Tracey, Jodi and Mary Anne with Julie Dabrusin, Liberal Member of Parliament for Toronto, Danforth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
On Tuesday, October 29, Canada Powered by Women made fundamental progress in our vision to be the unignorable voice of women influencing sound energy policies when CEO Tracey Bodnarchuk and board members Jodi Kasten and Mary Anne Aldred participated in our first-ever Advocacy Day in Ottawa.
Government relations are central to CPW’s ability to influence energy policy, and we are focused on building relationships and having our research applied at the tables where policy is being evaluated, formulated and discussed.
“Being at Parliament Hill and meeting with policy makers was a true opportunity for us to represent what our audience of engaged women tell us through our research,” says Tracey.
“We’ve been working hard to share our research with the broader Canadian audience, but Advocacy Day was huge for us in terms of getting everything in front of policymakers and government officials who have a hand in shaping our country’s energy future,” adds Jodi.
Tracey and Jodi with Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative MP for Hastings — Lennox and Addington, Chair of Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Status of Women, Conservative Shadow Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth.
Representing the voices of 5.6 million Canadian women, the CPW team met with six members of the Liberal and Conservative parties: Liberal MPs Julie Dabrusin and George Chahal, Conservative MPs Matt Jeneroux and Shelby Kramp-Neuman, as well as Randy Boissonnault, minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages and Nathan Canning, senior policy advisor to Gudie Hutchings, minister of Rural Economic Development.
The driving force of the day was productive, insightful conversations, where we were able to share the priorities and concerns of engaged women and learn more about what policymakers are hearing when it comes to energy and Canadian policies.
“Because we are non-partisan and met with those representing different parties, it was also a chance for us to understand very diverse perspectives,” says Tracey. “Not only did we get to share, we also took in new ideas and had politely bold conversations, which is exactly why we exist.”
Canada Powered by Women’s unique mandate and independent research captured the attention of the individuals we met with.
Jodi and Tracey with Hon. Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Liberal Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre.
“They were very interested in the survey results and the information regarding what is top of mind for engaged women,” says Mary Anne. “I think they were struck by the fact that across the country, even taking into account regional differences, engaged women have common ground.”
When it comes to Canada Powered by Women’s mission to amplify the voices of engaged women and influence public perception, policymakers and government, Advocacy Day was a resounding success. Our team is in the process of scheduling follow up meetings and booking opportunities to reach more policymakers and government officials in the coming months.
“This is just the start of what we hope will be a series of Advocacy Days and continued conversations,” says Mary Anne. “Canada Powered by Women will continue to grow as a trusted source of balanced, fact-based information.”