Voices of Mexico /April • June, 1994 25 Women and electoral politics: the Canadian federal elections of 1993 Verónica Vázquez García *

he Canadian federal female Members of Parliament play reelection after vine years of failed elections of October 25, 1993 in the future government? Does attempts to reduce the deficit and were distinguished by an women's presence in election reconcile Quebec nationalism with unprecedented presence of campaigns and in Parliament federalism, and two years of recession Twomen in the electoral process. The facilitate the discussion of women's and high unemployment. As at other results, however, were uneven. While issues and the achievement of gender moments in Canadian history, a woman two parties that were led by women equality in Canadian society at large? was given leadership of a major party for the first time in Canadian history The purpose of this article is to when its possibilities for winning were suffered a crushing, historic defeat on answer some of these questions. I will minimal and a new image was required. election day, 1 the number of female focus on the dramatic defeat of one of candidates elected to Parliament was the two parties led by women, the Kim Campbell's election campaign higher than ever before. 2 PCP, and argue that Campbell was The election of Kim Campbell as the This situation raises a number of obliged to run her campaign under leader of the PCP in June of 1993 questions regarding women's role in very difficult circumstances, despite made her the first woman prime electoral politics: how did other party the image-building crusade she minister in Canadian history. But the leaders, the media and the electorate undertook during the summer of 1993. task facing her was not easy. Brian respond to the fact that two major The real story behind the defeat of Mulroney's administration had hit parties were led by women? What the PCP under Campbell's leadership is historic lows in opinion polis for role will a relatively large number of that the party had little chance of several years, and he was personally disliked by many Canadians. Campbell thus started a crusade to 1 These parties are the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Kim Campbell, and the New Democratic Party, led by Audrey McLaughlin. The number of parliamentary seats they hold fell make the public forget Mulroney's from 169 in 1988 to 2 in 1993 and from 43 in 1988 to 9 in 1993, respectively. nine-year administration. She spent the 2 The number of female candidates in federal elections has grown consistently since 1980. In that summer traveling across the country to year women accounted for 5 per cent of the total number of candidates running for the Progressive Conservative Party, 8.2 per cent for the Liberal Party and 11 per cent for the New meet voters informally and spread the Democratic Party. In 1984 the percentage rose to 8.2 per cent for the PCP, 16 per cent for the LP message that the Conservative Party and 22.7 per cent for the NDP, while in 1988 it further increased to 12.5 per cent for the PCP, would be different under her leadership 17.3 per cent for the LP and 28.5 per cent for the NDP (Young, 1991:82). The number of female from what it had been under Mulroney. candidates increased once again in the 1993 elections: 23 per cent or 67 women running for the "Her attempts at differentiating PCP; 22 per cent or 64 women running for the LP; 38 per cent or 113 women running for the NDP; 11 per cent or 23 running for the Reform Party; 13 per cent or 10 women running for the herself reaped success as polls Bloc Québécois (La Presse, October 1, 1993). Accordingly, the number of women who were showed her popularity, and that of elected to Parliament in 1993 was higher than ever before: 54 of the female candidates will be her party, rising. By Labour Day going to the House of Commons, 16 more than in 1988. This number represents slightly less than [September 6], she was the two-to- 20 per cent of the 295 seats, and comes close to the "30 per cent critical mass" —that is, the point one favorite for Prime Minister." The at which feminists believe "the number of women starts to significantly influence the operation of Parliament and raise issues of special interest to women high in the political agenda. The theory policies were a little shopworn, "but is based on European parliaments that have had a high proportion of women as members" the Conservatives had a new image (Makin: October 27, 1993). —that of a smart, energetic woman * Researcher at the CISAN, UNAM. with quiet managerial skills— that 26 Voices of Mexico /April • June, 1994

they thought would sell" (Campbell Campbell headed straight into an been perplexing for some people and Sallot: October 26, 1993). election with her personality as the who are already committed to vote Campbell called for a federal party's major card, confident that it for you, coming out and waving election in early September. Despite was sufficient to put her into office. their signs.... I've been going into her summer crusade and a 36 per cent As Mendelssohn suggests, these factories, and into schools and into support rating in opinion polis,' she elections were distinguished by the town hall meetings in unstructured, started the campaign under difficult contenders' reliance on leadership uncontrolled situations to try and circumstances. Brian Mulroney had qualities rather than on values and show that... I believe this is a taken over the party in 1983 alter a competing visions of Canada. None of country that can survive and thrive. divisive leadership battle with Joe Clark, the issues raised —whether taxes, the I see the strength