Liberals Look to Boost Number of Women Candidates - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

jolinar of malkshor · 02-09-2007, 06:59 PM

The Liberals are set to bar men from running in some ridings in a bid to boost female candidates. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is prepared to take "extraordinary measures" to boost the ranks of women candidates in the next election

http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=2&nid=47019

Oh...real democratic like. Instead of getting the best person for the job that the riding association would want to run for them....Dion will be forcing them to accept people that they may not think are as good as others.

The more I hear about this guy....the more I get scared as to what would happen to this country if he gets into power.

Kerplunk · 02-09-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Oh...real democratic like. Instead of getting the best person for the job that the riding association would want to run for them....Dion will be forcing them to accept people that they may not think are as good as others.

Ya, this doesn't exactly sound to be in the best interests of the people being represented, more like in the best interest of the leader to keep his position in the party.

kipperfan · 02-09-2007, 07:11 PM

Do these women also have to have pets names after certain global environmental initiatives?

ricoFlame · 02-09-2007, 07:49 PM

they should have more animal representation in the liberal party.

Hemi-Cuda · 02-09-2007, 08:08 PM

isn't barring a certain gender from running descrimination? how is that legal?

Bobblehead · 02-09-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

TOh...real democratic like. Instead of getting the best person for the job that the riding association would want to run for them....Dion will be forcing them to accept people that they may not think are as good as others

It's hardly a purely Liberal trait.
*cough*RobAnders*cough*

But I do agree that the best person for the job should get the job. Do what they wish to get more women to apply, but the final decision should only be based on ability, not sex.

jolinar of malkshor · 02-09-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

It's hardly a purely Liberal trait.
*cough*RobAnders*cough*

But I do agree that the best person for the job should get the job. Do what they wish to get more women to apply, but the final decision should only be based on ability, not sex.

Agreed....but they haven't made it their national policy.

jolinar of malkshor · 02-09-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

isn't barring a certain gender from running descrimination? how is that legal?

You would think....

When the libs were in power they really pushed for affermative action with in the civil service. They are more concerned about being politically correct and getting as many votes as possible, rather than hiring the most qualified person for the job.

Really sick.

Vulcan · 02-09-2007, 08:41 PM

Wow, this is taking political correctness past the point of good sense. Our democracy is far to important to force any biases on us. Sure women and minorities should be encouraged to get involved with politics and given an equal shot but this is crazy if true.

Winsor_Pilates · 02-09-2007, 08:42 PM

If they're actually looking to bar men from running, then I think that's stupid.

However the article is pretty simplistic and may not be 100% accurate. They don't say where they've gotten this information from and IIRC, so far all the Liberal party has actually said is they want to increase female representation to 1 third.

CrusaderPi · 02-09-2007, 09:01 PM

As long as people realize the Liberals are about tokenism rather then governing before the next election.

FlamesAddiction · 02-09-2007, 10:35 PM

I don't think it's such a bad thing.

Many large companies have already discovered the benefits of diversity hiring. Teams usually benefit when people from different backgrounds and experiences are brought together to share ideas. It promotes creative growth and the emergence of new ideas.

While on the surface, it seems a little drastic, I would bet that the government and country would benefit in the long run.

Devils'Advocate · 02-09-2007, 11:14 PM

Okay. Stupid question.

If we are all presuming that the best person wins the riding nomination, why is it that 80% of the time a man wins (88% for the Conservatives). Is it because the male candidates are better than the female candidates 88% of the time? And if so, what is it about women that make them unsuitable to be MPs?

kipperfan · 02-09-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Okay. Stupid question.

If we are all presuming that the best person wins the riding nomination, why is it that 80% of the time a man wins (88% for the Conservatives). Is it because the male candidates are better than the female candidates 88% of the time? And if so, what is it about women that make them unsuitable to be MPs?

It is about sterotypes IMO.. Firstly male candidates outnumber females by a large margin....why?.....seperate issue.

Fact is even in 2007....the north american societal perspective is that a man should be leading, and a women doing the dirty work.

FlamesAddiction · 02-09-2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Okay. Stupid question.

If we are all presuming that the best person wins the riding nomination, why is it that 80% of the time a man wins (88% for the Conservatives). Is it because the male candidates are better than the female candidates 88% of the time? And if so, what is it about women that make them unsuitable to be MPs?

That's the thing. This move by Dion doesn't undermine democracy any more than it is already. At worst, it maintains the status quo. At best, it at least introduces a more diverse perspective to the Canadian political process.

Let's face it, even in "democracies", it is not about having the best person for the job. Parties typically support candidates that have the better chance of winning, and anyone is kidding themselves if they think that men were not favoured over women most of the time. Gender, ethnic background (Anglos in English Canada, and French people in Quebec), as well as appearance are all greater factors than "who is the best person for the job".

jolinar of malkshor · 02-09-2007, 11:35 PM

I dont think women have the same motivation to be in politics as men do....that is why there are more men than women.

jolinar of malkshor · 02-09-2007, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

That's the thing. This move by Dion doesn't undermine democracy any more than it is already. At worst, it maintains the status quo. At best, it at least introduces a more diverse perspective to the Canadian political process.

Let's face it, even in "democracies", it is not about having the best person for the job. Parties typically support candidates that have the better chance of winning, and anyone is kidding themselves if they think that men were not favoured over women most of the time. Gender, ethnic background (Anglos in English Canada, and French people in Quebec), as well as appearance are all greater factors than "who is the best person for the job".

It is up to the part association to decide who should run for their riding....not the leader of the party. The reason race, religion, sex come into play is becuase the riding wants someone that represents the majority of the people in that riding.

Dion is simple a dictator that wants everything his way or the highway.

Devils'Advocate · 02-09-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I dont think women have the same motivation to be in politics as men do....that is why there are more men than women.

That's the common answer when asked why women never make it to be CEOs. They lack the motivation to get there. They much prefer it in the typing pool.

FlamesAddiction · 02-09-2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

It is up to the part association to decide who should run for their riding....not the leader of the party. The reason race, religion, sex come into play is becuase the riding wants someone that represents the majority of the people in that riding.

Dion is simple a dictator that wants everything his way or the highway.

Seeing as how women often make up more than 50% of the population in many regions, if they wanted someone to represent the majority, there should be more women candidates than men.

(FYI, there are more women in Canada than men)

jolinar of malkshor · 02-09-2007, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

That's the common answer when asked why women never make it to be CEOs. They lack the motivation to get there. They much prefer it in the typing pool.

BS....

The FACT is that given a choice a lot of women, if not most, would rather be in the home and looking after the kids ect.

Arriving to the top of a company and becoming the CEO cannot be compared to running for politics.