Knife-in-the-back gesture at Calgary city council could derail effort to get women to run, advocates say
CBC News | Posted: May 16, 2017 5:46 PM | Last Updated: May 16, 2017
Sarah Elder Chamanara, working to get more women in politics, calls the behaviour 'completely unacceptable'
A group trying to boost the number of women in politics says recent behaviour by a Calgary city councillor isn't helping the cause.
A livestream video from May 8 appears to show Coun. Ward Sutherland miming the action of twisting a knife into the back of Coun. Druh Farrell while she addressed a public meeting.
Sarah Elder Chamanara, a member of Ask Her — an organization trying to get more women to run in the upcoming municipal election — said the contents of the council video are disheartening.
"That behaviour is completely unacceptable in my opinion," she said.
Chamanara says she fears such incidents tend to discourage women from entering politics.
"We're trying to change the tone of council by asking more women to run and I think this just proves the point that we need to," she said.
Business consultant and former city councillor Gael MacLeod also says the incident is disappointing.
"Regardless of the motivation, it does show disrespect and I believe that is something that needs to change. And this particular council has been very divisive," she said.
Sutherland apologized to council Monday, but not to Farrell herself. He said the gesture was aimed at another colleague, not her.
Coun. Brian Pincott has filed a complaint with the city's integrity commissioner about the behaviour, saying it's the latest in series of incidents creating a toxic workplace, particularly for women.
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