Monday September 14, 2020 | VICTORIA, BC [Updated at 4 pm]
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
There was a strong wave of public condolence and commentary upon the passing of Aline Chrétien this past weekend. She died at dawn on Saturday September 12 surrounded by family, age 84 years. No cause of death was given.
TV media coverage the following day — Sunday being usually a slow day spent on reflection of politics of the past week and what lies ahead — was dominated by the passing of Aline Chrétien. That eclipsed most of the time media pundits may have spent on teeing up the cabinet retreat in the public consciousness, and even — for a few hours — pushed aside the torrent of updates about COVID.
Married to former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien (1993-2003) for 63 years, Aline Chrétien was known by many in political circles as a force of stability and political influence behind her ambitious husband. Both had small-town roots in Quebec. She died at home in Shawinigan where they had raised their family of three children, and later there were grandchildren.
In a sense she was a matriarch of the Liberal Party of Canada, finding herself taking part in not only the campaigning, social gatherings and festivities of the political elite but working side-by-each with her husband, reading documentation and offering advice in meetings.
Given her many accomplishments within that paradigm, it could be seen either way that she gained privilege because of the political access through her husband, or that she lacked opportunity to shine in her own right. Along the way she became accomplished in several languages, and was appointed as the first Chancellor of Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.
Today the blending of roles for the wife of a politician is probably not done in quite the same way. Women whose primarily interest is politics are encouraged to run for political office and represent their communities in their own right. Many women raised from childhood in the modern feminist era still remain puzzled over the influence a non-elected spouse (male or female) may have on policy-making of the day.
Some of Aline Chrétien’s influences could be seen historically as significant, such as guiding her husband part-way through his career to remain in federal politics and not be wooed into inward-looking Quebecois politics. Though her influence to recruit academic and future Liberal leader Stephane Dion to his cabinet after nearly seeing Canada fall apart after the 1995 referendum on Quebec independence could be seen as a low point for Canada and for the Liberal Party of Canada, something only Justin Trudeau was able to eventually turn around for the party.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments:
Today Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a brief media session in Ottawa expressed his admiration for former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s wife. He remarked on the power of Aline Chrétien as the woman behind the man, both politically and in terms of personal support.
Trudeau’s comments yesterday about Madame Chrétien delineated a bit more for Canadians how non-elected women who are married to politicians sometimes have influence in politics. He emphasized Aline’s role as a mother, her loyalty to Quebecois roots and bilingualism, and how she was a steady and reliable support for her political husband.
Going to bat for women:
Aline Chrétien tried to stay out of the limelight during her husband’s high profile political career, but behind the scenes she wielded a lot of influence. That was known at the time by political insiders and observers but is now being remarked upon as people comment on her passing. Former Deputy Minister of Canada Sheila Copps said this weekend that being the first woman to be appointed as deputy minister was strongly advocated by Aline Chrétien behind the scenes.
In a system that is still predominantly patriarchal, women have oftentimes needed the nod or even full support from behind the scenes. Where this is not granted — particularly when it is a political spouse who casts the death knell — means that even when women are qualified, there is a roadblock based on preference or possibly malintent or fear. This has meant — even for many women strong enough to be ambitious in a male-dominated political world — that a spousal gatekeeper could influence for or against a career of hard work. With slight of hand, the demise. Currying or relying upon the favour of unelected insiders is hopefully eliminated as a requirement for women in politics and business in this decade.
BC has a gender-equity cabinet:
Today BC Premier John Horgan — who unabashedly ushered in the country’s first gender-equity provincial cabinet in 2017 when his minority government first took power — responded to a question from Island Social Trends on this matter. BC’s premier — who early in his career worked for many years in Ottawa — said that Aline Chrétien “worked behind the scenes for Canadians”.
Horgan said that many men elected to public office “just can’t do” what they do without the support of spouse and family. He lauded his own wife Ellie in this regard, in how she helps him launch his day, especially during these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women doing this have “sacrificed so much to the fabric of Canada”, said Horgan.
Women on the political forefront in BC:
Horgan also remarked on the importance of women politicians being on “the front lines of politics”, as well as professional public service and many sectors of society and economy. He noted how he will miss BC Finance Minister Carole James (who is resigning at end of this term for health reasons) “more than can possibly say”.
