Roundup: Oh noes! Girls in STEM!

Posted on by

Yesterday’s online sniping between MPs had to do with a profile of Conservative MP Rachael Harder in the Globe and Mail. In it, Harder (again) bemoaned that she feels the Liberals are trying to push their own version of feminism and added in some garden-variety whinging that the government apparently has it in for Christians (despite the fact that the PM himself has said that he’s a practicing Catholic). But Harder’s “proof” of how the government is pushing their own version of feminism is – wait for it – the fact that they’re spending money to encourage more girls to get interested in STEM careers. Wow. Such ideology!

I will add that part of the Twitter sniping had to do with the fact that the Liberals blocked the attempt to have Harder installed as chair of the Status of Women committee, and once again, nobody has bothered to point out the fact that as critic, it would not only have been inappropriate for her to be Chair, but it would have made zero sense given that committee chairs are supposed to act in a neutral capacity and not vote unless it’s to break a (rare) tie – something that is antithetical to the role of critic that Harder held. And the fact that Andrew Scheer tried to manoeuvre her into the position was a cynical ploy to make the Liberals look like intolerant bigots (and they took the bait), but nobody dares to call that fact out. Instead, we get Harder and her supporters whinging about how mean the Liberals are to her, while Harder herself seems mystified that a party that prides itself on defending the Charter rights of Canadians would have a problem with an adherent to an ideology that would deny LGBT people full equality and which tells women that they shouldn’t have control over their bodies when it comes to reproduction. You can disagree with it, but don’t act like it’s a surprise that they draw a line there.

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1014212083012063232

https://twitter.com/StephanieCarvin/status/1014321593047224321

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau announced that he’ll meet with Canadian troops in Latvia in advance of next week’s NATO summit, along with ministers Sajjan and Freeland.
  • Now that Mexico’s presidential election is over, Canada is looking to resume NAFTA talks, but no one is sure if Trump is in the mood until the midterms.
  • The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion filed its six-month construction plans with the National Energy Board, giving us a timeline of where things are at.
  • The military is looking into reports of buried Agent Orange at CFB Gagetown.
  • The government disputes the charge from an outgoing lawyer that they have politically interfered in the MMIW Inquiry.
  • The talks to transfer ownership of the Churchill rail line have collapsed.
  • NDP MP Niki Ashton is launching an online “campaign school” to help mentor women looking to enter into politics.
  • Doug Ford officially began the process of winding down their cap-and-trade system. Catherine McKenna may revoke $420 million in green transfers as a result.
  • David Reevely tries to get straight answers into how that winding-down will happen but isn’t getting any.
  • Kady O’Malley’s Process Nerd column looks at just what past prime minsters can do without disclosing their activities.
  • Susan Delacourt wonders whatever became of Trudeau’s friendship with Ivanka Trump, and the “moderating influence” she was supposed to have on her father.
  • My column asks if it’s possible to still debate ideas in politics when everyone is busy performing outrage for their respective bases.

Odds and ends:

In case you’re feeling particularly unproductive, here’s a look at how the Queen has been increasing her workload this year, at age 92.

Help Routine Proceedings expand. Support my Patreon.