SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Gender Parity in the Senate of Canada
December 8, 2020
Honourable senators, I am feeling great about being able to make a statement today. I want to thank Senator Duncan for giving me her spot.
I had originally intended to speak to the fiftieth anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, but on Sunday night — quite unrelated to my preparation of that statement — I was thinking of all the senators who have recently left us and retired, and how sad it was that during COVID and our hybrid sittings that we have been unable to celebrate them, their statements in the chamber and to gather together.
I decided to look at the Senate website. I noticed that there are now 11 vacancies that need to be filled. Then I took a closer look and — lo and behold and to my great surprise and delight — I discovered there are now 47 women senators and 47 male senators. We have become the first parliamentary institution in Canada to reach gender parity. I can see people celebrating that, and this is great. According to Senator McPhedran, her office and research, it may well be we are the first Senate in the world to reach gender parity.
There was a group of us working on planning a celebration expecting that the event may arrive this year, but because of COVID we have not done it. I want to thank those people: Senator McPhedran, Senator Dasko, Senator Dyck, Senator Verner, Senator Wallin, Senator Ataullahjan and Senator Moodie. The Speaker and his office was very helpful as well. If I have forgotten anyone, I am sorry. We will plan one for next year.
As Monique Bégin said yesterday, we have to focus on the election of more women to elected parliaments and legislatures. Many of us in this chamber have been founding members of Equal Voice, and we will continue to do that. Even though it is an appointed body, I want to say this is a major milestone.
As this moment has arrived, I am honoured to be serving Canadians in the Senate of Canada with all of you. Thank you very much.