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When Louise Harel was appointed interim leader of the Quebec Opposition this week to replace Bernard Landry, the Parti Québécois, without fanfare, became a party ruled by women.

The PQ has become the only major political party in the country where women hold almost all of the influential positions.

It is an unprecedented situation that bears witness to the efforts of all parties to seek gender equality in Quebec politics, Ms. Harel said.

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Women Take Top PQ Joba sometimes asks for registration

Why do you think Quebec has a better record of female leadership and women's participation in politics?

You can read my views on my blog Ten Thousand Stories
but I thought it would be fun to have a discussio here[

[ 08 June 2005: Message edited by: Judes ]

And it's not just proportions of women becoming involved that is different in Quebec. There is a striking divergence from the ways that women who have taken senior office in the federal government have worked. I don't know for sure, but was anyone ever aware of, say, Barbara McDougall arguing for universal child care? Or even Sheila Copps, who was deputy prime minister? Our deputy prime minister at the moment is Anne McLellan, who strikes me as one of the most conservative members of cabinet.

No one in Quebec would ever think of Pauline Maurois as a softie, and yet women politicians in the rest of the country still often seem fearful that if they don't play the old boys' games, they will be relegated to a softie ghetto.

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Originally posted by Judes:
Forgive me, the first time I checked they didn't ask for registration and then they did.

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As to the question, why? Does Quebec have a higher female participation in other positions like leadership in the trade union movement? It's my impression they do. So naturally that's reflected in the PQ.

[ 08 June 2005: Message edited by: Wilf Day ]