(Quebec) The National Commission for Women (CNF) of Québec solidaire affirms that it is “imperative to let women speak and to stop muzzling their ideas and their interventions” within the party, expressing at the same time its “anger following the resignation of Émilise Lessard-Therrien” from her position as co-spokesperson.
In a public statement on Tuesday, the head of the CNF, Royse Henderson, deplores that the official body has “sounded the alarm repeatedly” in recent years after having received “the testimonies of disappointed ex-candidates , demobilized members, women from several constituencies, associations or authorities, as well as recurring tensions on issues of parity accumulate and constitute a worrying whole.
“The National Commission for Women notes with concern that male voices increasingly dominate within the bodies, staff and elected officials of Québec solidaire. Fundamental principles of the party, such as parity, are being called into question or labeled “radical” with the risk of silencing many women,” she says.
According to the head of the CNF, the resignation of Mme Lessard-Therrien, who left his post pointing out “a small team of professionals woven tightly around” his male counterpart, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, “highlights a deep crisis […] which calls into question the place of women and the voice of activists in the party.”
“The National Women’s Commission is concerned about the growing influence of non-democratically elected people, who make crucial decisions on the party’s communication and media direction without being held accountable to members,” denounces Ms.me Henderson.
“Québec solidaire is full of talent and activist expertise, an inestimable wealth that urgently needs to be revalued. Better listening to the voices of activists, and in particular women, is essential to emerge from this crisis and return to the course of the founding values of ecology, anti-racism, trade unionism, independence and feminists of the party,” she declares.
On Friday, two employees at the Québec solidaire office and close collaborators of the parliamentary leader and co-spokesperson for Mr. Nadeau-Dubois resigned. They are Gabrielle Brais-Harvey, who held the position of director of communications, as well as Keena Grégoire, who assumed the role of assistant general manager.
Last week, the member for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie, agreed to assume the interim position of female co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire until the election of the one who will officially succeed Ms.me Lessard-Therrien, next fall.