Track record is what counts
Posted By Greg Vandermeulen
Posted 2 months ago
It is doubtful many Manitobans care what bodily parts their representatives have, as long as they are qualified to do a good job.
Evidence that the battle for equality has yet to be won, came courtesy of an NDP press release announcing the changes to the provincial cabinet. It seems society has passed the stage of condemning women as an inferior gender, and instead moved on to the stage where we feel that when women are successful, their "femaleness" becomes notable. Premier Gary Selinger made this disappointing claim. "I'm extremely pleased to have a strong core of eight women in cabinet."
It is curious that the only accomplishment he refers to in the formation of a good chunk of his cabinet, is the one thing the people cannot even help. And that's their gender.
It is doubtful many Manitobans care what bodily parts their representatives have, as long as they are qualified to do a good job. Now here's the inexplicable part. It's not as if Selinger had no material to go on.
Take Jennifer Howard for example. The new minister of labour and immigration, Howard has an impressive resume. She graduated from Brandon University, has been executive director of the Women's Health Clinic, chair of the Manitoba NDP status of women committee, worked with the Manitoba Action Committee on the status of women, was a policy advisor to Gary Doer, and is a member of the Board of Regents for the University of Winnipeg.
New deputy premier Rosann Wowchuk spent seven years as a councillor and deputy reeve for the LGD of Mountain. She was the chairperson of the Cowan Soil and Water Co-op, vice-chair of the North West Soil Management Association and sat on hospital, ambulance, community and 4-H boards. Her experience in government dates back to 1990, and she has been both critic to and minister for many portfolios.
Both Flor Marcelino, Nancy Allan and Kerri Irvin-Ross also boast lengthy resumes and more community involvement than most.
No matter what you think of their combined records, or their policies, it is clear their credentials are impeccable.
Those MLAs should be infuriated by Selinger's patronizing attitude toward all they have worked so hard for.
Have women really worked this hard to achieve equality to have those accomplishments ignored publicly at the very highest level? Selinger should be the first to know the gender of those MLA's pales in importance to their proven track records and what they can bring to government and service to all Manitobans. GV
