Bullying of female politicians called out at Calgary rally
CBC News | Posted: November 11, 2016 3:19 AM | Last Updated: November 11, 2016
'You're tearing people down at their core and there's absolutely nothing to be gained'
Women from different political backgrounds gathered at Calgary's Olympic Plaza to raise concerns over the treatment of female politicians in Alberta.
Although Sandra Jansen was not at Thursday's protest, she recently dropped out of the race as leader of the province's Progressive Conservative party citing a series of online insults and smear campaigns.
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City councillor Druh Farrell said it's been a sad week for women in politics.
"The amount of misogyny — and it's blatant and it's raw and it's ugly and it's violent," she said. "With Sandra this has been long term, it's been widespread and very severe."
Attacking policy is fair game, but harassment crosses a line, said Leela Sharon Aheer, the Wildrose MLA for Chestermere-Rockyview.
"You're tearing people down at their core and there's absolutely nothing to be gained by doing that."
Support across political parties
Women in politics need to show support for one another and for women thinking about entering politics, regardless of which party they support, Aheer said.
"I hope beyond hope that this incites women, that this empowers them because those of us that are there, we're going to hold hands with you whether you share my ideology or not."
The protest sends a message to all Albertans that bullying is never OK, said Kerry Cundal, vice president of Ask Her, a group that works to get women into politics.
"We didn't get the vote 100 years ago as women to become silent partners in democracy," she said.
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