Mr. Speaker, today marks the 20th anniversary of the election of the first female leader of a federal party in Canada. On December 2, 1989, Audrey McLaughlin was elected leader of the New Democratic Party.
Audrey inspired women both within and outside our party to believe that they could play an important role in politics.
Sadly, there has not been enough change since then. Women still only represent 22% of the members of this place.
A great deal of work remains to be done if we want to achieve gender parity in the House of Commons. This is an important goal for advancing women's equality in this country.
Without parity, issues affecting women time and time again get shunted aside, issues such as child care, pay equity, violence against women.
Women deserve better.
Today we want to congratulate Audrey McLaughlin on her pioneering achievement, and we simply want to say, we need more leaders like Audrey.