Women in House is a program initiated in 2013 which offers the opportunity to shadow for a day a female Member of the Canadian Parliament (MP). Candidates are selected through a competitive application process, and are subsequently matched with an MP that has similar interests to the candidate. The main goal of the program is to promote a greater degree of female participation in the government by offering female students the opportunity to interact with members of the Canadian government, and exchange ideas with like-minded peers. Creating personal and professional connections with host MPs allows young female students to discuss their future aspirations and goals, as well as receive feedback concerning how to go about pursuing their preferred career path. Moreover, discussing issues such as gender disparities faced by women in a professional environment with accomplished female leaders is a genuinely empowering experience for female students who are wishing to pursue a professional career, regardless of their field of interest. In this regard, the trip to Ottawa could not have happened in a better moment, as the students had a chance to be there for International Women’s Day (March 8) and take part in a number of events geared towards the promotion of gender equality at all levels of society. The two-day trip to Ottawa includes a visit to the Supreme Court of Canada, a reception event which brings together participants, MPs, Senator and Ministers and a full-day of shadowing with an MP. Hereafter are reflection essays completed by PCJ students after their trip to Ottawa, a genuine demonstration of appreciation towards the organizers, the sponsors and, of course, the MPs, as well as a testament to the empowering nature of the initiative.

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Name: Tea Cimini

Program: Peace, Conflict and Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: @teacim

My host parliamentarian: MP Karina Gould

My Host’s Twitter: @karinagould

Let me begin by saying that the U of T Women in House Program is one of those experiences that will naturally become a highlight of your university years.

I never thought that one could learn so much in such a small amount of time – and, clearly, I was wrong! Anyhow, my adventure began on a Monday when all the participants gathered in the designated meeting area, waiting for the bus to take us to Ottawa. All around me, my friends and colleagues were chatting about their expectations, goals and thoughts and the excitement was palpable. Once we reached Ottawa, our first activity consisted of a tour of the Supreme Court of Canada, which turned out to be very informative and surely reawakened everyone’s desire to eventually become a lawyer. Our next planned activity was a reception event through which we had a chance to meet and network with some of MPs, senators and minsters. All in all, their opening remarks were all highly motivational and truly prepared us for the amazing day that was ahead of us! As this was the first time that I ever interacted with members of the federal government in such an informal manner, I was impressed by how caring and passionate about their work they all seemed to be. This was the first ‘realisation’ of my trip, but definitely not the last one.

The subsequent day I finally had a chance to meet with my assigned MP, Karina Gould, and that was definitely the highpoint of my experience in Ottawa. If I had to summarize my shadowing experience in two words, they would be: hectic and inspiring. Let me explain. If you think that being a full-time student involved in extra-curricular who cares about her/his social life makes you a busy person, you never saw what the schedule of an MP looks like. In a time span of ten hours, MP Gould managed to meet with three different lobby groups, take part in a joint UNFPA and Action Canada conference as a speaker, attend question period, be present at PM Justin Trudeau’s press conference, and go to a committee session. Meanwhile, she also greeted us and answered all of our questions throughout the day – and trust me that was not an easy task either. Pretty impressive, eh? However, what impressed me the most was the passion and the dedication that she put into each and every single one of these things. Not only, MP Gould was absolutely a formidable and caring host, but her know-how was simply awe-inspiring. In the end, shadowing such and inspiring and accomplished woman was a great way to spend International Women’s Day and it made me realize how grateful we all should for all the hard-working women in our lives.

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Name: Areya Desai

Program: PCJ

Year: Third Year

My Twitter info: N/A

My host parliamentarian: MP Bernadette Jordan

My Host’s Twitter: @BernJordanMP

After hearing about the Women in House program from my friends in Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to experience how the federal government operates, and to gain insight and advice from inspirational women. My day shadowing Bernadette Jordan, Liberal MP for South Shore – St. Margaret’s (Nova Scotia) more than lived up to my expectations. Immediately after meeting Bernadette and her amazing assistant Annie Morrison, I experienced firsthand how fast-paced life on the Hill is as Bernadette was whisked away from our scheduled power breakfast to attend a meeting with a constituent while I went on the tour of the Parliament building.

