How women have helped change the culture of politics in Quebec

It's been 61 years since Claire Kirkland-Casgrain became the first woman elected to Quebec's National Assembly, and though women politicians say there is still much to change to make Quebec politics more inclusive, they point to the ways they've already createdprogress in what was a boy's club for centuries.

"It was really a purpose of mine to change the way we go about politics, the way we practise it," said Vronique Hivon, who recently announced she would not be running in the next provincial election, after being a mainstay in Quebec politics for more than a decade.

Hivon, the Parti Qubcois MNA for Joliette,is one of 16 women so far who haveannounced they will not run again inthis year's provincial elections, expected in October.

A CBC analysis earlier this week highlighted the fact that number represents about one in four female MNAs, compared to one in sevenmale MNAswho have announced they will not seek re-election. There are currently 55 women and 70 men who sit in the provincial legislature.

Experts who spoke with CBC said the proportion of women leaving isdisappointing, given the 2018 Quebec election's historic results for women and non-white candidates.

Groupe Femmes, politique et dmocratie, an organization based in Quebec City, has been pressuringthe province to adopt a "parity law" that would force parties to have between 40 and 60 per cent of their candidates be women.

"Because it won't happen alone," said Esther Lapointe, the group's director. "There are always setbacks."

Lapointe worries the majority Coalition Avenir Qubec government's surging popularity in the polls and the opposition parties' struggle to gain ground before the election could be among the reasonsso many women are leaving.

But Hivon, in an interview with CBC this week, said she is optimistic more peoplemore women will enter politics without feeling like they have to "fit into a mould."

Hivon has been hailed for her work on cross-partisan initiatives. With three other femaleMNAs from different parties, and in just under four years,Hivon helped create Quebec's new court specialized in sexual violence and domestic violence.

Women goal-oriented

She also helped draft Quebec's legislation on medical aid in dying and led a highly praised commission on end-of-life care.

Hivon was seen as a natural choice to succeed former PQ leader Jean-Franois Lise when he lost his seat in the 2018 election, but she decided not to seek the job.

"I have no regrets. I feel I was able to fulfil my objectives and what I wanted to change in Quebec politics and in policies," Hivon said.

"I feel I was able to do it, even though I wasn't a leader maybe even because I wasn't a leader," she added, laughing.

The PQ suffered a dismal result in the 2018 election, losing its official party status with only nine seats, compared to 30 in 2014, which was already one of theparty's worst resultssince 1970.

It is still reeling from those losses, finding itself fifth among the province's six main parties in popularity, with only 10 per cent of the potential vote, according to polling aggregator 338canada.com.

Hivonposited thatmore women may be leaving this yearbecause they arecontent to step aside once they've accomplished their goals.

"They don't hold onto power maybe as much as men, who see it as a milieu, a place where they can still do things, even if they don't know exactly what," Hivon said in the interview.

WATCH| Vronique Hivon on why she thinks more women are leaving Quebec politics:

Vronique Hivon on why she thinks more women are leaving politics

2 years ago

Duration 0:57

Retiring Parti Qubcois MNA Vronique Hivon says a different approach to power and the tone of discourse at the National Assembly are among her theories as to why women might not want to enter or stay in provincial politics.

The pandemic and the reflections it prompted about work-life balance may have also played a role, she said.

Thrse Mailloux, the president ofGroupe Femmes, politique et dmocratie, also said she believeswomen tendto leave once they feelthey haveaccomplished their objectives.

That may be because the culture still has a ways to goto be more welcoming to people who are not white men.

"The men who have been there for centuries, well, they are in their codes and their networksand the way they do politics," Mailloux said.

Need for betterwork-life balance

Qubec Solidaire's Ruba Ghazal, the MNA for Mercier, said she sees firsthand the ways her female colleagues don't feel as comfortable in the National Assembly, and believes the institution should do more to "make it easier for women to come and to stay in politics."

Ghazalsuggested the National Assembly create a daycare to make it easier for politicians to find balance between their work and their families.

"I'm going to run again, and in my personal life it's easier because I don't have children and I will not have children," Ghazal said, also speaking in an interview with CBC this week.

The way men in theSalon bleuapproach debate is also different, Ghazal said, opting for harsher jabs in a style that can sometimes alienate women.

Still, she acknowledges,progresstakes time.

"Even if it's 50 years," that women have been in politics in Quebec, "that's not a lot of time to change this," Ghazal said.

AfterKirkland-Casgrainwas first elected in 1961 for the Quebec Liberals, it would take another 15 years before more than one woman at a time would have a seat at the National Assembly.

Mailloux said she sees the culturechanging. Debates although at times brutal have in general become more respectful. Schedules are more humane, and there is a recognition of the importance of working on cross-partisan initiatives, such as the ones Hivon participated in.

Hivon said it's getting easier to be oneself in Quebec politicsbutit remains a fight to do so.

"I made a promise to myself when I entered politics that I would stay true to myself, my values, my convictions. It's hard work every day because there are pressures, but you can do it," she said, encouraging others to join.

"I really feel hopeful that there are new generations of women who will come and really be themselves."