Conventions of Convenience

I am not impressed. There is now one less woman at the Cabinet table. Yes, we have an extra Secretary of State- but come on, even the title is sexist.

Notionally, I have always been a fan of the "meritocracy" but I think that there is a cart/horse issue here: women are significantly disadvantaged within the political process - there are few people who will challenge this assertion. Maybe raising their profile with an appointment here or there would help rectify that problem?

There is a well-established convention that a Prime Minister can draw from outside of the elected pool of MPs to strengthen Cabinet. This happens when the pool is shallow, and let me assure you, it is indeed. The PM will only do it, apparently, to ensure that his Quebec campaign manager can also be a Cabinet Minister. He didn't appoint anyone from PEI or the North either. It is hypocrisy, and it sucks. Well established conventions are only acceptable when it is convenient for my own personal goals, which do not include, apparently, striving for gender parity.

There must be literally hundreds, if not thousands, of qualified female conservatives who the PM could elevate into his Cabinet and have them seek election the next time around. This would demonstrate to NACSOW that a) he understands the problem and b) thinks that female representation at the Cabinet table is a good idea. To date, he has done neither. If you really want to know how sexist he is, look at the Cabinet Committee structure.

Until then, he will continue to be criticized for it. Not that he seems to care.