Reuniting with Bernadette and Annie, we made our way to what became the highlight of the day for me as I spent a couple of hours in the lounge/room adjacent to the House of Commons where the Liberal MPs meet, work together, and hold informal meetings with lobby groups. The atmosphere of this room, buzzing with importance and energy, was surreal as while screens broadcasted the ongoing debate in the House of Commons, MPs, Cabinet Ministers, and numerous staffers walked in and out preparing and working. I attended Bernadette’s meetings with Imperial Tobacco and the Halifax representatives from the Canadian Police Association where issues such as illegal tobacco sales and labour laws were discussed.

In between meetings, I had the chance to get to know Bernadette as she recounted the challenges of being a newly elected MP such as balancing time between her riding and Ottawa, and as she explained the major issues facing her riding, a mostly rural community that takes four hours to drive through. From our conversation, I learned about the amount of hard work and dedication that is required to serve as a Member of Parliament and I was reminded how unique and diverse our country truly is as I was quite unfamiliar with the challenges facing rural communities. Bernadette’s assistant Annie also explained to me the Private Member’s motion that they are working on which calls for the federal government to take a role in dealing with derelict and abandoned vessels, an issue which impacts coastal communities.

Following these meetings and lunch, I attended Question Period in the House of Commons which was a boisterous and interesting affair. With it being International Women’s Day, many MPs presented short speeches about the importance of women’s contributions to all aspects of society and the ongoing challenges women face both in Canada and worldwide. I fascinated with how the questions and answers leapt from topic to topic and entertained by the loud heckling and shows of support which really seemed to annoy the Speaker of the House who reprimanded the MPs and shortened Question Period as a result.

After this, the next stop on Bernadette’s completely full schedule and the last stop on mine was a meeting of the Fisheries and Oceans Committee. My knowledge of this topic is considerably lacking even after frantic research prior to the shadowing day, however, the committee meeting, which was focusing on establishing the estimates budget was extremely interesting and informative as they asked expert witnesses questions about Canadian Coast Guard ships and salmon fishing projects. I can say that I truly had a chance to see the inner workings of the federal government as the committee worked together respectfully, regardless of party politics, to discuss proceedings and make decisions.

Overall, I am very grateful to Bernadette for sharing her day with me, and her staff members, Annie and Jason, for planning and coordinating to make my day so memorable. This was an incredible experience and it was very fitting that it took place on International Women’s Day, as I noticed during the Fisheries and Oceans Committee that Bernadette was the only female MP and that the rest of the room was, for a lack of better words, comprised of older white men, which reinforces the necessity for programs like Women in House which celebrate greater diversity in governance and inspire young women such as myself to make contributions in the future. I completely admit to falling a little in love with the atmosphere, energy, and allure of the Hill, a place I hope to someday return to in a more professional capacity.

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Name: Janessa Duran

Program: Peace, Conflict, and Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: @JanessaADuran

My host parliamentarian: Eva Nassif

My Host’s Twitter: @EvaNassifVimy

Ask any participant about their experience in the Women in House 2016 Program, and I guarantee you will receive an enthusiastic response about our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I always knew that this trip would be an eye-opening experience, but it was unforeseen exactly how much I would learn and how many awe-inspiring moments I would feel. MP Eva Nassif was my gracious parliamentary host. She and her staff showed me what it is like to work for the government – the many exciting moments, and the long, laborious days filled with meetings upon meetings. Though their workdays are long, I was surprised by how much they still loved their jobs and how grateful they were to be in their position.

I also had the incredible opportunity of observing a live Question Period in the House of Commons. Though tensions were high between all parties present, I wish I could thank every single standing MP for adding to my visceral experience. You see, it was in this moment that I amassed such a profound respect for our governing party and for our government as a whole. It was evident that, though there were snubs and heckling, our government was healthy and incredibly progressive. The issues that were presented before the Liberal Party did not aim to reverse the progress that Canada has made in the political sphere over the last few decades. My time during Question Period added to my immense pride as a Canadian.

