NDP calls for resignation of government members who awarded controversial essay
The Alberta NDP has demanded resignation letters from leaders of the province's status of women department, who awarded an essay that claimed "women are not exactly equal to men" and suggested "foreigners" are used to "replace" Albertans.
Associate minister Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk and parliamentary secretary Jackie Lovely shouldn't "be anywhere near the status of women ministry," the NDP's children's services critic Rakhi Pancholi said Thursday.
The two MLAs confirmed they were the only politicians that judged the "Her Vision Inspires" essay contest and awarded an unknown writer, S. Silver, as the third-place winner.
Lovely apologized in a statement, to CTV News Edmonton, but she did not explain what happened with the contest.
"I regret that this essay was chosen and I apologize for my role in that," Lovely said. "As a single mother who has pursued a wide variety of traditionally male-dominated careers, I deeply understand the strength and ability of women.
"Also, as a former ESL teacher who has hosted 56 international students, I value and appreciate the role of newcomers in our province, and will continue working to remove barriers to equity and prosperity for all," she added.
Silver's essay argued women's professional aspirations distract from their reproductive responsibilities.
It also proposed it is "popular nowadays to think that the world would be better off without humans, or that Albertan children are unnecessary as we can import foreigners to replace ourselves. This is a sickly mentality that amounts to a drive for cultural suicide."
A UCP spokesperson told CTV News Edmonton that neither the party nor caucus had any involvement in the essay contest and that the contest generated five entries total, with the winners awarded $200 to spend at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta gift shop.
"The third-place essay was clearly not inspiring. It was misogynistic, sexist, racist, transphobic and fascist," Pancholi said.
In the background of her press conference loomed the Fort Saskatchewan hospital, whose labour and delivery ward have been closed due to a doctor shortage, which Pancholi called an example of the United Conservative government's ruinous effect on Alberta's health-care system.
"While the minister for the status of women was promoting essays stating women should be focused on their reproductive capacity, women and people who can get pregnant cannot give birth in her own riding," Pancholi said.
The NDPer called their resignations the "only option," given both MLAs have steadfastly refused to clarify the process and criteria by which the essays were selected as winners, who participated on the judging "panel," and how much the writers were awarded.
Although the contest website named the Canadian chapter of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) as a partner, the organization denied on Thursday any involvement.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.