Morris MLA makes history with recent appointment

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This article was published 15/04/2011 (5524 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Morris MLA and Headingley resident Mavis Taillieu recently made political history after being appointed the first-ever female house leader of the Manitoba Progressive Con­ser­vative Party.

Taillieu downplayed the significance of her appointment, saying it doesn’t matter whether it’s a man or woman filling the role as long as they do an effective job.

“This is an important position within the caucus,” she said. “To come into this job, whether male or female, there is pressure to perform well.

“There might be some people watching to see if I can do the job, but I don’t have any doubts about my ability to do this job. I have been preparing for this position as if it was a doctorate dissertation.”

Taillieu will now represent the Manitoba PC caucus in discussions on the processes and procedures of the Manitoba legislature and help shape the legislative agenda for the official opposition.

Taillieu succeeds Lac du Bonnet MLA Gerald Hawranik, who recently announced he will be seeking re-election in the upcoming provincial election.

University of Manitoba political scientists Jared Wesley said Taillieu is a competent MLA with enough experience to do the job effectively.

However, Wesley stressed that her appointment could be a strategic move in anticipation of the Oct. 4 provincial election.

“If federal politics are any indication, this election year is about the women’s vote,” he said.

“We know that federally the Conser­vatives have been making inroads with women for the first time in decades and going into this election the Conservatives are actually going into the election with an advantage in the female demographic. This is similar to what is happening at the provincial PC party, albeit with less success than has occurred in the Harper government’s push.”

Wesley said that both the provincial and federal branches of the party are making a concerted effort to attract the support of so-called “soccer mom” voters.

“We are seeing a lot more women being promoted to these prominent positions to create those inroads,” Wesley said, adding that “these are not token appointments,” and they “make sense.”

Taillieu denied the suggestion that her appointment is strategically motivated.

“That is not the case,” Taillieu said. “In fact our numbers in terms of female voters between 35 and 45 are very good. I don’t think this appointment has anything to do with that. This is not a strategic appointment because I am pretty secure in my position here in Morris because the riding is traditionally Conservative.”

Taillieu was to begin her first session as house leader on April 12. The session is expected to last until June 16.

prescott.james@canstarnews.com