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-323850-108013500University College ProgramsCanadian Studies, Asian Canadian Studies and Health StudiesProgram Representative: Myra Wein3819525146050-3619502355853550920-20383500Name: Myra Lisselle WeinProgram: Canadian Studies and Political ScienceYear: FourthMy Twitter info: @myralisselleMy host parliamentarian: Minister Carla QualtroughMy Host’s Twitter: @CQualtroFrom March 7th to March 8th, 2016 I had the privilege and honour to join the University of Toronto’s top female students and leaders. Inspiring, memorable, grateful, surreal, and impressive are only a few small words to describe this once in a lifetime experience. In a whirlwind of 48 hours I was able to meet and engage with people and parts of Canada’s history which I never imagined I would have the chance to do. I was hosted by the Honourable Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Carla Qualtrough. It was incredible to bear witness to Minister Qualtrough as she enthusiastically balances her roles as Minister, Member of Parliament for Delta, British Columbia, and her family life as a mom of four. Originally I was matched with an opposition critic member of parliament but last minute that was changed and well, change is good! If there’s one thing really impressed on me by this trip is that seizing every fast-paced, changing moment is key. Prior to the day of shadowing, I did not know an itinerary or much about the life of my host parliamentarian beyond a Wikipedia abstract of her many sport, education, and leadership accomplishments. Excited yet a bit nervous I was determined to start my parliament hill adventure. Whisked from place to place with precise timing and in a private car, we were able to follow the Minister to her caucus meeting, then to a Soccer Canada announcement at Ottawa’s City Hall where we met the Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson, then to lunch where I had the spur of the moment chance to meet and talk to Hurricane Hazel McCallion one on one. The Minister also arranged for us a private tour where I was able to see different parts of parliament most of the public have never seen such as the storage space for the Canadian flags used for the Peace Tower and we saw the parliamentary procession of clerks, house speaker, and sergeant at arms. Unfortunately, we were not able to make it into question period but it was more than made up when we followed the Minister to a committee room where she was joined by the other female ministers, some female members of parliament, the finance minister, and the Prime Minister himself where it was announced that for the first time besides the Queen, a woman will be featured in the next set of bank notes. That was truly a humbling moment to be six feet away from our nation’s leader in a truly ground-breaking and historic moment for women in Canada. To top off this fantastic gathering, the Prime Minister’s wife Sophie Trudeau, came up to us and greeted Sarah and I personally. A memory I will treasure forever from that was when I shook her hand, Mrs. Trudeau stopped me and asked if instead she could hug me; of course I happily obliged! Overall the dignitaries we met the night before at the lovely reception and throughout the shadowing day on the hill, I would have to say the greatest honour came from being with this exceptional group of ladies from the University of Toronto. With a school so large, connecting with people can sometimes be a difficult feat. As vice-president of the Canadian Studies students, I learn each and every day just how remarkable the student body is in knowledge, innovation, and community work. Learning about our cohort made me even more inspired and appreciative of my peers. From first year undergraduates to final year graduate students, the depth of experience from this collective group truly made me proud to be a part of this experience. Coming back to Toronto, I now have incredible leaders I now call my friends. The program’s co-founder and fearless trip leader, taught me so much about putting myself out there and taking charge in our experiences every day. Now, more than ever I am proud to be a woman at the University of Toronto.Finally, I would like to thank both Minister Qualtrough and my student colleague Sarah who was also shadowing the Minister with me. Both of these remarkable ladies also happen to have visual impairment. I have worked with various other accessibility needs, but this was my first time experiencing visual needs. Sarah, being by your side throughout the day taught me so much about the inherent barriers our society has which most people, including myself, take for granted. Spending the day with these ladies added an entire dimension of learning I will forever be grateful for. In and out of the house, I feel more empowered and motivated that I can make change, help others, and I can be a part of Canada’s great democratic history. 3482340-28257500Name: Gabrielle Bernier Program: Canadian Studies/HistoryYear: 4My Twitter info: @missbelladawsonMy host parliamentarian: MP Cheryl HardcastleMy Host’s Twitter: @CHardcastleNDPEMPOWERING, INSPIRING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, FULFILLINGOn Monday, March 8, I had the privilege of travelling to Ottawa to participate in the 2016 U of T Women in the House program. When I learned that the U of T Women in the House program had opened up to Canadian Studies students, just in time for my fourth and final year, I could not believe my luck. I could not miss the opportunity to participate in a program that provides an incomparable opportunity to witness a day in the life of a female MP. Even more thrillingly, at an exciting time in Canadian politics, when fresh female voices are rising and Ottawa is experiencing dramatic change. Therefore, when I hopped on the bus to travel to Ottawa, I was exhilarated, and a little bit nervous – I wanted to make the most of these precious 48 hours. However, upon arrival in Ottawa, I soon found there was no need to be nervous. Our