Several female politicians across northern Ontario say we’re moving too slow when it comes to ensuring equitable representation for women in political positions.
While an aspect of International Women’s Day focuses on empowering women to follow their career aspirations, in the political realm, there are still plenty of barriers for them.
That’s according to several female politicians across northern Ontario, who believe society is far off from creating an equitable political environment.
Lisa Vezeau-Allen ran for city council in Sault Ste. Marie in 2018 after a career spanning over two decades in the non-profit sector.
The mother of three has teenage children, but said she sees how difficult it might be for a woman who wants to run, but has younger children.
“I think a lot of it is because of the caregiver role, the responsibility of children, the uncertainty,” Vezeau-Allen said. “But I think it’s our goal and what we should be doing as women in politics is supporting that next-generation always. It should be a continuum.”
She is one of three female city councillors in Sault Ste. Marie where there are a total of 10 councillor positions and a mayoral position.
“It’s definitely not equitable, to be blunt,” Vezeau-Allen said. “It’s time for that to change, but it’s just not moving quick enough.”
Those barriers also exist at a federal level, according to Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes.
NDP MP Carol Hughes at podium.
During her time in Ottawa, Hughes said she’s watched the House of Commons become more accommodating for women.
“There never used to be change tables in washrooms. We now have a family room and it’s more acceptable for women to bring babies into the House,” she said. “When it comes to elections, parties need to do much better at supporting women, as currently, only 30 percent of the house is represented by women.”
In Timmins, former city councillor Noella Rinaldo’s political career spanned a decade.
Noella Rinaldo on Timmins City Council. (File)
Rinaldo quit her position in her third term to take up a director role at Timmins Economic Development Corporation.
She said a strong support group was critical for her, especially when faced with sexism.
“Luckily, I was fortunate that I had really great councillors alongside me,” Rinaldo said. “But there definitely were times where I was the only woman in the room.”
Rinaldo’s new role on the economic development board also serves as an alternative avenue for women who want to get into politics, but not necessarily in an elected position.
“I honestly felt I could do a lot more for this city in my new position than I did as a councillor,” she said. “We were in the process of changing what council was doing and I felt that I would have more voice where I was going.”
The three said some strides have been made to help women feel more comfortable, but all agree it’s moving at a slower pace than is needed.
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.
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.
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.
