QUESTION PERIOD — Prime Minister’s Office
Role of Women in Democracy
April 3, 2019
Senator Harder, this week the Daughters of the Vote are with us on Parliament Hill. These young women from across Canada are here to witness democracy in action and to experience what it might be like to one day sit in Parliament.
Instead these young women have witnessed the terrible spectacle of the Prime Minister of Canada trampling on democracy by throwing two women out of his caucus, all because these former high-ranking cabinet ministers stood up for the rule of law and the independence of our justice system, and all because these women told the truth about the corruption infecting this Trudeau government.
Senator Harder, today many Daughters of the Vote turned their backs on Prime Minister Trudeau in the House of Commons. How can this so-called feminist prime minister look them in the eye when he has turned his back on the women of Canada?
Again, I thank the honourable senator for her question. She will know, I’m sure, that the Prime Minister and other leaders had occasion to meet with this group that is in town and to speak with them for some time to directly and respectfully answer their questions.
I do hope that when the visit to this chamber takes place that the attendees notice that this chamber has 47 per cent representation of women and that they see, by the conduct of the women in this chamber, that this is a place of influence for women and a place to aspire to in their own careers.
Senator Harder, when the men in Trudeau’s cabinet flounder, they get promoted. Seamus O’Regan; John McCallum; Stéphane Dion. Yet, in this fake feminist Prime Minister’s cabinet shuffles, the highest-profile demotions are always women. Why does this keep happening, Senator Harder? Is it because it’s 2019?
Again, I strongly dispute the allegations made by the honourable senator. Cabinet changes take place in all governments over time. I do think that whether a minister is so-called promoted or demoted is, frankly, in the minds of either critics or media commentaries.
The last time I looked, any cabinet seat was worth having.
