Gender Quotas

We now have a situation on our hands. According to the BC NDP constitution, the top three positions within the party (leader, president and treasurer) must represent both genders, and seeing that two are currently held by gentlemen, logic would tell you the next leader would have to be a woman. Yes, gender quotas are restricting democracy within our party.

Women in politics have been a long sought after goal since the suffragist movement. Even as you look towards federal politics, parachute candidates arrive simply because parties felt they needed more women running to become an elected representative. Male politicians, female politicians, what we really need is good politicians. If the best individual wishes to move us forward, why would we even consider stopping them?

A recent study found that about 30% of the BC legislature members were women. It also found that men were five times more likely to win a nomination contest over women. Is this a sign that our party is sexist? Well considering that both the current and previous leader are both women, one would be correct to state a profound no. The BC NDP is not sexist. The only thing this study confirms is that the citizens in question closely observed all candidates and made an informed decision. They elected who they thought was the best candidate based on their knowledge of the issues and plans of actions to solve these problems. Gender was not a factor. As it stands though, if a man wins the leadership race, our president or treasurer might have to step down. However, we could always alter our constitution to avoid the ensuing chaos just as the BC Liberals are doing before their leadership vote.

Whether it is in the case of the leader, a candidate in a riding, or an administrative position why are we looking towards gender and not ability? The time has come for us to abandon our gender quota policy, and look for the best leader of our party, regardless of whether they are a man or a woman.