trip began with an informative and inspiring tour of the Supreme Court. From there, we attended a reception at the Metropolitain Brasserie, where we were able to mingle with other participants, and several impressive guests of honour. We listened to speeches from female representatives of all three of the major Canadian political parties. For me, the remarks of NDP MP for Saskatoon West, Sheri Benson, struck a particular chord. She spoke about her decision to enter politics, and a promise she made upon election to stay true to herself and her principles. Politics is so often represented in the media as a machine that can rob people of their individuality, and it was refreshing to hear from an elected MP that there is room for unique women, with distinct voices in the House of Commons. Another highlight of the night was a surprise appearance by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who just happened to be hosting a birthday party for his Chief of Staff in the next room. Nevertheless, the absolute highlight of my trip was the day I spent shadowing NDP MP Cheryl Hardcastle from the riding of Windsor-Tecumseh. Upon my arrival in her office, MP Hardcastle immediately put me at ease, and I had the privilege of spending the hour before her first meetings chatting about her life experiences and asking whatever questions I desired. She spoke honestly about battling “boy’s clubs,” and her personal evolution from journalist, to Deputy Mayor of Tecumseh, to federal NDP MP. Another highlight was a discussion about the important role that reading and research play in the life of an MP. Throughout the day I sat in on several meetings, seeing the results of this research in action, and I even got to take notes during one! In the afternoon, I attended Question Period, where the theatrics of politics were quite a sight to behold, and such a contrast to the tough and substantive policy discussion that I was able to witness back at the MP’s office.However, the most important part of the day came over the lunch hour, when I had the privilege of accompanying MP Hardcastle to a protest at the Honduran Embassy, calling for an investigation into the shooting death of environmentalist and Indigenous rights activist, Berta Caceres. At the rally, we called on the Honduran government to conduct an impartial investigation into Caceres’ death and for the Canadian government to echo this call. Not only did MP Hardcastle inform me about this issue, she empowered me to make a difference. I cannot thank MP Hardcastle, and her staff Tom and Joanne, enough for their willingness to share their time and show me a truly inspiring, and empowering day in the life of a Canadian parliamentarian. 3550920-203835PHOTO here! :D00PHOTO here! :DName: Janet HuangProgram: Canadian Studies and its citizensYear: 1st My Twitter info: @ Janethuang27My host parliamentarian: Jenny KwanMy Host’s Twitter: @JennyKwanBCIt has been an inspirational experience on the Hills in Ottawa to celebrate International Women’s Day. The voice still echoes in myself: “Nobody is safe, until everyone is safe”. It has been an honor to start the day with the NDP breakfast, discussing women’s achievements and road to more progressive Canada with our host parliamentarian, Jenny Kwan. This is an unforgettable experience that is truly praised. Following the breakfast introduction, we were able to follow Jenny Kwan to her office to attend the various meetings with stakeholders that were scheduled from 9 a.m to 1030 a.m. The meetings clarified and discussed many issues that the stakeholders raised. Communication is the key and getting the key ideas across the table within the limited time available took priority in the meetings. I can sense the seconds ticking as the discussions took place. After, we attended the committee discussion on citizenship and immigration from 11 a.m to 12 a.m. Many good questions were raised and discussed that have brought a new perspective to my understandings on the issues involved with the refugees. At 1220 p.m. the MP assistant, Ariane arranged a Parliament tour for us, from that, we were able to better understand the history of the Parliament and its functions. It was really generous of Jenny to invite us to have lunch at the Parliamentary Restaurant. Although Jenny couldn’t dine with us, we were able to dine with other MPs at the restaurant and learn from them. As we dined at the restaurant, I reflected back on what we did in the morning, and I felt the tight schedule each MP holds at the Parliament. From Women in House program, I felt a closer relationship to the MPs at the Parliament and a much better understanding on the roles the MPs play on the Hills. As we followed the footsteps of MP Jenny Kwan, we were able to observe closely how she represents Vancouver East in the Parliament. It has been a truly honor to be on the Hills.3550920-20383500Name: Mira MerchantProgram: Social SciencesYear: 1st My host parliamentarian: MP Joyce MurrayMy Host’s Twitter: @joycemurrayAs I sit down to write this reflection, I don’t even know where to begin. There aren’t adequate words to describe the amazing experience I had during my time in Ottawa. