At the top of the very long list of demographics with great and varied reasons for not voting Conservative in this election is women. We are but one segment of the country to whom Stephen Harper has showed in equal parts disdain and indifference, and it is time to say enough. Over his tenure he has not enacted pay equity legislation, he has the lowest percentage of female candidates in this election of all four major parties, he has outright refused to call an inquiry into the missing and murdered Aboriginal women, and he does not support the right of women to make their own reproductive choices, despite it being the law. However, the latest offensive slap in the face has to be his refusal to participate in a debate surrounding women’s issues. Granted there is no policy for him to discuss because the Conservatives have nothing of substance in their platform for women, but refusal to acknowledge and discuss the unique challenges facing half of the population of the country he wishes to continue governing is inexcusable. There is not one woman in the riding of Perth-Wellington or in the country at large who should support a party who has continually demonstrated women are not worth representing.
Andrea Tangney