Stéphane Dion, freshly minted leader of the federal Liberals, recently announced he is willing to take “extraordinary measures” to ensure his party fields 33 per cent female candidates in the next election.
Dion’s goal, which he pledged during the Liberal leadership campaign, aims to improve Canada’s rate of female political participation. With only 20.8 per cent female MPs Canada is rated a shameful 46th in the world in female political participation.
But while the underlying basis for affirmative action in all its incarnation may be sound, its execution is more problematic
Though it may help Dion find the 103 female candidates he needs to keep his promise, he should keep in mind that affirmative action is subject to the law of unintended consequences.
Many see affirmative action as condescending towards women and minorities because it implies that such measures are a necessary condition for their success. Furthermore, it demeans the true achievements of women and minorities. Once such minorities (or in the case of women, majorities) achieve real success, it is chalked up to affirmative action and not the hard work, talent and ability of the individual.
After winning under such circumstances, furthermore, critics of female politicians could endlessly raise doubts as to whether she was in fact the best person for the job. Getting women elected under such circumstances would be pyrrhic victories at best.
And where exactly does Dion intend to place these 103 women.
A true show of support would be to offer up some of the choice liberal “safe” seats to female candidates. Many of these however, such as those in the Liberal heartland of Toronto, are already being eyed by former leadership hopefuls such as Gerard Kennedy and Bob Rae.
Handing winnable seats such as these to perhaps less-experienced female politicians would be a show of true commitment and courage. But with these ridings going fast, Dion may need to send women to difficult or even impossible ridings to meet his quota. Using women as cannon fodder in strong Tory ridings could lead to crushing and discouraging defeats. This in turn could reduce women’s willingness to enter elected politics.
Political buzz has it that Ottawa Centre is being considered as a riding in which affirmative action measures could be implemented. As such, the odds of male hopefuls such as Richard Mahoney and Scott Bradley getting the Liberal nod are looking slimmer and slimmer.
Singling out ridings as “men need not apply” could also have a more Machiavellian midwife. Candidates, such as Mahoney who have already had two kicks at the can may be seen as too risky a third time, – especially with strong female hopefuls waiting in the wings.
And this is not the season for risk.
With the Grits and Tories in a dead heat in the polls, the next election will almost surely result in another minority government. Who this minority goes to, however, rests on a knife’s edge. This time, every seat will count, especially potentially winnable seats like Ottawa Centre.
–Jeffrey Davis