Though he doesn’t want to be recognized as a “feminist,” Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) management hopeful Bernard Drainville insists he’s a “sturdy supporter of gender equality.” He’s betting that his proposals on dwelling possession and in vitro fertilization will appeal to girls to the CAQ.
Drainville has additionally dedicated to reaching gender parity when it comes to candidates within the subsequent election in October 2026 if he’s elected chief of his celebration.
“However not simply parity. I’ve made a dedication that we are going to even have candidates beneath the age of 30. So it may very well be younger males, however it is also younger girls,” he defined in an interview with La Presse Canadienne.
We all know that ladies could be extra reluctant to enter politics. How does the aspiring chief plan to persuade them to hitch the CAQ? He believes that the proposals he put ahead through the race will assist.
Drainville cites as examples his willingness to assist first-time consumers of recent houses and to fund as much as three cycles of in vitro fertilization.
“These are the sorts of proposals that would appeal to younger girls as a result of they may allow {couples}, first-time consumers, to buy a property (…) and will allow younger {couples} to satisfy their dream of turning into mother and father,” he defined.
With its ballot numbers taking a success, the CAQ can have its work minimize out for it to win again Quebec voters. The most recent Léger ballot launched this week exhibits that the celebration solely has 11 per cent help amongst girls.
There have been seven femicides in Quebec for the reason that starting of 2026. Like his opponent within the race, Christine Fréchette, Drainville says he helps the “Clare Regulation” invoice, which can permit girls to search out out about their accomplice’s historical past of home violence.
Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière has dedicated to implementing this measure.
“The CAQ authorities has made progress, notably with the implementation of anti-approach bracelets. So we should additionally promote this kind of measure that may shield girls towards sexual and home violence, and this is also an argument to place ahead to a possible candidate,” stated Drainville.
In response to the rise of masculinist discourse amongst younger individuals, Drainville factors out that with Invoice 94, he had “the duty to behave in a fashion that respects equality between women and men” written into the coed code of conduct.
“It issues me tremendously,” he provides.
However the aspiring CAQ chief refuses to name himself a feminist. “I don’t wish to be a prisoner of any definition,” he argues.
“I’ve been uncovered to the battle for equality in many alternative methods, and so I’m a fervent supporter of this battle for equality between women and men,” provides Drainville.
He additionally claims to have fought for this equality, “significantly within the space of secularism.”
Is the Nationwide Meeting a sexist atmosphere, as some observers have claimed? Drainville solutions this query within the damaging however acknowledges that there might have been “shortcomings” previously.
“I’ve not witnessed sexist or misogynistic habits on the a part of my colleagues, no matter celebration affiliation. And I feel that if there had been, it could have been shortly denounced. I feel that any man who confirmed disrespect towards a feminine member of the Nationwide Meeting would have been shortly put in his place by the opposite males, if not by the opposite girls,” he stated.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews