A feminist committee from Québec solidaire denounces the muzzling of women

Photo: Spencer Colby The Canadian Press The head of the National Commission for Women writes that the resignation of Émilise Lessard-Therrien “highlights a deep crisis within Québec solidaire.”

Thomas Laberge – The Canadian Press

Posted at 12:23 p.m.

• Quebec

In the wake of the resignation of Émilise Lessard-Therrien from her position as co-spokesperson, the National Commission for Women of Québec Solidaire (QS) denounces the muzzling of women and “the growing influence of people not democratically elected” within the party.

The commission says it has sounded the “alarm bells on numerous occasions”. “The testimonies of disappointed ex-candidates, demobilized members, women from several constituencies, associations or bodies, as well as recurring tensions on parity issues are accumulating and constitute a worrying whole which highlights a crucial issue to which it is imperative to tackle,” we read in a message posted on Facebook on Tuesday.

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We also express concern that “male voices increasingly dominate within the bodies, staff and elected officials of Québec solidaire”.

“Fundamental principles of the party, such as parity, are called into question or labeled “radical” with the risk of silencing many women,” adds- we.

“An observation is clear: it is imperative to let women speak and to stop muzzling their ideas or their interventions to correspond to a certain image”, can – we read in the message.

The head of the National Commission for Women, Royse Henderson, writes that the resignation of Émilise Lessard-Therrien “highlights a deep crisis within Québec solidaire, a crisis which calls into question the place of women and the voice of activists in the party.”

We also express concern about “the growing influence of non-democratically elected people, who make crucial decisions on the party's communication and media direction without being held accountable to the members”.