14°c A few clouds
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Women on top; now what?
A massive coup has been staged by women and it seems to have just sneaked up on us when we weren't looking.
It is amazing that today 87 per cent of Canadians live in a province where the premier is a woman. When we look for political leadership, nine of 10 Canadians will see a woman. In 2000, only 13 years ago, we could count the number of women who had ever been premier on one hand. Today we have six in office -- Christy Clark in B.C., Alison Redford in Alberta, Pauline Marois in Quebec, Kathy Dunderdale in Newfoundland and Eva Aariak in Nunuvut are now joined by Kathleen Wynne in Ontario.
Now the big questions we need to ask are what does this mean and how will it affect us? Will this revolution result in critical changes in government policy? It would certainly be a shame if it just resulted in the "same old, same old."
For sure, at least some of these women understand, on a really personal level, the implications of abuse in the lives of women and girls. In the long term, the increase in status and equality of women that their premierships represent will cause a reduction in the amount of abuse, but the timeline is too long and we need to be moving more quickly or more women will suffer and more will die. Faster trials, more support for victims, more education of police, harsher sentences for abusers and a requirement they accept treatment before being released would be a good start. These premiers can initiate and fund such changes.
And how about missing and murdered aboriginal women. Can we not develop a Canada-wide investigation of these crimes and can we not stop them? If we had long ago believed women in B.C. when they started talking about missing women, less of them would have been murdered. These premiers represent the East and West coasts and the North. They can develop a Canada-wide response. They can and they must believe women when we speak about these kinds of crimes and they need to take action to address them.
The Morgentaler decision recognizing abortion as a women's right was made 25 years ago on Jan. 28, yet young women are still finding themselves unexpectedly pregnant and many are ignorant of the facts around birth control and abortion. In Manitoba, we have one of the highest rates of unplanned teen pregnancy and horrible statistics on child abuse. There is a connection there. We need to move on this with a national public education campaign and these premiers can do it without the support of an unwilling federal government.
We could increase the amount of time women could take off from work to raise their babies. We could ensure employers offer flexible work hours. We could make daycare free in every province just like school is. Marois, who brought in daycare for $5 a day, could take the lead.
Why don't they force the private sector into the 21st century? We can require gender equity on all publicly traded corporate boards. Businessmen will scream "government intervention," but it has been done in several other countries. The female leaders in Scandinavia, for example, made these changes and their countries are among the world's most successful. Empowering women at the board level increases productivity and produces changes on the shop floor and in management.
Why not really put some effort into reducing poverty. Not only do these premiers govern 87 per cent of Canadians, they also represent the four biggest provincial economies in Canada. First, let's stop homelessness. We have the data that shows providing a decent, stable place to sleep is effective in increasing health and developing the energy and confidence to find training and ultimately work. All of these provinces could increase financial support to families, using the tax system and provincial programs. If they all moved together, the other provinces would be shamed into following suit.
I am looking forward to the next few years and seeing what this diverse group of premiers can accomplish. We don't elect women because they look different. We elect women because we believe they will behave differently.
Linda Taylor is a Winnipeg writer.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 30, 2013 A11
More Analysis
- Back to Top
- Return to Analysis
More Analysis
(1 of 33 articles for this week)
Don't let flood-evacuee problems kill the vision
1:00 AM 0It was the best of opportunities. It was the worst of nightmares.
Let's go back in time to when the Manitoba ...
Poll
Most Popular Analysis
- Electronic footprints in a Google age
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Iran’s president-elect a glimmer of hope
- Pimachiowin Aki is exceptional heritage
- Firm sues governments over intellectual property
- Beauty and the (mortgage) Beast
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Elijah Harper changed my world
- Street art stifled in Winnipeg
- Too rural, too white, too male
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Beauty and the (mortgage) Beast
- Was east side misled by NDP government?
- Expense scandal dogs Nova Scotia's fading NDP government
- UNESCO's concerns unrelated to Bipole III
- Appalling rates of public-sector absenteeism must be addressed
- The view of Bipole III from Hart Mountain
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Key of Bart: Video Killed The Mayor Who Hates The Toronto Star
- Too rural, too white, too male
- A sorry fact -- Katz finds it hard to apologize
- Ford puts Toronto on the map at last
- Manitoba Hydro's halcyon days are gone
- The key of Bart
- Ford can't resign as mayor soon enough
- Obama gets ‘revenge’ with Rice appointment
- Shed more light on JTF2 secrets
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- The view of Bipole III from Hart Mountain
- UNESCO's concerns unrelated to Bipole III
- Shed more light on JTF2 secrets
- Hydro must serve citizens, not government
- The view of Bipole III from Hart Mountain
- Erdogan — a Chavez-style strongman who gets results
- Aging makes women proud — and loud
- Was east side misled by NDP government?
- Quebec's nationalism run amok
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- No bailouts required for Pollock's
- Teachers should fast-track inclusive plan
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- Manitoba Hydro's halcyon days are gone
- Hydro must serve citizens, not government
- Shocking exclusion
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Gadgets in classrooms are gimmicks
- ‘Stand your ground’ case not what it seemed
- Hydro plans will be scrutinized in public
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.