Another aspect of this trip, one that was most unexpected, left me feeling empowered and inspirited. This was the fact that 1) I participated in this prominent program with forty of the most determined, ambitious women I have ever met, and 2) the trip coincided with International Women’s Day – a day that, this year, has received unprecedented attention in governments and media worldwide. Spending two days with my cohorts from the University of Toronto, most of whom I have never met, was inexplicably uplifting. For two whole days we had intelligent conversations about our passions while simultaneously encouraging and motivating each other to make the most of our experiences in and outside of this trip. I had a continual feeling of “Wow, we are the future, and we, collectively, are building each other up.” Furthermore, as our trip coincided with International Women’s Day, it was moving to see our government solidify the day as a national holiday by recognizing and celebrating it publicly. To see and hear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in person, advocating for the rights of women and speaking about the importance of gender equality will be a memory that will inspire and carry with me through all of my endeavours.

Overall, the Women in House trip has motivated me in ways I would have never expected and has left me elated and eager to work hard in order to accomplish my dreams.

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Name: Griffin Kelly

Program: Peace, Conflict and Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: @

My host parliamentarian: MP Karina Gould

My Host’s Twitter: @karinagould

The Women in House program was an enlightening experience about life in the political sphere. I was fortunate enough to be paired with MP Karina Gould, the representative for Burlington, ON. MP Gould is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, which means much of her work deals with global development and international relations. MP Gould was extremely generous with her time and knowledge, as she included Tea & I in all parts of her day.

We began the day with a series of meeting with lobbyist groups, including Medicines for Malaria and the Canadian Police Forum. We met with the Secretary General of the UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, on the topic of sexual and reproductive rights for women. This theme carried through the day, as we also attended the Action Canada Sexual Health and Rights panel, which MP Gould and Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin sat on. The panelists spoke about the necessity of changing the perception of sexual and reproductive rights from “women’s issues,” in times of crisis, to essential human rights. The panel also covered the intersection of climate change with access to healthcare for women, which coincides with my passion for environmentalism. We also attended a parliamentarian committee on global affairs and the reception at which PM Trudeau made an International Women’s Day announcement.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience on the Hill, and it has given me motivation to pursue a career related to politics. I was struck by how varied and wide-ranging MP Gould’s schedule was, due to the amount of interest groups and individuals that she met with. I appreciated the variation of working styles in her day, like written work, public speaking and meetings. In addition, the opportunities for problem solving, group work and advocacy were very appealing to me. The Liberal government atmosphere was one of inclusivity, transparency and openness. I spoke with MP Gould about gender parity in her workplace, and she admitted to struggling with sexism, especially because of her young age, but also acknowledged the presence of older role models on the Hill who had been trailblazers for women of our generation. The WIN experience has given me motivation and drive for a career related to policy writing, advocacy and politics. I hope to emulate MP Gould, and many other women who I met, such as Minister Carolyn Bennett and Minister Bardish Chagger.

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Name: Saambavi Mano

Program: Peace, Conflict and Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: @saambavimano

My host parliamentarian: MP Sheri Benson

My Host’s Twitter: @SheriBenson

This week I had the honour of shadowing MP Sheri Benson of Saskatoon West as a member of the 2016 U of T Women in House program. I led educational tours of Ottawa the past summer, but getting to learn about the inner workings of Parliament was the opportunity of a lifetime. I did not do much research about the Hill before the trip, but MP Benson made sure to fill in any gaps for me and my co-hostee, Alex. She and her staffers, Adam and Audrey, made this past week an unforgettable experience for us!

We met MP Benson at the reception on Monday night, where she spoke about the importance of gender parity in Parliament. I also had the opportunity to speak to the Minister of Defence. Harjit Sajan, and the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Carolyn Bennett, both of whom gave inspirational speeches on breaking systemic barriers on the Hill. I had a fantastic conversation with Minister Bennett about the importance of acknowledging that we go about our day-to-day lives on stolen land, and how truth and reconciliation will be a struggle but has been a long time coming.

