Not just online, NDP MHA says women treated differently in House of Assembly too
Lorraine Michael says she hasn't experienced negative comments on social media to the extent Cathy Bennett has
Former NDP Leader Lorraine Michael says the negative comments against women aren't just online — she's also faced it in the House of Assembly.
"There are many times in the House of Assembly over the past 10 years where I really feel I was treated in a certain way because I was a woman. If I was a man I would have never been treated as I was by colleagues in the house" Michael told CBC News.
"It's not very pleasant when it happens."
Michael said she gets shouted at more than male colleagues.
"It's different ... the shouting just goes on and on," she said.
"I think there's a lot of work we do need to do to make sure that the assembly is a safe place for everybody."
On Tuesday, PC Leader Paul Davis raised an objection over comments he said were made by Liberal MHA Graham Letto.
"They were very offensive towards my colleague from Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune," Davis said raising a point of order and asking Letto to withdraw the remark. Davis didn't say what the comment was, and acting speaker Lisa Dempster and government house leader Andrew Parsons said they did not hear the comment.
A spokesperson for the opposition later said that Letto had heckled Tracey Perry saying, "Just look at her, she can't even get her words out."
MHAs have been in trouble over comments made in the House of Assembly before. In 2012, PC MHA Keith Russell told Yvonne Jones she was "nothing more than a washed-up actress, honey." He was later forced to withdraw the comment.
On Monday, Finance Minister Cathy Bennett spoke publicly about the online cyberbullying she's faced, saying she's experienced sexual comments, body shaming and suggestions that she kill herself.
Michael said the comments received by Bennett are unacceptable but she doesn't receive similar online comments
"I've had occasional ones where the line was crossed, but for the most part it's been 'Oh why don't you get out,' or you know 'Time for you to go,'" said Michael.
"Occasionally some comments were offensive, but I don't get them on a regular basis."
Attacks against Bennett continue
Bennett said the cyberbullying has continued after speaking out about the attacks she has received online.
"The issue is very live and we continue to see through the last 24 hours, comments that are exactly like the ones I described yesterday in the press conference," she told CBC Radio's On the Go Tuesday.
Bennett said the negative online attacks started before she even began to speak Monday, but it was something she was expecting.
On the other hand, she said she's also received a lot of support.
"I received emails, social media messages, phone calls of support for what I did yesterday, which was a personal choice," she said.
"Certainly it's been very empowering for me to get those messages."
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With files from On the Go