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go behind the scenes on Parliament Hill and see what the policy-making process is like. As someone interested in possibly pursuing a career with the Canadian government, this opportunity was a dream come true!I had the honour and privilege of shadowing MP Joyce Murray, a member of the Liberal Party for the Vancouver Quadra riding. Before the trip, I did some research on Ms. Murray, and found out we have quite a lot in common: we are both Vancouverites, and care deeply about the environment. I learned that Ms. Murray is the co-owner of a reforestation company, which has planted over one million trees to date! On Tuesday, we had a bit of a late start, as Ms. Murray had “in camera” meetings until 10:45am. My partner for the day, Nancy, and I arrived in Ms. Murray’s office before she did, and spent some time talking to her assistant, Linda, who gave us an overview of what Ms. Murray’s days are usually like, and the schedule for our day with her. I was shocked when I saw Ms. Murray’s schedule – it was completely packed! One of her events for the day had been cancelled, which put Linda in the unfortunate situation of having to reorganize the entire schedule. When Ms. Murray arrived, we exchanged brief hellos, and then it was immediately time for her to begin her administrative work for the day. In between signing off on her many travel documents, courtesy of her weekly travels between Ottawa and Vancouver; she told us about her plans for the day: a reception hosted by the Heart & Stroke Foundation, a 2-hour French lesson, Question Period, a meeting, and a slew of evening receptions. She and Linda also went over her schedule for the rest of the week, and I was astonished to see just how much juggling she had to do in order to accommodate all her events.We then left Ms. Murray’s office in the Confederation and headed to Centre Block, where Linda escorted us to the Heart & Stroke Foundation reception. We did not stay for long, as we had to join Ms. Murray in the Centre Block Lobby, where we briefly met some of her colleagues. We sat down at a table and were soon joined by Ms. Murray’s French tutor. Ms. Murray told us that she usually meets with him once a week, but after having missed a lesson, that day’s lesson was two hours long! As they began to speak, I internally kicked myself for studying Spanish in high school rather than French; I could barely keep up with their conversation, let alone contribute in French! It served as excellent motivation for me though, as I’m currently studying French here in university, and cannot wait until I am hopefully able to reach that level of proficiency one day! Nancy and I left after about 20 minutes, and headed back to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, where we had a quick lunch, and met up with some other Women in House participants. It was only after the day ended that I wondered where Ms. Murray found the time to eat lunch! Then, it was time for the highlight of my day: Question Period. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, listening to the controversial issues being debated by the parties. It being International Women’s Day, women’s issues were at the forefront of many speeches, one example being the wage gap. From where I was sitting, I had a clear view of Prime Minister Trudeau, and spent over an hour attempting to telepathically convey to him just how much I admired him… hopefully it worked! One thing that surprised me about Question Period was the fact that, on multiple occasions, members from the opposing party interrupted or made disparaging comments during people’s speeches, which I found completely unnecessary, considering they were all grown men and women! One thing that thoroughly impressed me was the fact that, despite numerous attacks on him, PM Trudeau was able to respond with grace and poise. After Question Period, one of Ms. Murray’s interns, Jonathan, took us on a tour of Centre Block. My favourite part was getting to see the Library of Parliament!We finally headed back to Ms. Murray’s office in the Confederation Building, where we were just in time to join a brief meeting she was having regarding real estate development in Vancouver. After the meeting was over, Nancy and I sadly had to take our leave. We said our thank you’s and goodbyes, snapped a quick picture, and then headed out. I was quite weary from running around all day, but Ms. Murray was still completely poised and calm despite the busy day, and the evening’s impending receptions.To say I had an amazing experience in Ottawa is a complete understatement. I learned so much in the two short days we were there, and I only wish we could have stayed for longer! It is unfortunate that there are currently so few women in Parliament, but I can think of 40-some young women who would like nothing more than to change that. I’d like to thank MP Murray and her staff for allowing us to be a part of “life on the Hill” for the day, and Ms. Tina Park for organizing this trip and giving us young women the opportunity of a lifetime. Name: Lily Yuxi RenProgram: Health Studies; Book and Media Studies; Human Geography Year: fourthMy Twitter info: @lillipadzMy host parliamentarian: Ginette Petitpas TaylorMy Host’s Twitter: @GPTaylorMRDThrough the University of Toronto Women in House 2016, program, I had the honour and pleasure of shadowing the Honourable MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Deputy Government Whip for the Liberals and representative of the riding of Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe. The two-day experience proved to be inspiring and surprising through the opportunity to delve into Canadian politics on Parliament Hill and discuss challenges to the barriers of parity including issues of gender, age, and social status. My day with MP Taylor began with meeting her staff from both her Ottawa Office and riding constituency. I was surprised to see her arrive at the Office before all her staff. Her dedication to her team was impressive and well reciprocated. From early morning, Ms. Taylor’s day began with a number of calls, event promotions, and meetings. I was lucky enough to spend sometime discussing with her some of the major organizations she is passionate about and key issues in her riding. In addition, I learned about her work as the Deputy Whip which ensures that members of her party are present in the House or at committee meetings to adequately win votes and pass bills. As she rushed out the door to her first committee meeting, her staffer and I were ushered into another meeting regarding their office relocation from the Justice building to the Centre Block. It was interesting to learn the long laborious procedures of relocation on the Hill. Each detail was to be considered, including technical devices, furniture, and wall decorations much like political bills. Following this, we joined Ms. Taylor