We had an early start the next day, as our MP invited us to an International Women’s Day breakfast with the NDP party. I ended up sitting near NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, which was very exciting for me. He had great things to say about MP Benson and the work she is doing to promote women’s rights. After the breakfast, we headed right over to MP Benson’s office in the Confederation building, where we had the opportunity to sit in on meetings with the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Police Association, and the Canadian Psychological Association. This gave us the opportunity to see how diverse MP Benson’s portfolio was, but it also showed us the various points of intersection between her interests. I was particularly impressed to see that MP Benson had a solid grasp on the matters at hand and made suggestions that the various associations hadn’t thought of.

Immediately following the meetings, we went to lunch in the restaurant on the 6^th floor of Parliament, which was an amazing experience. We hitched a ride to Centre Block on the green Parliament buses for MPs and ended up sitting a few tables away from MP Stephen Harper. After lunch, we headed straight to Question Period, where a bill on the ISIL mission was being discussed. I was shocked to see how rowdy Question Period was, but the excitement was palpable, and it was the moment I decided that I would want to be involved in Canadian Parliament in some capacity in the future. The Question Period was followed by voting, after which Alex and I got to watch the International Women’s Day coin and stamp be unveiled by PM Justin Trudeau. We were lucky enough to be present when the PM announced that Canada would be releasing its first regular circulation bill with a woman on it, and the fact that we were present for such a monumental moment still awes me.

We then headed to a committee meeting on equal gender representation with MP Benson and several other MPs. The meeting was slightly delayed because of the coin unveiling, but we got to see how MPs from different parties sat in and interacted on committees.

Over the course of the day, I found myself thinking about how while the cabinet had achieved gender parity, the majority of the seats in the House of Commons were filled by men. Representation is one of the most important aspects of promoting women’s rights, and to be a part of a program that seeks to remedy this was a huge honour for me. Tina was amazing throughout the entire experience, making sure that we were all having a good time, and MP Benson was more inspirational than I ever could have expected. Ultimately, I am forever grateful to have been able to partake in this program, and I hope next year’s participants find their experience as amazing as I did.

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Name: Kashaf Mansoor

Program: Peace, Conflict and Justice

Year: Fourth Year

My Twitter info: @Kashaf__Mansoor

My host parliamentarian: MP Rachel Blaney

My Host’s Twitter: @RABlaney

As a student double majoring in Political Science and Peace Conflict and Justice Studies, I’ve always been interested in the intersection of grassroots work and big politics. I first applied for this program with interest but some reluctance, as I was not sure it was possible to combine community work with Federal Canadian politics.  However, through the Women in House program I was lucky enough to be matched up with NDP MP Rachel Blaney from Vancouver, North-Island Powell riding who helped me see that it was indeed possible.  I expected the trip to be filled with exciting moments but I did not except the program to give me the chance to interact candidly with MPs and people in the political realm.

I was lucky enough to spend an entire day shadowing MP Blaney with another lovely PCJ peer.  The day started off with us getting to attend a special breakfast held by the NDP, honoring women in politics on International Women’s Day. We had the pleasure of being seated with other NDP MPs (both men and women) from various Vancouver ridings. I was amazed by their frankness, honesty and genuine desire to engage with young women interested in politics. We had the chance to talk about First Nations history in their ridings and talk about the importance of a greater voice for women in politics.  Also with a rather great stroke of luck, my fellow PCJ peer and I were lucky enough to have Tom Mulclair, leader of the NDP seated at our breakfast table. It was great to see the genuine desire these politicians had for pursuing gender equity in their party.  Next, for maybe what was the coolest aspect of our trip, we got to sit in on a defence meeting with none other than our Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. For students who study war strategy and international security, it was amazing to see what goes on in a Canadian defence meeting. Needless to say we attempted to absorb every word of the meeting. Than for lunch we also had the opportunity of having lunch at the Parliamentary Diner (just as fancy as one would imagine), let’s just say we saw more than one popular political figure having lunch around us!

