Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not too long ago the Premier made a public proposal presented to the NWT Status of Women Council to establish a mock women’s parliament, similar to the Elders and Youth Parliaments that we currently have every second year.
The Premier’s intent was to provide an event that would create interest in and motivate women for territorial politics, and heaven knows we need more women to be elected to this Assembly.
The idea has generated a lot of opinion and discussion since. Many people, both men and women, have expressed their disappointment and, yes, disgust at the idea of such a parliament. Others have defended it.
To the Premier’s credit, he has recognized a void in the elected leaders in our Assembly and has put forward a strategy for change. Like the idea or hate it, contemplation of a women’s parliament has started a much needed conversation, one that asks how we go about electing more women to this territorial Assembly.
A women’s parliament could be a tool to affect some of the necessary change, but I feel there are many other things which we could do instead, which we should do first and we could have a much greater impact. At the outset is the matter of missing resources.
The NWT Status of Women Council operates on a shoestring budget, more so since the federal government cut funding to status councils all across Canada. The GNWT could properly resource the NWT council so that organization could expand their activities, could be proactive in evaluating programs and services for gender equity and equality in government actions. They could look at gender issues across government and across our cultures. When was the last time our NWT council researched and produced a report on the equitability of women in any NWT organization or business? When was the last time that they made a presentation to a public policy forum or environmental assessment hearing? A long time ago, no doubt the result of minimal staff and reduced funding for this type of work.
We could fund them to do an analysis of gender in board appointments. I suspect it would show a disproportionate number of men appointed to our NWT boards and agencies. The council could be funded by the GNWT to run a campaign school every year, not once every four years.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thanks to my colleagues. I must point to the British Columbia Women’s Campaign School held annually with high-powered presenters, expert women speakers, drawing participants from all over BC and even across Canada. The school is open to women running for any office and to women interested in working on or for a political campaign. The NWT Status of Women Council could be mandated and funded to reach out to do work to increase the participation of women in elected positions, something that happens in Newfoundland. They could establish a mentorship program and/or set up online resources for potential candidates, for example.
The possibilities are many and we have to look no further than other Canadian jurisdictions for ideas and strategies. The conversation has been started. Is there will within this government and this Assembly to keep it going? Is there the will to make some changes and achieve one goal: more elected women MLAs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
