LIberals Bar Men From

[Wilber]

“We’re trying to find the techniques that are consistent with our democratic processes to the greatest extent possible,” said Gerard Kennedy, Dion’s special adviser on election readiness.

Where necessary, the committees will be able to simply refuse to allow men to run for nominations in some ridings.

Consistent with our democratic processes? Huh.

[Canadian Blue]

I have a feeling it'll backfire, if you want more women in the process then PR is really the only way to go. However what Dion is essentially doing is forcing some riding association's to go with candidates who may not be the best candidate.

For some reason I have a feeling that most of these female candidates will be in Tory stronghold's were they have no chance of winning. Either way, I don't think it'll be much of a help in getting more women interested. In my old riding we elected a female, and gender never came up, and that was in Alberta as well.

[scribblet]

I agree, political correctness is trumping democracy.

Can you imagine if a party had said it wouldn't allow any, for example, Muslims to run, there'd be a big stink.

If Muslims made up a disproportionate number of MPs, then you could make that comparison.

Disproportionate, what does that mean in the context of a democracy and free elections, how can it apply to a democratic system where all citizens are allowed a free vote - it means nothing.

It's a stupid idea if we want more female MPs, then work to recruit the type of women candidates who can win nominations on their own merit.

How could an MP claim to truly represent the voters of their riding when the voters' choice was forced on them, and think about how you would feel if your riding was told to nominate only one particular type of candidate, of a particular race or gender. If Dion wants more women in the Liberal caucus he has to work at recruiting them, not trumping our democratic system.

[margrace]

Canada has dismal record of female participation in federal politics. Only 20.8 per cent of 308 MPs are women, putting Canada in 46th place in the world — right behind Singapore.

Why is this?

Why do Canadian women not enter politics?

Can you say...o-l-d-b-o-y-s-c-l-u-b.

If you want an answer for this you have to go back to the writings of Augustine of Hippo,who said, "I fail to see what use women can be to man if one excludes the function of bearing Children"

His writing were taken up by the Roman Catholic Church and have continued. You will still find men who really believe this.

Dianne ABonczy said, of her running for the leadership of the Alliance party, that this was the only time she experienced the Glass Ceiling.

Oh yes women are welcome in the parties as long as they do all the work and keep their mouths shut.

[jdobbin]

If Dion wants more women in the Liberal caucus he has to work at recruiting them, not trumping our democratic system.

The political parties don't have to subscribe to a democratic system in the selection of their own candidates.

[scribblet]

If Dion wants more women in the Liberal caucus he has to work at recruiting them, not trumping our democratic system.

The political parties don't have to subscribe to a democratic system in the selection of their own candidates.

True I suppose. If it were my riding and that happened I would be very vocal and sure wouldn't vote for the affirmative action candidate.

Another slippery slope.

[jdobbin]

True I suppose. If it were my riding and that happened I would be very vocal and sure wouldn't vote for the affirmative action candidate.

Another slippery slope.

A lot of parties protect their sitting MPs or discourage people from challenging their MPs. Even the Conservatives do this.

I have no problem with this. I do have a problem with the pretense that any party's nomination process is cleaner than another's. They can all be dirty and the final decision usually rests with the leader. As it should be.

[Wilber]

If Dion wants more women in the Liberal caucus he has to work at recruiting them, not trumping our democratic system.

The political parties don't have to subscribe to a democratic system in the selection of their own candidates.

Just what we need, more political parities which don't believe in democracy. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for these parties to look at why they can't attract more women rather than prohibiting people from running.

[jdobbin]

Just what we need, more political parities which don't believe in democracy. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for these parties to look at why they can't attract more women rather than prohibiting people from running.

Don't assume that a political party that doesn't believe in pure democratic voting for their candidates is against democracy for elected officials in government. One doesn't necessarily follow the other.

A party has to be able to control its membership to avoid being hijacked. Personally, this is one of the dangers I see in the one person, one vote system.

[Wilber]

Don't assume that a political party that doesn't believe in pure democratic voting for their candidates is against democracy for elected officials in government. One doesn't necessarily follow the other.

This is where we differ. I do assume that.

[jdobbin]

This is where we differ. I do assume that.

Sadly then, you must realize that no political party in Canada has a completely democratic way of selecting candidates.

[Wilber]

This is where we differ. I do assume that.

Sadly then, you must realize that no political party in Canada has a completely democratic way of selecting candidates.

We don't have a completely democratic form of government either, far from it but I have a problem with any system that advocates exclusion as a form of democracy.

[Canadian Blue]

If the Liberal's truly want more representation of women in parliament why don't they go with a PR system for electing representatives instead of doing these token steps which won't really make much of a difference. Personally if in my riding they barred men from running, I'd think the candidate isn't up to the job if she couldn't even get elected by member's of her own party.

[jdobbin]

If the Liberal's truly want more representation of women in parliament why don't they go with a PR system for electing representatives instead of doing these token steps which won't really make much of a difference. Personally if in my riding they barred men from running, I'd think the candidate isn't up to the job if she couldn't even get elected by member's of her own party.

I don't know how that would work for a party nomination.

[Canadian Blue]

What I mean is supporting PR electorally once in government instead of some half baked initiative in within their own party. Let's face it, they'll bring in candidates to meet this 33% in riding's the Liberal's have no chance of winning.