of ordinary yet had a year to heal the wounds before deficit, or job creation— was as much people who really understand heading into an election. In contrast, of a key factor as the 1988 free-trade what changes need to be made Campbell had little time to unify the debate (Mendelssohn, quoted by (Campbell quoted by Susan party (Sallot: October 1, 1993). Murray Campbell: October 7, 1993). Delacourt: September 28, 1993). She had become the leader of the Campbell in particular Campbell also attempted to be PCP in opposition to Mulroney, who emphasized image-building rather seen as aboye the fray of old-style threw his support to Jean Charest. On than debates over policies or social confrontations between candidates. taking office, Campbell refused to programs. As Frank Davey pointed By September 23, she had made no reach out to Charest, and Mulroney out during the campaign, "In Kim comments on the Liberals' economic was forced to mediate. Campbell also Campbell's case, the dividing line program and leader, Jean Chrétien, tumed to advisers in whom Mulroney between substantive issues and image apart from a few dismissive remarks had titile confidence (Thorsell: projection is much less clear than it about "pork-barrel politics" and October 27, 1993). often is for a politician. She and her "wheel-barrows of money." She never As a relative newcomer to the many images have themselves become spoke of the other parties except when party, Campbell was unable to campaign issues" (Frank Davey: asked by journalists. By late coordinate her election campaign September 16, 1993). September PCP strategists were adequately. She was unknown to some Campbell made the "politics of urging her to do so. The issues were of the key people who surrounded her; inclusion" or "new politics" an NAFTA, the goods and services tax even some members of her own integral part of this image-building and the Liberals' economic program. campaign team hardly knew her. A and the leitmot i f of her campaign. Part She argued that "any gains from those Tory veteran who saw her up close of these new politics was her policies would be more than offset by said Campbell was "uncomfortable preference to meet with groups of increases in inflation and the deficit" with some of the strategy that the voters and small crowds to answer (Ross Howard: September 23, 1993). campaign organization" had laid out questions rather than delivering Campbell's new politics also for her, and that she lacked rousing stump speeches or handing meant avoiding promises —or giving "Mulroney's instinctive understanding out daily policy statements. According too many details that could be of why the advisers are proposing to her, this style was both a lesson interpreted as promises. Trust and certain things to her." By the middle from the referendum campaign and a directness were major themes in the of the campaign, there were rumors of product of British Columbia (B.C.) early part of her campaign. But as conflicts between the staff on the road politics, where "people are more Chrétien's strategists —as well as and party headquarters (Sallot: frank. Saying what you think is not an members of the Reform Party- October 1, 1993). unusual thing." In an interview with believe, by relying on trust rather than CKNW radio, she explained: details Campbell seriously weakened 3 See Hugh Winsor, "Polis shows PCs, Far from being arrogant, it seems her chances of winning (Ross Liberals neck and neck. Campbell popularity key to rise in Tory support, Globe survey to me that my whole approach to Howard: September 21, 1993). finds," in The Globe and Mail, September public life, going back to being a She wanted people to believe that 16, 1993. The same survey showed that school trustee and even now, the she would eliminate the deficit, "even substantial numbers of people who campaign that I'm conducting now although she did not provide details as plan to vote for other parties say she [Kim as prime minister, is to go out and to how this could be accomplished. She Campbell] would make the best Prime Minister. Among those are one-third of the talk to people and listen to them.... declared that job creation and economic Bloc Québécois supporters in Quebec, l'ye been taking my campaign to recovery were unlikely to happen besides 16 per cent of Reform supporters what 1 call "the locations of the before the end of the century, given and 16 per cent of Liberal supporters." new Canadian reality" and it's that 12 per cent of Canadians were V oices of Mexico /April • June, 1994 27

officially out of work. Her failure to who had argued that the deficit could Still, it is hard to affirm that give details on deficit reduction and job be eliminated in three years and Campbell was a victim of male- creation at a time of high unemployment offered a plan to do so. dominated parties. First, she believed and a huge federal deficit indicated There are several lessons to be that she could win on her own, that, despite her emphasis on new learned from Campbell's experience. without the support of some her own politics, she was not in touch with the Although —according to Shari party's members. Otherwise she reality many Canadians were living. Graydon, president of Media Watch would not have made critical For her, the important question was (quoted by Murray Campbell: October comments about Mulroney, "how we practice politics"; talking 12, 1993)— Campbell was in the main Mazankowski and Charest in an about how many jobs she would create judged by the same standards as Jean interview with Montreal's La Presse was "old politics" (Kim Campbell, Chrétien, Preston Manning and Lucien --comments that resulted