To end off the day, we attended Question Period with the rest of our Women in House cohort and we got to see Canadian politics in action. I must say, people often say watching politicians can be rather tiresome, but question period was a ride from the beginning to the end.  One of the major highlights of question period for me, was seeing MP Moore (NDP) breast-feeding her daughter whilst also doing her job as an MP.  Seeing her brilliantly  taking care of her daughter as well as being an active participant in politics, made me realize the importance of  making the political system more accessible to women. It’s a daily battle for female MPs in Canadian government but it is one that can be won when we stand up and let it be known that we are here to stay.

What I found incredibly surprising but equally as refreshing about this experience has been the genuine desire Canadian female politicians have to make a difference in our country.  Although it can often seem as though politics, politicians and the whole political process is some far away distant land of people who are not in touch with the on ground operations. I found that I was pleasantly surprised with the way MPs were quite aware of their community’s real needs. MP Blaney had worked for a number of yours with First Nations communities and immigrant groups in her riding before taking on the MP position. Thanks to Tina for matching me with the exact MP that helped me to understand how her community involvement and position as a federal politician could intersect. I enjoyed MP Blaney’s honesty, heart and most importantly her determination to do the best work she could for her riding. MP Blaney exemplified for me, everything a female politician ought to be in today’s Canadian politics, I definitely left more inspired and encouraged by her work.

All in all, there was never a dull moment on this trip! I gained a lot of insight in what it means to be a female politician in Canadian politics (it’s not easy) and made some excellent new relationships. I went into this program with a certain view of what it means to be a politician and what politicians are generally like. However I was pleasantly surprised to see that being an MP requires one to truly put their heart and soul into their work, and that they genuinely care about the wellbeing of their riding.

I still believe that there are systematic roadblocks that are imbedded within the Canadian political process/system that prevent women from entering. However after this trip, I can see there is great possibility for women of colour because of the changing face of MPs being elected by their ridings. The greater support we give to female politicians in our ridings, will lead to a change in the systems that stand as blockades for women who want to enter Canadian politics.

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Name: Aamna Rashid

Program: Peace, Conflict & Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: @aamna_r

My host parliamentarian: Elizabeth May

My Host’s Twitter: @ElizabethMay

It was a normal Friday evening in November when I got the email. The Peace, Conflict and Justice Center is kind enough to send weekly emails informing students of exciting opportunities and events relevant to those in the program. Having attended an event just a few days prior, I was really excited to see what other opportunities were available to students in my program. That’s when I first heard about the Women In House Program and just by reading about it briefly, I knew I had to attend.

 

The Women In House Program is truly an experience of a lifetime. Throughout the two-day excursion, I got the opportunity to meet many inspiring women. I spoke with numerous Senators, Ministers and MP’s. During the reception, my first night in Ottawa, I had the pleasure of speaking with Minister Carolyn Bennett. She told me that as women we have a duty to stand with one another and for one another. This is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life, as I know that she was not just referring to women standing together but standing up for different groups of people. As the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs I know she has done her duty in standing for those who are not being heard and I applaud her for that.

 

The greatest highlight of my trip however was getting to shadow THE Elizabeth May. Yes, I am talking about the MP and Leader of the Green Party. I just about fainted when Tina Park, the program coordinator, informed me of whom I would be shadowing. She is one of the most influential and inspiring women in the country and to be shadowing her on International Women’s Day was a real treat.

 

Throughout my day with her, we attended a lot of meetings. A meeting on International Trade, a meeting on Environmental Policies and a meeting with the Police Commissioner were just a few we attended. Elizabeth May, notorious for not only her strong run in the recent elections, but whose work many admire, was stopped. Constantly. People young and old, women and men wanted to speak and take photos with her. I will never forget how she introduced me to almost every single person she encountered. If I had not already known the sheer importance of whom I would be shadowing, constantly being stopped definitely gave it away.

 

One thing that surprised me about my day with Elizabeth May, was how much strength and confidence you need, to be a Parliamentarian. It seemed like in every meeting we attended, Elizabeth fought for her place in the room and her stance in what she believes in. Even to ask a simple question, she fought. I admired this very much. It showed her drive and passion for the causes that she believes in. I truly think that Canada needs Elizabeth May in Parliament to lead the place for women all around the country.

 

Like I said, I got to attend various committee meetings and was fortunate enough to be allowed to attend private meetings as well. Another thing that really took me aback was Elizabeth May’s energy. I met with her close to 9 in the morning and she was already in the middle of a Committee meeting. Throughout the day we would be travelling back and forth, between Centre Bloc and various other government buildings. Incredibly enough, even when my time with her ended, her work on the Hill did not. She informed me of other events she would be attending and expressed discontent at some of these events overlapping, meaning she would not be able to attend them all. I found this truly amazing. It seemed like her job as a Parliamentarian transcends the regular 9-5 work day and really is a full time commitment. That is something I feel grateful for. The Senators, Ministers and MP’s I had the chance to speak with, who seemed so dedicated to the work they do and the service they provide for our country. It was extraordinary to see and I feel so grateful for these individuals who really dedicate their lives to making our country a better place.

 

I want to thank Tina Park for organizing the program this year. It was an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. In addition, I want to thank MP Elizabeth May for taking the time out of her busy schedule to accommodate me. Her and her entire team were very welcoming and truly gave me an experience of a lifetime.

 

 

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Name: Daphne Wang

Program: Peace, Conflict & Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: N/A

My host parliamentarian: Senator Yonah Martin

My Host’s Twitter: N/A

International Women’s Day 2016 also signifies the 100^th anniversary of Canadian women’s suffrage. Along with the opportunity to celebrate this milestone at the heart of the Canadian government, I also got the chance to see for myself the progress of gender empowerment in Parliament.

On March 8th 2016, I had the honour and privilege of shadowing Senator Yonah Martin of the Conservative party at Parliament Hill. When we arrived, Senator Martin was still in the middle of a meeting but we got the chance to chat with members of her team: Matthew, Grace, and Kirsten. I was surprised to find out from her team that a day in parliament is usually around 12 hours. On top of that, Senator Martin, who lives in BC, flies between Vancouver and Ottawa weekly. Although her schedule was packed with many meetings, the senator graciously welcomed us into her office, served us coffee, and spent as much free time as she could talking with us students. Even though our conversations were interspersed by meetings, Senator Martin never made us feel like we were pressed for time.

Eventually our conversation moved to the topic of gender empowerment. Senator Martin offered some valuable advice on facing the internal insecurities that is prevalent among girls and women. “If not me, who? If not now, when?” is a phrase she often reminded herself to stand up to self-doubt. Indeed, upon listening to female leaders of parliament talk during the reception from the night before, I realized that all these women could have let feelings of inadequacy prevent them from obtaining their position but they didn’t. Senator Martin and the women of parliament are truly pioneers in that they are recreating the definition and basis of good leadership. As all three of us identify as women of visible of minority, the topic of race and gender intersectionality was also brought up. Senator Martin regarded herself as 100% Canadian and 100% Korean. This richness of identity that she and other women of colour have represents a unique voice and perspective that deserves more representation in parliament.

Although we did not have much time to talk about politics during our meeting, Grace was able to show us around Parliament, allow us to sit in during the Senate meeting, and let us watch the MP’s question period. It was interesting to compare the more orderly senate meetings to the ruckus seen during question period at the House of Commons. Grace explained that senators are more capable of carrying out long-term projects than MPs whose work is more oriented around their local constituencies.

Of course, the experience of getting to know the life of a senator would not be complete without the actual experience of sitting in a senator’s seat. Before we left, the senator invited us into the senator chamber where we got to sit in the senator’s seat. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to make it to a seat in parliament. My visit to Parliament also made me realize how much harder parliament officials have to work upon obtaining such a position. However, I am also inspired by the Parliament officials’ determination to challenge social issues, such as gender inequality, that drives them through their work.

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Name: Victoria Yang

Program: Peace, Conflict and Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: @vcyng

My host parliamentarian: MP Linda Duncan

My Host’s Twitter: @LindaDuncanMP

From March 7-8, I had the opportunity to participate in the 2016 U of T Women in House Program. This was an invaluable experience that gave me a glimpse into the busy life of a Member of Parliament.

