BPW Canada salutes M. Charest

“We certainly congratulate Premier Jean Charest for this bold and long over-due move,” says Joan Macklin, President of The Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of Québec and a resident of L'Ile-des-Soeurs. “Not only has he achieved gender balance in Cabinet but some of the most important portfolios – such as Finance, Environment, Transportation and Education – will be held by women.”

“So even though women went down in overall representation in the National Assembly (21%, compared to a previous 30%), women will now have more clout when decisions are being made,” says Macklin.

The Cabinet also includes the first ever woman from a visible minority, Yolande James who becomes Immigration and Cultural Communities Minister.

BPW Canada, founded in 1930 along with the International Federation of BPW Clubs, has a mandate to work to improve economic, political and social status of women, as well as employment conditions for women in the workforce.

“Getting more women involved in political life is essential to achieving our mandate,” says Macklin. “We realize, after 75 years, that just advocating for change is not enough if we are to see results. We need more women in positions of power, shaping policy, making decisions, and being the agents of change.”

BPW Canada has more than 40 clubs across the country, including clubs in Montréal, Québec, Saguenay, Roberval and Baie Comeau. Some of them have partnered in the past with organizations such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to organize workshops to educate and train women for political life.

“Getting women involved actively in politics is an important part of what BPW Canada is all about,” says Joan Macklin.

For more information, you can, contact:Joan Macklin, President, BPW Québec

Tel.: 514-769-9023 or jmacklin@videotron.ca