Quote:
Originally Posted by Table 5
I get that there will always be need to represent certain regions and groups with these appointments, but I feel like this declaration went beyond the norm. At the very least, frame your appointments as ones made on merit, not as one that fills a quota. I'm sure there are plenty of qualified women who can stand as ministers without the need for a PR hand up.
|
That's fair, but when you have enough caucus strength (and it seems they do) that could easily be filled completely by men or completely by women and they'd be completely qualified, why not gender balance? Remember, cabinet ministers are generalists, not specialists - they needn't be selected on professional expertise, but largely competence and fulfilling certain goals like 'representation' of one kind or another. You couldn't really say any of the 15 women appointed are not qualified or are token. If there were 16 women and 15 picked, you might be able to make that argument. I agree it could have just been done without the proclamation beforehand. On the other hand, symbols also really do matter and serve a purpose.