James has been a stalwart supporter of Horgan and the NDP, solidifying the NDP philosophy of ‘people first’ into the BC Government framework for now years or decades to come.
As Finance Minister for BC, James’ work on the spectrum of housing needs over the past three years and on urgent budget matters during the COVID-19 pandemic (to try and ensure that no one is left behind) has for progressive citizens been stellar by any measure.
Formal gender balance in BC:
Shortly after taking office as Premier in July 2017, John Horgan appointed first-time MLA Mitzi Dean (Esquimalt-Metchosin) as BC’s first Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity.
In December 2019 in Victoria, Dean hosted a conference of national and provincial elected women to discuss programs and advancements for women in Canada.
Today Mitzi Dean recapped that she has spent most of her working life on the front lines of social work, and that when she considered running for office, it was for many reasons. “But mostly it was because I wanted to make a difference for my community,” she told Island Social Trends today.
“I was honoured to take on the role of Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity because working towards justice and fairness for everyone has been my life’s work. We are better as a province when all British Columbians – regardless of their gender, race, class, sexual orientation, ability or disability – can reach their full potential. This means the face of our leaders in the public and private sectors must reflect the faces in our communities,” said Parliamentary Secretary Dean.
“New ideas and innovation won’t happen if everyone at the table looks the same and has the same experiences,” Dean says. “Because diversity in leadership has been shown to improve the decisions that are made, building a more equitable society and a more sustainable economy.”
“In B.C., I’m really proud that we have an equal number of men and women appointed to cabinet and women on public sector boards increased to 49 per cent last year, which is an 18 per cent increase from just two years prior.”
“I am proud of the amazing women around me in the political sphere and women in other leadership positions in our community. While I know there is still more work to do to make sure that every person in our province has an equal opportunity, I am proud of the work we are doing,” said Dean today.
Re-elected four times:
Now in her fourth term of elected office, Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins today said in reflection upon Aline Chrétien’s passing: “Women bring a balance to politics no matter the party philosophy. Women who choose or have had the behind the scenes role thrust on them, work hard to ensure their message is carried. The message is about family, heritage, country, values. It is more important than ever to get these women out front.”
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins also served as chair of the Capital Regional District in 2016 and 2017, during a tumultous period among 13 municipalities of working out how the Greater Victoria area would achieve its sewage treatment system. She is married, with children (including one grown daughter who sadly passed away a few years ago), and has been the owner of physiotherapy clinics in the region.
New BC Green Leader on women in politics:
“As a young woman I remember being told I could do anything, that I was equal to men, but only seeing men in leadership roles,” said Sonia Furstenau in her acceptance speech as the new leader of the BC Green Party today in the noon hour. She said that achieving political office “seems nearly unachievable” for many.
Along the way she observed “a different standard for those historically excluded from government”. In recent years she was often told she was over-prepared, and asked “if missed being a housewife”, even though she is married and has five children.
Furstenau said: “To achieve lasting outcomes in good ways we must increase diversity in who we elect, across party lines and jurisdictions.”
She also had a few words for Premier John Horgan, strongly suggesting that he not call “a completely unnecessary early election in the middle of a pandemic… you have a responsibility to govern, not play politics”. Though on that point, it could be said that a government seen as successful in the handling of the pandemic so far would do better to gain a stronger mandate now, than have politicking going on in the winter of 2021 as the economy tries to more fully recover.
Canada’s first female finance minister:
Last month Chrystia Freeland became Canada’s first Finance Minister, appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a ceremony August 18 in Ottawa, presided over by Governor General Julie Payette. She was already in the role of Deputy Prime Minister.
Despite the powerful message of that appointment, there was an underpinning that disappointed feminist observers. Putting a woman in that top job seemed to require having Mrs Trudeau in the background of the swearing-in camera angle, and then the Trudeau held hands walking out. That sort of affirmation of really who is the woman with the most power was obviously orchestrated, and uncomfortable to watch. It still gave the nod to a male-dominated system in the political pecking order, and it was a disservice to Finance Minister Freeland on her first day in that role.