Special Committee on Increasing the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly Interim Report & Written Submissions
(YELLOWKNIFE) April 10, 2019 – The Special Committee on Increasing the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly is accepting written submissions from the public until May 9, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
On March 12, 2019, Members of the Legislative Assembly unanimously accepted the seven recommendations made in the committee’s interim report. The recommendations include initiatives to assist women to prepare for participation in politics to creating spaces in the Legislative Assembly building that are more family-friendly. These recommendations have now been forwarded to the Legislative Assembly’s Board of Management and relevant departments for implementation.
The Special Committee is now preparing its final report, which will focus on whether to recommend legislative change that will guarantee women a set number of seats in the 20 and 21st Assemblies. The Speaker tabled a discussion paper on guaranteed seats last spring. The paper is available on the Committees page of the Legislative Assembly website. The Committee is accepting written submissions as well as holding public meetings in Behchokǫ̀ on May 2, 2019, at 6 p.m. and in Norman Wells on May 6, 2019, at 6 p.m. More information on these meetings will be posted on the Legislative Assembly’s website in the coming weeks. The Committee traveled to Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk last week for hearings. See the archived live broadcast of the hearings on the Assembly’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
“Our goal is simple: to increase the number of women sitting in this House so that the other half of society is better represented…This is where women's voices can make a difference, and the more the better. Research indicates elected women promote gender equality and strengthen democratic institutions because women are often willing collaborators. Women also make substantive contributions to the consideration of government spending and population health. In short, women can change the world, not only for women, but for everyone,” says Julie Green, Chair of the Special Committee.
The Committee’s interim report and terms of reference as well as the Speaker’s discussion paper on guaranteed seats are available on the Legislative Assembly website under the Committees page. The final report will be tabled before the end of the 18th Assembly.
For more information, please contact:
Julie Green
Chair, Special Committee to Increase the Representation of Women in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
P: (867) 767-9143 ext. 12180
Jeanne Yurris
Intern, Public Affairs and Communications
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
P: 867-767-9130 ext. 12018
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