A culture of sexual harassment in Parliament faces a reckoning
The prominence and widespread nature of the #MeToo movement has empowered women and men from all over the world to speak out against sexual misconduct and harassment both in and out of the workplace, and Parliament Hill is no exception. Since the hashtag #MeToo became a global phenomenon in October 2017 after the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal, dozens of people have come forward decrying the rampant sexual harassment on Parliament Hill. Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, even told Global News that Parliament is in a “crisis” of sexual harassment.
Parliament has long been tinged with a reputation as a place where sexual harassment is normalized. Federal politics, like many other workplaces, are dominated by men, and women have traditionally been few in number and limited in power. According to an anonymous survey from February 2018 by the Canadian Press, many staffers on Parliament Hill have received unwanted sexual attention. Sent to over 1500 staffers in Parliament last year, 24 per cent of respondents to this survey said they had personally experienced sexual harassment in their Parliamentary workplace, and almost eight per cent said they had experienced sexual assault. However, according to The Star, most of the staffers who experienced sexual misconduct on the Hill did not report it to the authorities, some citing their inaction to be a result of a fear of repercussions at work.
Sexual harassment is not the only form of sexism seen on the Hill. While I was reaching out to colleagues on the Hill for anecdotes, another female intern, who prefers to remain unnamed, explained that she has experienced a great deal of patronization during her time working in Parliament. She said she has even been met with surprise from her male superiors when she produces decent work. Unfortunately, this type of behaviour is not unique to politics.
It is not as if sexism in Parliament has been kept quiet. MPs and staffers from across the political spectrum have been accused of sexual misconduct in a highly public manner. To name a few: Kent Hehr, Scott Andrews, and Massimo Pacetti from the Liberals, Patrick Brown and Rick Dykstra from the Conservatives, and Peter Stoffer and Erin Weir from the NDP.
Of course, sexual harassment is not reserved for staffers. According to Macleans, several MPs and cabinet ministers have also indicated that they have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. For example, Catherine McKenna, MP for Ottawa Centre and Minister of the Environment, has been routinely called a “climate Barbie” on Twitter by politicians and civilians alike. When Conservative MP Gerry Ritz used the nickname on Twitter, McKenna quickly retorted with “Do you use that sexist language about your daughter, mother, sister? We need more women in politics. Your sexist comments won’t stop us.” She had ignored the name until then. She later explained her retort in an interview with Macleans: “Having your voice and exercising it, it’s giving the ability to other folks who may not be in a position of power to feel like they can do it.”
There are several reasons why victims of sexual harassment may not report it, including shame and fear of losing status in the workplace. These factors are further exaggerated by the already tribal nature of the partisan culture on the Hill, as accusations of sexual misconduct can be seen as disloyalty. Other factors are limited job security and a work culture that routinely blurs the lines between personal and professional. To boot, there have historically been few consequences for inappropriate behaviour in Parliament, Katie Telford, the chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, told The Star in an interview.
With these factors, it may take longer for Parliament to come to terms with the #MeToo movement than other workplaces, as a larger cultural shift may be required before these societal changes waft up into the rafters of federal politics. But there are signs that these changes are already occurring, as Minister Hajdu introduced Bill C-65, the “anti-harassment bill” in November 2017 in an attempt to address these concerns. Among other things, this bill will strengthen the existing framework in place to prevent sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. The bill received royal assent in October 2018, but much of it has yet to come into force.
Writer’s note and disclaimer: My name is Ella; I’m a U of G alumna, and I intern for Elizabeth May — MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands and the leader of the Green Party of Canada (GPC). As Ms. May’s intern, I attend parliamentary committees, correspond with constituents, attend legislative affairs, and work closely with her legislative assistants. The catch is, I have no prior experience with or knowledge of politics. This column details my experiences learning about the political culture and proceedings on Parliament Hill. My views are my own, and do not represent those of the GPC or of The Honourable Elizabeth May, MP.