The Alberta Government’s Utter Contempt For Women
UCP essay contest yells the quiet part out loud.
Imagine for a moment that you are an elected member of a legislative assembly, part of a government responsible for more than 4.4 million people. You‘re even in cabinet: a minister for the status of women, responsible for promoting the well being of (and promoting your government to) 2.2 million women who face the highest gender wage gap in the entire country. Conveniently, you are also the local chair of an organization comprised of women members of both federal and provincial parliaments. It’s “about us” page states that this group’s aims and objectives include “increasing female representation in our parliaments” and “discussing, strategizing and acting on gender-related issues.”
So you announce a contest asking young women between the ages of 17 and 25 to write essays about “their unique vision for Alberta and, specifically, what they would do if they were a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta,” You call it “Her Vision Inspires.” It’s a feel good local outreach thing, about as straightforward as a press release can get. A trio of young people get their names in the paper for offering up some aspirational platitudes about democracy, you get glowing media coverage for yourself in the bargain, and your office brags about it in your next mail…
