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IN THE NEWS
November 29, 2002
Jack Layton
What the NDP leadership candidates say about strengthening women's role in politics
Equal Voice put questions about women in politics to all six NDP leadership candidates, and intend to pose the same questions next year to the Liberal and Conservative leadership candidates. It is part of our campaign to draw attention to the need to reform electoral law so more women will take seats in Parliament.
What policies would the NDP adopt under your leadership to further promote the election of women?
First, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to address this important issue. The debate you attended in Toronto was one of 14 the NDP has held so far in the leadership race, and I would like to assure you that democracy has been raised and all candidates have addressed it in other debates. I believe it also important to note my campaign was the first to issue a position paper on renewing our democracy in the NDP leadership race.
Specifically, I support existing NDP policy that actively seeks to nominate women candidates in winnable ridings, by ensuring riding associations undergo a rigorous candidate search before holding nominations and being required to demonstrate how potential women candidates were encouraged to run. I am proud of our partys record, which has seen the most women candidates of any party in recent elections. I am also proud that in each of the last two elections, the NDP has elected more women to Parliament than the Alliance and Conservatives combined.
The NDP also offers financial support to women seeking nominations and during elections, reflecting the financial and social barriers many women face in running for Parliament. I support these, as I support the requirements our party has that ensure women will be fairly represented in the NDPs executive and convention. We need to ensure women in politics see other women in politics, and ensure women gain valuable experience in our partys decision-making processes.
I also believe we need to fundamentally change politics. For too long, Canadians have been disconnected and alienated from scandal-dominated political discourse, with few solutions at the heart of our national debate. In order to attract people to politics either as voters or candidates I believe it imperative we speak powerfully to how we can build a better society together.
What is your position on strict spending limits in nominations and elections to level the playing field for women and others who don't have friends on Bay Street?
I support strict spending limits in nominations and elections, and would point out the NDP leadership race has a strict cap on candidates spending and a cap on the amount individuals or organizations can contribute. This stands in stark contrast to other parties and I firmly support it.
Do you favor reform of our riding-based electoral system? Specifically, would you introduce a system of proportional representation so our Parliament would more accurately reflect the make-up of the population? For
seats allotted proportionately, would you require that party lists alternate male and female candidates so that women's names can't be dropped to the bottom?
As my democracy position, available on-line on www.jacklayton.ca, clearly states, I am in firm support of proportional representation and would make it a priority item in the event the NDP held the balance of power in a minority government. There are many models of proportional representation in place around the world, some of which retain the concept of guaranteed local representation, some which are based on lists and some which are hybrid of the two, such as New Zealands, which I note has become the first country in the world where a woman replaced another woman as prime minister. Your website includes other measures, such as the municipal system in France, from which I believe we can learn.
I believe proportional representation holds great promise for electing a Parliament that reflects our country. I also believe we should retain a form of democratic local representation in Parliament in order to ensure all communities have a voice in their government, and believe we can create a Canadian system that ensures our local and regional diversity is maintained in Parliament with proportionality. Logically, some form of party lists would also be required for a proportional system to function, and I would support initiatives within our party that ensure the NDP list reflects the country we seek to represent. The current composition of Parliament does not reflect our citizens, this needs to change and I look forward to the opportunity to help change it.
Jack Layton
Federal NDP Leadership Candidate
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