at her Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) Meeting. On the agenda were supplementary estimates vote on Parliamentary Protect Service, order in council appointments of the chair and federal members of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate appointments, and other committee business. Throughout the meeting, I witnessed the dynamic group of committee members, consisting of various demographics of MPs, staffers, and witnesses, debate and find common grounds across the party lines. In particular, it was empowering to see Ms. Taylor and her female colleagues working diligently to over come the barriers of patriarchal politics often imposed on females. Although my time spent with Ms. Taylor and her team was short, the experience was unforgettably memorable, inspiring and continue to have long-lasting implications on my personal, professional, and academic life. Her team graciously hosted me and organized various integrative activities to further my shadowing experience. From this experience, I have gained valuable insight into the political procedures and processes at Parliament Hill and the various roles each member plays, whether its form the opposition party or general staff. I recognized that as a young female Canadian citizen, I have the desire and responsibility to contribute to creating parity, especially in regards to gender, across all disciplines and lines of work. Upon my departure, her fair-well hug proved that female unity and politics are intermingled. With female leaders like Ms. Taylor and her Parliament colleagues, they have provided immense support and leadership for the next generation of women to continue achieving parity. Name:Caitlin Morishita-MikiProgram: Canadian StudiesYear: 3rdMy Twitter info: @CaitlinMMikiMy host parliamentarian: Christine MooreMy Host’s Twitter: @MooreNpdFor this year’s Women in House Program, I had the absolute pleasure of shadowing MP Christine Moore of Alibiti-Témiscamingue. When I initially applied to the Women in House Program I had no idea what an incredible experience it would be. I had reservations as to how much knowledge about policymaking could be acquired in a single day. I was pleasantly surprised with this unforgettable experience. Through shadowing MP Moore I was offered the opportunity to better understand the challenges that women in government face, especially new mothers. It was inspiring to be able to watch as she championed this cause. MP Moore is also a trained military nurse and a veteran, her perseverance and dedication to the betterment of her community as well as the betterment of parliament is something I will never forget. MP Moore demonstrates that gender equality may be on its way, but there is still much work that needs to be done. MP Moore and her staff welcomed me with open arms, throughout the day she continued to emphasize the importance of feminism and strong women in parliament.In addition to my time spent with MP Moore I also had the opportunity to meet many amazing parliamentarians who are working towards gender equality. This program offered me the opportunity to interact with members of the 3 major political parties in Canada and to challenge my pre-conceived notions. We were also graced with the opportunity to hear our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau passionately advocate for gender equality. The Women in House Program was truly an enlightening experience, one that has and will continue to inspire me in my future endeavours. Name: Nicole ParoyanProgram: Canadian Studies SpecialistYear: 3rdName of Parliamentary Host: Brigitte Sansoucy, M.P. Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot10287002095500Despite the strides we’ve made in Canada this past election, electing a record number of female MPs and obtaining gender parity in the cabinet, we are far from equality in the House of Commons. This past election, we elected a record number of female MPs: 88. But, at only 26% of representation in the House, we have a long way to go. During my time in Ottawa, I had the pleasure of shadowing MP Brigitte Sansoucy. Though she may be newly elected, her experience in municipal politics was clearly a strong asset on the job. Furthermore, shadowing a native of rural Québec, I was able to better understand the importance of including Québec interests when making policy decisions. On multiple occasions, while meeting lobbyists, MP Sansoucy considered how each program could benefit her constituents. Attending Question Period was an eye opening experience that reinforced the importance of women in politics. Overwhelmingly, male MPs interrupted and heckled their colleagues. Not only was this extremely unprofessional, it showed a total lack of respect for their colleagues and their ideas. At one point, the Speaker deftly pointed out, “I would have hoped that of all day, especially International Women’s Day, the men in the House could have shown more respect.”Thankfully, I met also had the pleasure of meeting MP Kennedy Stewart who is championing a Bill to bring gender parity to the House of Commons: . It was great meeting a male politician so dedicated to advocating for women in politics!It was an unforgettable experiencing watching MP Sansoucy prep for Question Period and took the time to memorize her question; showing a level of respect, I thought admirable. Her experience on the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying provided me with a lot of incite into a complex topic that I will be able to bring back to the classroom. From watching Cindy Blackstock champion the rights of Indigenous children, to meeting countless intelligent women in Parliament, the Women in House Program exposed me to incredible women that I consider role models. These women inspire me to never let my gender hold me back in my career or even in a room full of men shouting on International Woman’s Day."We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored." —Sheryl Sandberg ................
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