Men to be allowed on region’s women’s advisory committee
In the end, it proved inescapable: The subject of men dominated the discussion at regional council about how best to establish a women’s advisory committee.
Specifically, whether men should be eligible for a seat at the committee table — despite the fact regional council is already dominated by men, who make up 75 per cent of its membership.
When the discussion ended, council directed staff not to exclude men, but to choose 12 interested citizens based on the terms of reference of the committee, which demand a variety of perspectives on gender issues. Pelham Coun. Diana Huson made the original motion to form the committee at the Sept. 6 council meeting. St. Catharines Coun. Tim Rigby seconded it.
“I purposely had a male colleague second the motion because I think it is important for men to take an active role to promote the equality of women,” Huson said.
She said she didn’t expect a lot of men to apply for the committee, but added, “I do have concerns about explicitly excluding men.”
The committee’s purpose is threefold, according to a report. Its goal is to act as an advocate for gender-based issues concerning regional policy, promote leadership development, and provide research and information on gender-based issues to Niagara.
Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop said he believed the committee would make better decisions and have broader insights if it has the benefit of a male perspective.
“I could not disagree more,” said St. Catharines resident Haley Bateman, who addressed Thursday’s meeting as a delegation.
She said the committee is about giving women a
voice.
“It should be about allowing women to work to improve services and civic life here in Niagara.”
She added any recommendations coming from the committee would still have to be endorsed by regional council.
“There are a lot of wonderful men out there, but there are also lots of men out there who don’t quite understand what women go through, and could potentially create a lot of problems for the committee,” she said.
Another St. Catharines resident, Emily Spanton, told council she believed the committee should be made up of women, though men should be allowed to apply. “Preference should be given to women,” she said.
Excluding men would put the committee offside when it comes to the province’s human rights codes, said region human resources staffer Franco Meffe.
St. Catharines Coun. Laura Ip said a diversity of viewpoints is critical for the committee and would ideally include perspectives from women of colour, trans women, women in samesex relationships and women of various physical and cognitive abilities.
“I would be disappointed if the committee didn’t have a strong diversity of women’s voices before having men on that committee,” she said.
“This is about being an ally, which is about listening more and talking less. It is about being supportive and not taking away a seat from someone who is impacted by the work the committee is trying to do.”
The resolution directs staff to begin advertising for interested citizens. Three members of council were added to the committee, Huson, Ip and Port Colborne Coun. Barbara Butters.