Launch of campaign against gender-based violence comes ahead of ‘landmark’ year, says UN official
The next two years are an important “roadmap” for the international community fighting for gender equality ahead of a “landmark year” in 2020, says a United Nations Women director. Lopa Banerjee and executive director for UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka were the guests of honour last week, when Canada was home to the launch of a UN […]
Sajjan says progress made to diversify Canadian military, but work must continue
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says the Canadian military is “making progress” when it comes to recruiting women, something his government and senior military leaders have emphasized as part of a new defence policy. Mr. Sajjan (Vancouver South, B.C.), who was a speaker at the Halifax International Security Forum last weekend, said in an email Q&A interview […]
Canada working to close the gender gap for women in peace operations
One year ago, Canada hosted the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver, where 80 UN member states and five international organizations came together to discuss how we can do peacekeeping better and differently. As we mark the one-year anniversary of this important summit, now is an important time to reflect upon the progress we’ve […]
Women’s rights: we still have far to go
OTTAWA—After hockey the other night, one of my fellow old-timers complained about the demand for gender equality on boards of directors. He pointed out his organization is composed of engineers, and given directors are normally fairly senior people, they would have to be drawn from people who graduated a few decades ago. However, he noted […]
Clement’s lack of judgment? More like a self-indulgent recklessness
Re: “Clement has a tough road to redemption, say strategists,” (The Hill Times, Nov. 14, p. 1). This headline might as well read, “Clement pulled a Letterman and some think he can return to the fold.” David Letterman came clean on the air as part of his monologue well before the #MeToo movement and by […]
A pink wave in Canada? Progress tends to be incremental, but ‘many young women are mobilizing’ for next election, say female politicians
The U.S. midterms saw an unprecedented number of women successfully seek office in a race that captivated many Canadians’ attention, raising questions of whether that enthusiasm will spill over and spur a “pink wave” when Canadians return to the polls in 2019. In a series of historic firsts, the U.S. will send the country’s first […]
After Democrats’ House victory, here on Parliament Hill, MPs express enthusiasm over ‘pushback’ to Trumpism
PARLIAMENT HILL—The day after Democrats dealt a political blow to the Trump presidency by re-taking the United States’ House of Representatives from the Republicans, here on Parliament Hill, some MPs expressed enthusiasm over the result, with one parliamentarian describing it as a “pushback” to the president’s style of politics. While a few MPs who spoke […]
Senators to trim Nov. 20 sitting to attend anti-harassment training
Senators will begin mandatory anti-harassment training this month, as work continues to refresh the Upper Chamber’s harassment policy. On Nov. 1, the Senate approved cutting short its Nov. 20 sitting so that Senators could attend a training session in the late afternoon. At least one more workshop will be held on Nov 27, using the […]
‘We still have work to do,’ says Senate sponsor of new anti-harassment law protecting Hill staff
The “heat’s turned up” on the need for education and prevention of workplace harassment now that a government bill extending Canada Labour Code procedures and protection to Parliament Hill employees has become law, says the bill’s Senate sponsor. Bill C-65, which received royal assent on Oct. 25, changes the Canada Labour Code to add sexual […]
Anti-harassment bill passes: a first step, but an essential one
Harassment and violence have no place at work or anywhere else. People have been coming forward to share their experiences inspired by the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, and the high-profile cases involving well-known public figures have helped those affected by these pervasive behaviours bring their stories forward to be heard. But no one is […]