On the first day, our group toured the Supreme Court of Canada. I was awestruck upon entering the courtroom; my mind went back to landmark cases that I studied throughout the years and imagined the trials unfolding in the very rooms in which we sat. That night, my fellow program participants and I attended a welcome reception and had our first chance to network with each other, Members of Parliament, and their staffers. The highlight of this reception was when Minister of National Defense Harjit Sajjan made an unanticipated appearance – the excitement in the room was palatable. I also had the opportunity to meet several cabinet ministers including Carolyn Bennett, who currently serves as Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs and Bardish Chagger, who is the Minister of Small Business and Tourism. Interestingly, I learned that MP Chagger and I both went to the same high school in our riding of Waterloo and were inspired by the same history and politics teacher, Mr. Brent Pavey. Near the end of the evening, the MPs who attended gave brief speeches atop a makeshift stool-podium. Every MP who spoke was passionate about encouraging women to pursue politics; however, it was fascinating to see the diversity of opinions in regards to how gender parity can be reached.

Bright and early the next morning, I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend the New Democratic Party’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast along with several of my fellow program participants in the beautiful Sir John A. MacDonald building. The fact that this breakfast was so early was a testament to how busy life is on Parliament Hill: 7:30am was the only time that MPs and staff could make time in their busy schedules. During the delicious breakfast, we heard several speakers including Cindy Blackstock, an inspirational First Nations activist. At this breakfast, I also had the opportunity to meet the leader of the NDP, Thomas Mulcair, along with MP Linda Duncan and her staffers, Nasha and Maria, with whom I would spend the rest of the day.

MP Linda Duncan represents the riding of Edmonton—Strathcona. In addition to being the NDP critic for Transport, MP Duncan has the unique position of being the sole NDP representative from Alberta, which gives her added responsibilities. I was particularly excited to be paired with MP Duncan because of her experience as an environmental lawyer and consultant. MP Duncan was on house duty for the day, which unfortunately meant that I had limited time to spend with her in person. Nevertheless, she made good use of the time we did have, and I enjoyed the insight I got from candid discussions with her staffers.

Following the breakfast, I attended a debate in the House on an opposition motion to expand the Billy Bishop airport. I had the opportunity to ride a renowned green parliamentary shuttle bus, and on the way, I learned about how staffers help their MPs prepare for debate speeches. I was impressed by how quickly staffers are required to compile information. For the debate itself, I had the opportunity to sit in the opposition viewing gallery for the first time. I was the only spectator for the majority of the debate, which was not particularly heated, although I found the topic interesting in regards to its jurisdictional implications and as a current resident of the city of Toronto. One MP looked like he was asleep for most of the discussion, and other visible MPs directly below the opposition viewing gallery were thoroughly engaged in scrolling through their Twitter feeds.

After the debate, I went to lunch with Nasha and Maria. I learned about what it is like to personally work for MP Duncan, and how they ended up with jobs on Parliament Hill. Following lunch and a brief break in MP Duncan’s office, I attended Question Period on perhaps one of the worst days to attend Question Period, as the lineup was unusually extensive. I was one of the final six people to be allowed to enter more than half an hour after QP had already started. Although I have attended Question Period before, I am always perturbed by the heckling and general decorum of MPs in the House. During Question Period, there was an entertaining moment when MP Duncan made a few vague gestures towards me that I somehow correctly interpreted to mean that she wanted to meet me after Question Period was over. When we convened in the main foyer, she proceeded to give me a tour of the lounge in which opposition politicians could relax. It was interesting to see the room’s divide: the Conservative Party got half of the room, the New Democratic Party got the other half, and the Bloc Quebecois stood in the coat check area. I was fortunate enough to also get to meet the leader of the Green Party, Elizabeth May, in this lounge.

Afterwards, I had the opportunity to attend two interesting meetings with MP Duncan in her office, one in regards to agriculture in the prairies, and the other with police chiefs. I was impressed with MP Duncan’s straightforwardness in these meetings; the discussions were both time-efficient and effective.

