PROMOTING WOMEN, POLITICS AND DEMOCRACY
SimulActions will help demystify roles of elected officials, offer insights into processes
The Off-Island is fortunate to include a number of very capable women who work hard to represent our region politically.
Whether by being an elected official who sits on a town council, or is a mayor, or plays a significant role at the national assembly, examples of female leadership are everywhere here.
Some prominent examples include Notre-Dame-de-l’IlePerrot Mayor Danie Deschênes as she demonstrates and exercises her leadership daily. Former Notre-Dame mayor Marie-Claude Nichols is now the MNA for Vaudreuil, while Lucie Charlebois is the MNA for Soulanges and is Quebec’s minister responsible for the Montérégie region. Many other dedicated women occupy leadership positions on boards and councils across the territory.
And that’s a good thing in a world whereby men have largely dominated leadership positions and politics. Any effort to promote gender balance at local political levels is important for a variety of reasons. Why?
Because democracy should be representative of it’s population.
And who would argue that if half of the populace is female, that fair an equitable priority should be made to level the playing field, politically or otherwise?
Let us not forget a Canadian charter of right and freedoms that reinforces a guarantee of equal rights for women.
Despite the charter and good intentions, the fact is that representation of women at all levels of government could be made much stronger.
Efforts to do so requires concerted action and education, not only by women themselves, but also by anyone who values a balanced democracy. Encouragement to participate in decisionmaking processes and political systems along with a fostering and teaching of leadership skills in order to align and equip future female leaders is essential to ensuring that balance.
An event to be held at NotreDame town hall on June 10 and 11 will do just that. With a theme of women and governance entitled SimulActions, the town will play host to a group with an innovative project to help demystify the roles of elected officials and to show how a municipal council functions along with offering insights into processes. There will be an on-site simulation of a council meeting preceded by training sessions. It is presented in collaboration with le Groupe Femmes, Politique et Démocratie.
If you are female and are curious or interested in a future in politics, then this event is for you.
For more information, check ndip.org/2017/04/25/21958.