Agir Outaouais hosts panel discussion on women in municipal politics
Agir Outaouais hosts panel discussion on women in municipal politics
A group discussion on women in municipal politics was hosted by the Assemblée des Groupes de femmes d’Interventions Régionales (AGIR) Outaouais at the MRC Pontiac office in Campbell’s Bay Wednesday (April 30). The non-profit group advocates for the rights of women in Western Quebec.
The discussion was part of a broader campaign that they are conducting to encourage women to participate in municipal politics, with talks scheduled in all the regions of the Outaouais. The current MRC Pontiac council of mayors is just under 50% female, with women holding the warden’s chair and eight of the 18 mayoral seats. Pontiac was also home to the first woman elected mayor in Quebec, Elsie Gibbons of Portage-du-Fort, who also served as the region’s warden. The conference room where the meeting took place is named in her honour.
Half a dozen attendees listened to and asked questions of several local elected officials: Warden Jane Toller, Fort-Coulonge Mayor Christine Francoeur, Otter Lake Mayor Jennifer Quaile and Alleyn-et-Cawood pro-Mayor Sidney Squitti.
Several of the panelists spoke about the learning curve when they joined council, from the jargon to the breakdown of responsibilities. Francoeur, who came from a background working in health care, said that there was a lot to take in when she was first elected to council, and again when she became mayor the following term.
When asked what things were helpful when getting into politics, Toller highlighted the importance of listening to people, and also to finding mentors who have experience in the political environment that you’re entering.