Following these meetings and in the last few minutes before I had to run back to the bus, I had the brief opportunity to ask MP Duncan about her thoughts on becoming a leader and how gender parity can be achieved. She began by giving good general advice: to volunteer, to be patient, and to know that leadership can be in many positions, not just as an MP. When I asked how women can be better represented in parliament, she gave me a very succinct answer: that “parliament can only be equitable with proportional representation”, and that women have to be nominated to run in winnable ridings. She also stressed the importance of intersectionality and diverse representation.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience in the Women in House program. Although house duty made it difficult for my MP and I to have lengthier discussions, the time that I got with her was extremely rewarding. Thank you to Tina Park and Carolyn Bennett, the U of T Women in House co-founders, along with Professor Wendy Wong and Kevin Rowley from the Peace, Conflict and Justice program for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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Name: Tara Zammit

Program: Peace, Conflict and Justice

Year: Second Year

My Twitter info: N/A

My host parliamentarian: MP Leona Alleslev

My Host’s Twitter: @LeonaAlleslev

On March 8th, I had the honour of shadowing MP Leona Alleslev on Parliament Hill. This opportunity offered through Women in House was something that I had looked forward to since last year, after hearing about the amazing program from several of my peers. I was lucky enough to have earned a position among over 40 fellow hard-working and driven women from the University of Toronto who shared both a passion for politics and governance, as well as for female representation in these fields.

In order to prepare for the big day, I spent hours researching MP Alleslev and her role in government. I feel that the Women in House committee did a great job of pairing me with my MP, as her previous positions as a Logistics Officer in the Air Force and her leadership roles in the Department of National Defence were areas I was immediately drawn to.

The day began bright and early at 7:45 AM, where I met MP Alleslev and her staff at her office. I was warmly welcomed and felt very comfortable amongst these incredible women. After spending some time one-on-one with my MP, asking questions about her path to working on Parliament Hill and learning about her interesting background, we met with representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to discuss the cardiovascular issues facing women, and the importance of leading healthy lifestyles. Being allowed to sit-in on such an important meeting made me feel like I was really getting to be a part of the action.

After the meeting concluded, we took a shuttle over to Parliament Hill, where MP Alleslev was preparing to speak in the House of Commons. Before this, however, I was treated to a magnificent lunch in the Parliamentary Dining Room. On the way in, I briefly met former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and sat only a couple of tables over from Leader of the NDP, Tom Mulcair. I was a bit star-struck to say the least.

The day continued at a fast-pace, and we moved quickly into the House of Commons to view Question Period. A variety of immensely compelling topics were discussed and hotly debated, and I was very grateful to have been privy to such important conversations about women’s rights and representation, among other topics.

Following the conclusion of voting in the House of Commons, we moved to another space where a reception was being hosted by the Prime Minister in recognition of International Women’s Day. Standing only several metres away from Prime Minister Trudeau as he unveiled a new stamp and coin in recognition of International Women’s Day is a moment that I will remember for the rest of my life. When he announced that a woman will be placed on the next Canadian bill, the room erupted in applause, and I’m very honoured to have been in that room for such an incredible announcement. Once his speech had concluded, I had the honour of meeting Prime Minister Trudeau myself.

The next phase of the day was to attend an OGGO meeting which MP Alleslev was taking part in. This meeting, as many other aspects of the day did, revealed even more about all of the behind-the-scenes work which contributes to the functioning of our parliamentary system.

I was inspired throughout the day by all of the parliamentarians that I encountered. MP Alleslev’s energy and enthusiasm was evident in everything she did, and I am honoured to have been able to shadow such an accomplished woman who is so dedicated to her country. Additionally, her staff, Laurel, Keira and Rhonda, all made me feel so welcomed, and contributed immensely to my positive experience in Ottawa, and I’d like to thank them for that.

Increasing the representation of women in politics is essential. Canada is a country which prides itself on being welcoming and inclusive, yet we lack the very basic and fundamental inclusivity of women in governmental roles. Listening to the women and men who are involved speak so highly of the importance of extending and expanding the role of women in politics was not only important to hear, but necessary, and I am truly grateful for this program for allowing me such a life-changing opportunity.