Member of Parliament 1997-2015, Public speaker, writer, community activist
Thus said George Puil just before the 1982 civic election on Jack Webster’s BC TV program. Sexism in politics is a lot in the news these days, and while progress has been made we are still living with sexism and discrimination. I remember this TV interview so well. Take a look.
See Jack Webster’s interview with Bruce Eriksen, George Puil, and Marguerite Ford 26:03 in the video below. To see Webster’s follow up with me go to 40:07 .
New Democratic Party deputy leader Libby Davies, described Wednesday as the "heart" of the party's left flank, has decided she won't be a candidate in the contest to replace Jack Layton. Davies, a key player in an attempt, a decade ago, to replace the NDP with a new party, said she had cross-Canada support, but concluded that her inability to speak French was too great a barrier to overcome…Davies said that in the past, she focused on a candidate's policy views, but she'll now back a candidate with strong leadership skills who can follow in Layton's "pragmatic" footsteps.
In time for International Women’s Day, Capilano Students’ Union is hosting a women-in-politics panel tonight, from 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite, North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma, District of North Vancouver Coun. Megan Curren, and former longtime MP Libby Davies will discuss some of the challenges and unique opportunities that come with being a woman in B.C. politics. The free event is taking place at CapU’s Lonsdale campus at 125 Victory Ship Way.
BURNABY: New Democrat MPs Libby Davies (Vancouver East), Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster), Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior), Denise Savoie (Victoria), Jean Crowder (Nanimo Cowichan), Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway), and Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) have urged the federal government to stop all removal action against US Iraq war resister Rodney Watson.
“Rodney Watson, like other war resisters, made a principled decision to refuse further service in the war in Iraq. He sought asylum in Canada because his position of conscience was not respected in the US. He should receive a welcome here and not be sent back to a very uncertain future”, said Siksay. “Canada refused to participate in the war in Iraq and many Canadians believe it is an illegal war. Supporting those who take a stand against war has been a long tradition in Canada and we have often benefited from those who came here rather than participating. One need only look to the Viet Nam War era for an example of the positive outcomes of a policy that supported war resisters.”
“On two occasions a majority of Members of the House of Commons have called on the government to stop deporting war resisters and instead put in place a programme that gives them asylum and puts them on track to be permanent residents of Canada. The Conservative government should act on the will of the House”, concluded Siksay.
Rodney Watson came to Canada in 2007. He is a resident of Greater Vancouver. Since arriving in Canada Watson has started a family, and now has an eight month old Canadian son.
-30-