A resolution from the Town of Grimsby promoting the removal of barriers to women entering politics caused quite a discussion at Belleville council Monday.
In the end, the resolution calling for the removal of discrimination and harassment for not only women but all individuals was passed unanimously.
Councillor Kathryn Brown said her real-life experience showed women face more barriers, not only in politics, but in business and other facets of life.
“We are subject to much more harassment around decisions that we make. We are subject to much more scrutiny about whether or not we have the experience and knowledge that we can bring to the table.”
Brown added that in her experience women had a more difficult time getting time off from work to get to municipal and other community meetings than their male counterparts did.
Councillors Brown, Lisa-Anne Chatten and Barbara Enright-Miller all stressed they’d been treated very well by all of council and city staff.
Councillor Paul Carr, not for the first time, suggested the times of council and other city meetings needed to change to allow more women and others to get involved in politics.
No action was taken on that suggestion and Councillor Garnet Thompson said he’d had to juggle his work in retail to get to meetings for years adding people should know what they’re getting into before entering into political life.
For his part, Councillor Chris Malette said that a certain minority in the local population would scoff at the ongoing council discussions about inclusion and equity as nothing but “virtue signalling” but added the debates and decisions had to continue to keep the issues front and centre to strengthen the community for everyone.
