Participation in government

Canada lags behind

   Canadian political parties say they are trying to reflect the
diversity of the Canadian population, but they usually overlook the
lesbian and gay community. Most of the parties have failed to
encourage the participation of openly gay men and lesbians in
public life.
   There is only one openly gay Member of Parliament in Canada, New
Democrat Svend Robinson. There are none in the provincial
legislatures, and only a handful in municipal governments.
   In stark contrast, there are more than 70 openly gay and lesbian
elected officials in the United States. President Clinton had at
least 15 lesbians and gay men on his transition team, and he has
appointed a lesbian politician as an undersecretary in his
administration.
   Ontario Premier Bob Rae has appointed both a lesbian and a gay
man to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The Ontario NDP's
lesbigay caucus is an officially-recognized organization within the
party.
   A number of political leaders abroad have appointed officials to
act as liaison persons with the lesbian and gay communities within
their jurisdictions.




The EGALE questionnaire asked

Would you encourage your party to actively recruit openly gay and
lesbian candidates?

Conservatives: ?
"The Progressive Conservative Party does not inquire as to the
sexual orientation of its members or candidates."

Liberals: ?
"The Liberal Party does not discriminate on any basis, including
sexual orientation."

New Democrats: Yes
"The NDP currently has three openly gay or lesbian candidates
running in the next election."



Would you encourage your party to appoint a staff person to act as
a liaison with the lesbian and gay community?

Conservatives: ?
Most Conservatives said this is an "internal decision of the
Party."

Kim Campbell said, "I would discuss this possibility with my
party."

Liberals: ?
"The Liberal Party has yet to determine what liaison staff will be
necessary should we form the next government....individual Liberal
critics are responsible for bringing the concerns of the various
groups forward in caucus."


New Democrats: Yes
MP Svend Robinson noted that he and his staff have played an active
liaison role with the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities.



If your party forms the next government, would you support the
appointment of well-qualified, openly gay men and lesbians to
Order-in-Council positions? 


Conservatives: ?
"The Progressive Conservative Party does not discriminate on the
basis of sexual orientation."


Liberals: ?
""We will always endeavour to ensure that our appointments reflect
the diversity of Canadian society."


New Democrats: Yes



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