territorial legislatures. Its goals are similar – boosting female representation in Canadian governments, fostering closer relationships among Canada’s female parliamentarians and providing a place to discuss and act on gender-related issues.

Even though women make up over half of Canada’s population, they are disproportionally represented at all levels of government.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities says 18 per cent of mayors in Canada are women, while 28 per cent of councillors are women. Provincially, a record-setting 40 per cent of MPPs are female, but only 33 per cent of cabinet ministers are women. Nearly 30 per cent of Canada’s MPs are women.

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Thompson, who’s held events over the years to honour and engage with women, said she hopes to encourage more local women to become involved in their communities and advocate for positive change at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.

“Women tend to think about community first and I think as we look ahead, there’s a true benefit to that,” she said.

“It’s always healthy for any community, whether it’s a soccer league or community recreation board or a municipal board, to have a diverse gathering of opinion and because of that, when people have a chance to have their voice heard, the best position and the best result will be realized.”

Thompson said she has participated in several virtual events since becoming the Canadian rep on the CWP, including a panel discussion with parliamentarians from Trinidad and Tobago and, on Monday, an International Women’s Day panel, which heard from a representative from the Republic of The Gambia.

“She shared with everyone in that conference that her son was afraid to go to the school because her life was threatened as a woman parliamentarian,” she said, noting people from other countries often look to Canada and Ontario for mentorship and new ideas.