The Network of Young Municipal Mothers (RJMAM) is saddened by the announcement of the departure from political life of provincial deputy Marwah Rizqy at the end of this mandate. Having given birth to two children in recent years, she perfectly illustrates the abilities of young mothers to engage politically, for the great benefit of Quebecers. This heartbreaking choice between political commitment and family life resonates with many elected officials, both provincially and municipally.
Improving female representation in politics is a matter of importance for the Quebec government. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs’ “I’m running” campaign is an example of an initiative aimed at increasing female candidates. And, although women’s skills and constructive attitudes are often praised, the weight of their sacrifices weighs heavily on their personal lives. Several young elected officials are also choosing to leave their positions prematurely or are considering not running again, due to a lack of sufficient conditions for family-political reconciliation.
While other women in Quebec and elected officials at the federal level are entitled to a year’s leave upon the birth or adoption of a child, municipal councilors and provincial deputies must, for their part, quickly resume labor after the arrival of a newborn. However, you have to be realistic. Faced with the impossibility of being able to combine everything, these young mothers will, like Marwah Rizqy, leave political life. Can we really do without these talents to fairly and equitably represent society at the decision-making table?
The question arises as we try in several ways to improve representativeness in our democracy.
Concrete solutions to be applied before the next elections are possible. As Minister Jolin-Barrette mentions: “All people who have children in Quebec have the right to one year. […] if we want to attract people to Quebec politics, it must be at least the equivalent. » He also suggests remote voting. These measures are also part of the solutions proposed earlier this year by the RJMAM, in order to improve family-political conciliation at the municipal level.
The four recommendations of the RJMAM are:
1. A number of weeks of parental leave for municipal elected officials equivalent to the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), including weeks of pre-childbirth leave;
2. Remote participation in municipal councils;
3. Voting and the right to speak by proxy;
4. A national fund for administrative support for elected officials on parental leave, in particular to ensure citizen monitoring.
Of these four recommendations, one of them, remote participation in municipal councils, recently came into force with Bill 57 from Minister Andrée Laforest. This is not the equivalent of a leave, but it facilitates the work-family balance of elected officials who can now sit on municipal councils directly from their home over a period equivalent to the RQAP leave. These recommendations could also be extended to the provincial level and allow women to not have to make as many sacrifices to participate in the renewal of political ideas in our society.
In addition to putting an end to this inequity between elected officials and other women in Quebec, implementing the equivalent of one year of parental leave for elected officials in Quebec would represent an important lever for attracting and retaining new talent, and achieve parity. One year before the municipal elections and two years before the provincial elections, it is the ideal time to change the law and send a strong message to young women: we need you!
Note that the feminine gender is used in the text, but that the proposed measures could also apply to young elected parents.
* Co-signed this letter: Gabrielle Brisebois, municipal councilor of Montmagny; Marjolaine Mercier, municipal councilor of Longueuil; Rachel Fahlman, municipal councilor of Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval; Jackie Smith, municipal councilor of Limoilou, Quebec City; Charlie-Maude Giroux, municipal councilor of Pointe de Forillon; Christine Gingras, municipal councilor of Plessisville; Christine Black, borough mayor of Montreal-North; Virginie Dostie-Toupin, municipal councilor of Saint-Lambert; Kaïla A. Munro, borough councilor, Verdun, City of Montreal; Caroline Murray, Gatineau city councilor.