Mr. Speaker, this week we are celebrating Gender Equality Week.
Today, 71 women sit as members of the Liberal caucus—the largest women's caucus in the history of Canada's Parliament—where they exercise strong leadership. Women also play a crucial role in our cultural sector, an area that means a great deal to me. They represent 54% of Canada's artists. That number, however, conceals a glass ceiling affecting artistic leadership: 23% of male artists hold executive and production positions, compared to only 12% of female artists.
I want to take this opportunity to call attention to the strong female leadership that is alive and well in the cultural sector of my riding, Thérèse-De Blainville. Recently, Claudia Dupont took over from Chantal Lamoureux as Odyscène's executive and artistic director, backed by a predominantly female team that actively contributes to showcasing our culture on a daily basis.
They are a great example to follow. This week, let us celebrate them as we continue to work toward achieving gender equality in Canada.