Local woman’s petition on female genital mutilation garners quick federal response

In an official response to a petition organized by a Hatter, the federal government has confirmed that a clause about feminine genital mutilation will remain in Canada’s citizenship guide,

“It’s just really cool that our efforts and all the work that we’ve put into this has ultimately come to fruition,” said Michaela Glasgo, the local woman behind an e-petition that garnered more than 25,000 signatures calling for the final draft of the new citizenship guide to include a condemnation of FGM.

The petition — sponsored and tabled by Nose-Hill MP Michelle Rempel on Feb. 6 — was launched in response to a leaked report to the media that this topic was being taken out of the guide, which is currently being redesigned.

The federal government tabled the response to the petition on March 20, with a statement in it from the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship stating:

“Female Genital Mutilation is an abhorrent practice and it is against Canadian law. The Department would normally not comment on a product still under development, but given the interest in this specific issue, it is important to update Canadians on where we stand. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada can confirm that the new document will include information on Canada’s laws against genderbased violence, including Female Genital Mutilation.”

“Long story short, this government has constantly said that it is pro-woman,” said Glasgo. “It’s even called itself a feminist government. So when it was rumoured to be taken out of the citizenship guide, that obviously raised some red flags. So I’m just glad to see that they have capitulated on their original decision and they will be including it going forward.”

Glasgo — who announced earlier this month that she will be seeking the United Conservative Party nomination for the Medicine Hat Brooks riding — also added that the petition itself shows how people at a grassroots level can make a change.

The date which the revised guide will be launched has not yet been determined.