The gradual disappearance of women from the ranks of Canada's premiers raises questions about society's willingness to embrace true equality, former female leaders and political pundits said Wednesday. That list now includes Alberta's Rachel Notley, the last woman standing among Canada's first ministers until incoming premier Jason Kenney takes power and the seventh female provincial leader to be turfed from office in the past six years. Melanee Thomas, a University of Calgary professor who researches the causes and consequences of gender-based political inequality, said female leaders still face a double standard regardless of their party affiliation or defining policy issue. One by one, however, those women found themselves out of office and sometimes out of politics altogether. Thomas agreed, noting that while women are increasingly represented among political candidates, they still struggle to breach the upper echelons of Canada's political class.

Source: CBC News April 18, 2019 00:56 UTC