Josie Baker puts in bid to be P.E.I.'s next senator

An Island woman says what sheinitially saw as a tongue-in-cheek post on Facebookled to her eventuallyapplyfor P.E.I.'s vacant senate seat.

Josie Baker, 36, said she hadn't given the idea any thought until a friend posted encouraging her, saying she'd support her if Baker went for the job.

"I took it as a joke to start off with. I thought it was pretty funny," said Baker.

"But there wasjust a lot of people that were saying 'No, you really should go for it.'"

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Women encouragedto apply

She saida post from the P.E.I. Coalition forWomen in Government encouraging women to applywas the final nudge she needed.

"[Women]....wewon't necessarily put ourselves out there. We won't toot our own horns," said Baker.

"And I think that that's one of the barriers to women being involved in various political positions, is that it does sort of require that level of self-promotion."

Good chance based on criteria says Baker

Bakerthinks her chances are fairly good given some ofthe merit-based criteria the Trudeau government islookingfor.

"I'm a little bit younger than quite a number of senators. I'm also non-partisan and I'm a woman. I'm also part of theLGBTQcommunity," said Baker.

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"I do a lot of work on a really grassroots community level and I think I would bring a really different perspective that would add a lot."

For the last five years, Baker has been working on a project with the Cooper Institute researching the use of temporary foreign workers on P.E.I. and lobbyingto improve their livingconditions.

Baker is alsofluent in French, a skill shesaid she solidifiedwhile working as a participant and staff person with Katimavik.

Baker says that program, started by the late Senator Jacques Hebert,wasanother factor that influenced herto apply, because it showsthe positive influencesenators can havethrough their work.

Term should be longer than MPs

"I do see that at the age of 36, a term limit up to the age of 75 would be quite long but I think that if it was best for the nation that I resign before then I would have no problem doing that."

Although Baker does thinka senator's term should be longer than a Member of Parliament's term.

"One of the advantages I think of having a longer term on the Senate is that it allows for a longer term view. It goes beyond four year, sort of electoral cycles," said Baker.

Not a property owner

Baker said, if she was chosen to fill the vacant seat, she would have to buy $4,000 worth of property on P.E.I. to meet the constitutional requirements of the job. She believes this rule excludes a lot of peopleandhopes it's changed duringfuture senate reform.

CBC News asked for the number of applicationsreceived for P.E.I.'ssenate position, but Ottawa saidthat information will not be released until after the appointments are announced.

At least two other Islanders have applied for the vacant seat. A five-member advisory board with two Island members will create a short list of candidates in the next couple of months, and a decision is expected no later than the end of the year.

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