Amused by her friend’s direct comments but just as discouraged as she is, Huntingdon County’s Claire IsaBelle then recounts an anecdote from the last campaign. Just before a debate, a man said to me: “But Madame, you are wearing the same dress as the last time I saw you!” I wondered if he was trying to destabilize me.
The two women sit with their coffee in the middle of the library of the Québec Parliament and have a lot to tell. Still, we haven’t heard much of them as government backbenchers, a term they curse. Because you, the journalists, when a minister is there, nothing else exists! Disable Emilie Foster.
Mrs Foster and Isabelle, who sat in the backbenches of government for four years, both leave after a single semester to return to university teaching. They can now speak freely about their experiences, without restrictions or party lines. What has shaped her most—still in 2022—is her attitude toward elected women.
Émilie Foster has a reputation for being one of the elected officials who has not hesitated to speak her mind.
Photo: Radio Canada
They said I left politics because I fell in love! It’s pretty tough for the pride. Would you say a comment like that to a man? asks Emilie Foster. She regrets having explained her career for four years, the doctorate in communication science, who was active in CAQ for eleven years.
“Many men have approached me in a very paternalistic way: ‘You should do something like this…’ As if I hadn’t thought of it! […] I dated mayors once, all men. Another man comes and they shake his hand, but I don’t… As if I don’t exist. »
— A quote from Émilie Foster, MNA for Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré
No minister? Oh good!…
Claire IsaBelle, a Farmers’ Council MP, has worked hard to be recognized for her worth despite growing up on a vegetable farm herself. When she was elected, many openly asked themselves: But what do we do with a university professor? she tells us.
Four years later, however, the same people are having a hard time digesting his departure. There are a few who avoided me until last week because we had an activity and I had to ask them “Are you going to avoid me for a long time? Because we have files to do”.
Elected officials have been calling for reform aimed at better balancing Quebec parliamentary work and family life for years. The CAQ government and the opposition did not reach an agreement before the end of the session. A disappointment for CAQ MPs Émilie Foster and Claire IsaBelle, who are retiring from politics. They believe the time has come to modernize Parliament to help women find their place in it. A report by Véronique Prince.
What Claire IsaBelle found particularly difficult was being asked regularly: “Are you a minister? No? Ah good!…” Disappointment! See the disappointment in people! describes her with emotion. Nonetheless, she has chaired parliamentary committees and helped ministers push their bills forward. It has to be said that he was deeply hurt by his former colleague Claire Samson’s unfortunate statement about the ‘green plants’ MPs.
Émilie Foster and Claire IsaBelle reiterate that the workload is 24/7. How often did they have to deal with constituency matters late at night and on weekends? They don’t count them anymore, certainly not during the pandemic.
Disheartened by MPs’ negative perception, Claire IsaBelle decided to lead workshops to strengthen her role and demystify her work.
Claire IsaBelle advocates parliamentary reform in favor of women.
Photo: Facebook/Claire IsaBelle – MPs for Huntingdon
Parliamentary reform… maybe one day
Despite it all, these two women have never regretted the leap and have enjoyed every minute of their time in politics. They encourage everyone to have this experience, regardless of the party represented.
However, concrete action is needed to attract and retain elected officials. Sadly, Émilie Foster and Claire IsaBelle have to leave without completing the long-awaited parliamentary work-life balance reform. Government and opposition parties failed to reach an agreement before the summer due to lack of time and because it was not a priority.
Among other things, this reform provided for the parliamentary debates to be adjourned at 6 p.m. Alternates who are caregivers would have had the option to be temporarily absent. The one-year parental leave and day care for children were also the subject of the discussions.
The other taboo subject: salary.
“If you want to join, well, it’s not about the pay! It will really be because you want to change something in politics. »
– A quote from Claire IsaBelle MP for Huntingdon
No matter how hard political parties try to recruit women, they won’t be able to keep them on a $95,000 base salary and such hectic and atypical hours. Of the thirty MEPs leaving this year, two-thirds are women.
Émilie Foster and Claire IsaBelle are counting on the new MPs elected next autumn increasing the pressure on the National Assembly. This reform cannot wait any longer. The quality of the institution depends on it.