Is New Brunswick on the Cusp of Creating History?
Eleanor Austin
Leadership Branding & LinkedIn Coach | Corporate Facilitator | Mentor | Speaker || Step into Your own Brand Story to Live Confidently and Authentically on LinkedIn & in Life
Does your increased focus on DEI apply to political Leaders?
Tomorrow, Canadian Liberal party members in New Brunswick will choose its new leader, and among the four candidates, one is a woman.?
What’s the greater significance??
Let’s look at gender equality in our political houses.
It’s been more than a century since women gained the right to vote; 1919 in New Brunswick and the previous year federally.?
Among elected federal Members of Parliament, 30% are women, and in New Brunswick, 28% of Legislature Members are women - since the first, Brenda Robertson, a Progressive Conservative, was elected during Canada’s Centennial, in 1967.?
The recent gain of women elected provincially over the past two elections is due in part to the advocacy and support by the non-partisan organization, Women for 50% whose goal is equal gender representation.??In fact, gender representation is a top reason women candidates cited as a reason to run, an insight learned through research with women candidates across all parties following the most recent provincial election.
Yet today, New Brunswick is still one of only three provinces and territories in Canada to NEVER have elected a woman to lead as Premier – which will continue to be the case if women don’t become party leaders.
This possibility will either be fuelled or snuffed out this weekend in New Brunswick.
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The one woman running to lead the official opposition is Susan Holt – who is the first woman to ever run for leadership of the Liberal Party in New Brunswick. (Shirley Dysart was an Interim Leader.) Her worthy competitors are Donald Arseneault, Robert Gauvin, and TJ Harvey.
If victorious, Susan Holt will step into familiar territory of non-traditional roles for women, having studied Chemistry and Economics, and most recently being Chief Growth Officer for an IT firm training Indigenous people across Canada to become experts in software testing.?
Ms. Holt is former CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce and New Brunswick Business Council; worked internationally, is married with three children; and has experience in community volunteerism and running in politics.?
Research and history prove that diversity pays positive dividends.
This next proof point toward gender equality in New Brunswick rests in the hands of Liberal Party Members and the result will be known when voting closes on Convention Day, Saturday, August 6th.
“If we don’t name it, we can’t change it.”?? AJ Hikes
Leadership Branding & LinkedIn Coach | Corporate Facilitator | Mentor | Speaker || Step into Your own Brand Story to Live Confidently and Authentically on LinkedIn & in Life
2 年Happy to see that this article resonated with you, Sandy MacKay. Thank you for sharing with your network.
Leadership Branding & LinkedIn Coach | Corporate Facilitator | Mentor | Speaker || Step into Your own Brand Story to Live Confidently and Authentically on LinkedIn & in Life
2 年Thanks for reposting this article, Gord Pye !
Bridging Pharma, Healthcare & Innovation | Smarter Systems for?a?Better?Future
2 年Thank you Eleanor Austin As an immigrant I don't have the knowledge or context to properly understand NB politics. (I can't vote yet but looking forward to when I can) Observations 1. I see MUCH LESS diversity in general here. e.g. I see many wonderful women leaders in the community (volunteering) but not as many in senior roles in private companies. 2.I also see more conformance to 'types of business' per gender stereotype. 3. I remain shocked to see the numbers of seniors working in 'fast food'. If I was in politics I would want to make sure that there was financial peace of mind, so seniors could enjoy their retirement. 4. In 8 years I have not met one person with a disability in the workplace.
Problem Solver. Community builder. Social Purpose Projects
2 年Good article. Actually I have had the chance before. Several political leaders in Alberta over the past 15 years have been women.
I am passionate about helping people and companies change the world in a meaningful way.
2 年Having examples matter: not having diverse representation limits our thinking and perspectives. The literature in a business context is very clear that diversity is a massive asset to firm performance. I have a hard time believing that somehow politics would be an exception to this. We need great leadership in our province to help restore trust in our institutions. To be clear, this is not a local issue only, but global. It is my hope that Susan, the other leadership candidates and others will help lead the charge towards a positive movement in this province. I believe in New Brunswick. We can and will do better. To everyone from all parties that are engaging with citizens, and working collaboratively in the interest of taxpayers, thank you. It’s people like you that we need right now.