Status of Women committee  That's a good point. I'm not sure how governments can legislate nomination meetings. That would be a tough one. I'm sure you have some ideas on that, but they'd have to get the nomination first. When I was here and sat with your uncle Benoît, I came in at a time when I didn't ha

Status of Women committee  Kim Campbell was prime minister, as you said, in 1993. I think our current Prime Minister forgot to mention her one time when he was talking about how people have done so well. I, Rona Ambrose, and you mentioned others, you as a diplomat—I'm pretty impressed by that. Why do the

Status of Women committee  Yes, that was a hard day. I was talking about pork-barrelling. I thought somebody was spending too much money, so I asked about pork-barrelling. Poor Doug, who sat up in the left-hand corner with me when I was first elected, said into the mike loudly, “There is more than a slab o

Status of Women committee  We have seen it, poor Preston and his voice and his haircut, and Stephen with the blue vest. I guess you've proved that it's really not just women who get attacked and made fun of. We have to lift the level a little on men or women to be able to say, “Is that valid?” When people

Status of Women committee  I agree with her. I'm sure you and I have done any number of campaign schools, so this is good. I know that the Manning Centre out in Calgary runs one for small-c conservatives—but it's as non-partisan as you can be when someone is going to run for a party—to be able to give jus

Status of Women committee  Okay. Go find people. Say, “We want you to run on merit. You happen to be a woman, but we think you would be good because you have capabilities. Throw your name forward, and leave it to the great unwashed to see how it goes.” How did I do for time?

Status of Women committee  Thank you.

Status of Women committee  I think I addressed that briefly by saying that I'm not a number. I'm not a percentage, so if anybody sees me as somebody...they might always wonder whether I got there just because I'm a woman. I don't want any part of that. I have worked with incredibly capable women over the

Status of Women committee  I think they can do that by being confident and not being afraid to put their names forward. Joanne said that when she was eight years old she thought about doing this all the way. Shannon Stubbs, who worked in my constituency office ages ago, was somebody who knew what she was d

Status of Women committee  I'd say the broader the base, the more fabulous it is, because of what Canada is. Joanne and I were just saying that I live at one ocean and she lives at the other. There's a whole lot of space in between and a whole lot of incredible people in between. I think we need to be able

Status of Women committee  I was always asked that question, “What's it like to be a female member of Parliament?” I'd say, “I don't really know, because I've never been anything else.” That's all I have. I have mentors. Agnes Macphail, whose bust was put up near the lobby while I was here, was an amazin

Status of Women committee  Yes, I was here a long time ago, from 1989 until 2004. You might think that was way long ago. It is way long ago, but I had the best woman campaign manager. I would set her against anybody and be scared of her. She was tremendous. I think that if you have that confidence.... You

Status of Women committee  Thank you. You need to work with everyone.

Status of Women committee  Thank you very much. It's good to be back on the Hill. It seems pretty funny to be sitting on this side of the table. Rather than being the griller, I am the grilled. I want to congratulate all of you on your election. It's an incredible opportunity that few get to experience, t

Status of Women committee  I will. I love to win. I don't mind losing, either. That probably suits us fairly well in federal life. If you are competitive, you are able to handle these things of nominations and getting elected. Women are often criticized for being competitive or assertive. They—whoever “th