Opposition leader speaks at Women Parliamentarians Conference  

Opposition Leader and MHA for the District of Carwright L’Anse au Clair, Yvonne Jones, has been invited as a guest speaker at the Canadian women’s program of the 48^th Canadian Regional Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentarians in Regina, Saskatchewan next week.

The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian conference is held in conjunction with the opening of the Canadian Regional Conference taking place July 11-17.  The main function of the conference is to provide an opportunity for women parliamentarians to meet to share experiences, discuss problems and seek solutions as a minority in legislatures across the country.   Jones will make a presentation on the topic,  Breaking Down the Political Barriers for Women.

“I am delighted to have been invited to present at this important conference and to share my experience for the past 14 years as a woman politician in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Jones.   “As women parliamentarians, we all have unique experiences to share and I believe my journey and my experience from election as an Independent member in 1996 to the present day as Leader of the Liberal Party and Opposition is an interesting one.”

“My presentation will highlight a little of the historic background of women’s political engagement in the province and  some of the challenges I faced in those early years and still encounter during my time in political life as a women and as Leader.   I will also share some of the solutions I see are needed to increase the number of women in political office.”

During her 14 years in political life, the Opposition Leader has achieved many firsts for women in Newfoundland and Labrador, including first female elected as an Independent; first female Aboriginal woman to sit in the legislature; first female Minister of Fisheries; and first female Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“While I have broken a number of barriers that had not been overcome for women in this province, it has not been without its challenges. And the statistics show that women are still under-represented in politics, not only in our province, but across the country.  The issue of achieving gender equality in the political realm still needs to be acknowledged, talked about and addressed.  This forum will assist in that process and hopefully take us a step closer to women occupying more seats in our Legislatures.”

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