A Woman In Charge?
November 8, 2011 No Comments
In 2011, Jack Layton made his mark on Canadian politics. His supporters rallied behind him and saw the New Democratic Party (NDP) become the Official Opposition to Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party, beating out the Liberals.
Unfortunately, his victory and death came in the same year. Jack Layton passed away from cancer on August 22, 2011. But as much as we may honour his memory, this story is not really about him. It’s about uniting Canadian women and politics. As Jack Layton’s potential successor, Niki Ashton may be just the vehicle.
She’s the ninth candidate and second woman to walk in the late Layton’s footsteps. Although her ideas line up with Layton and the NDP, she seems set to make her own unique imprint on politics. Did I mention she’s the youngest female candidate?
At 29, Ashton shows passion and positivity when it comes to Canadian politics, although she does think a certain restructuring is in order. The icing on the cake? She defies stereotypes about political figures. Instead of slamming current Prime Minister Stephen Harper, she says he practices “old politics.”
While Harper “seeks political division as a deliberate tactic,” Ashton emphasizes the importance of unity. “Ms. Ashton launched her leadership bid in Montreal in an effort to present a vision of ‘new’ politics and the need to bridge the West, Quebec and Ontario,” said her campaign co-chair Noah Evanchuk. It may be the norm for politicians to position themselves against others, but Ashton doesn’t appear to be the antagonistic type.
So as she continues to ride the wave of Layton’s legacy, let’s hope she will be part of a closing gender gap and let Canadians know how much young women are ready and willing to participate in politics. They can bring innovative ideas to the table, bridge gaps and stand up alongside the best and brightest political leaders.
But maybe we’re being too idealistic. After all, women remain the exception in politics.
Then again, Ashton’s presence on the scene may be what we need to persevere. We must believe in breaking barriers and, while we’re at it, bust through them whenever possible.
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