Dame Edna may dominate

Re Men of Munk — ask a lady to talk! April 11 The imbalance between male and female perspectives should be corrected as soon as possible. It is not just in the speaker lineups that this is a problem, but also during the question periods that follow. One solution is to give the floor alternately to a man, then a woman, and thus hear from both halves of the audience.

Lately, I have been enjoying the Ramsay speaker series in Toronto, but have regretted the lack of an audience microphone from which to deliver a question. That kind of arrangement favours male speakers with loud, booming voices, and discourages anyone with less vocal power.

Heather Mallick is right to lead the charge for more women being offered pride of place. Otherwise the most unabashedly outspoken “woman” we will ever hear from will remain Dame Edna. Ron Charach, Toronto