in party quoted by Murray Campbell and Jeff Bouchard, and male party leaders put tensions breaking into the open (The Sallot: October 26, 1993). acide whatever discomfort they Globe and Mail, October 18, 1993). Campbell realized too late that her professed to feel about fighting female Second, she alienated female voters personality and "new politics" were not party leaders, the fact that she had to by avoiding discussions of women's enough to win. By late September, the rely heavily on image-building is issues regarding social programs such as Liberals were already five to seven indicative of gender discrimination in day care (which the Liberals did points ahead in the polis. At that point Canadian politics. discuss), and by failing to respond to the Campbell dropped all references to As former Manitoba Liberal leader attacks on feminism made by members "trust" with regard to her ability to Sharon Carstairs told Campbell of the Reforrn Party. As Judy Rebick, overcome the deficit, and began not "woman to woman" well before ex-president of the National Action only discussing social and economic Mulroney's resignation, Campbell Committee on the Status of Women, issues but attacking the Liberal "would win the Tory leadership, lose wrote in a letter to The Globe and Mail, program for economic recovery as well. the general election and then have the Campbell had a chance to attract female But the change in strategy only party turn against her because she could voters with her politics of inclusion: underlined the fact that Campbell not do the impossible" (quoted by "when she was behaving differently could not separate herself from Murray Campbell: October 12, 1993). over the summer and when she was Mulroney' s legacy. She continued to It is not a new feature in Canadian talking about being a woman Prime emphasize deficit reduction and politics for women to be placed at the Minister and being a role model and proved unable to link the issue of the head of parties that find themselves in bringing more women into politics, that deficit to job creation, social programs bad shape and with little chances of is when her popularity soared.... If only and economic recovery. 4 Voters winning. Historically, parties have she had done what she had promised" turned to Jean Chrétien, who —while turned to women for leadership when (The Globe and Mail, October 12, 1993). portraying himself as fiscally they are in trouble or in the "last Third and most importantly, prudent— did not make deficit stages of power." Among such cases Campbell did believe that politics was a reduction the central issue of his are the B.C. Social Credit Party, which friendly space for women. Despite her campaign; instead he emphasized the turned to Rita Johnson in 1991, and many remarks on the "loneliness" she importance of job creation. Those the federal NDP, which chose Audrey felt in a male-dominated environment, frustrated with the Conservatives' McLaughlin in 1989 "because it Campbell was caught between the new inability to reduce the deficit, in spite needed a breakthrough to become image she was supposed to portray of high taxation and cutbacks in social really competitive." through a new politics of honesty, trust programs, went for Preston Manning, Kim Campbell was also elected in and consensus-building on the one June 1993 to "erase the legacy of the hand, and the arrogance and lack of See Geoffrey York and Susan Delacourt, Mulroney guys-in-suits era" of the popularity of the party she represented "Liberals outstrip Tories in polis," The federal PCP. According to Bashevkin, on the other. Campbell is a liberal Globe and Mail, September 27, 1993. The feminist who believed she could authors believe that Campbell's focus on "the conditions under which women deficit reduction hurí her campaign, at a time are seen to have potential for leadership achieve anything she wanted to, 5 in a when 71 per cent of Canadians thought that are when the party is on the skids world made by men, for men. job creation was more important than deficit enormously, when the competitive reduction. Also, 71 per cent of Canadians status is vastly diminished or when the During her campaign, Campbell loved to tell did not believe that Campbell could fulfill party was never in a competitive the story of a little girl who shook her hand her pledge to eliminate the deficit in five as her mother said: "Now you can be years, and two-thirds were convinced that position" (Bashevkin quoted by anything you want." she would continue Mulroney's policies. Murray Campbell: October 12, 1993). 28 V OiCeS of MeXiCO /April • June, 1994

Referentes Delacourt, Susan and Geoffrey York, Rebick, Judy, Letter to the Editor. The "Liberals outstrip Tories in Globe and Mail, October 12, 1993. Campbell, Murray, "Why news polis." The Globe and Mail, Sallot, Jeff, "Campbell loop may not gatherers `framed' Campbell." The September 27, 1993. be there." The Globe and Mail, Globe and Mail, October 7, 1993. Davey, Frank, "Kim Campbell and the October 1, 1993. Campbell, Murray, "Women endless summer." The Globe and Thorsell, William, "How Mulroney's undaunted by political plight." Mail, September 16, 1993. strategy failed." The Globe and The Globe and Mail, October Howard, Ross, "PM guided by deficit Mail, October 27, 1993. 12, 1993. reduction light." The Globe and Winsor, Hugh, "Polis shows PCs, Campbell, Murray and Jeff Sallot, Mail, September 21, 1993. Liberals neck and neck. Campbell "A Liberal Majority. Conservatives, Howard, Ross, "Get tough, Campbell popularity key to rise in Tory NDP are devastated; Bloc takes urged." The Globe and Mail, support, Globe survey shows." The Quebec." The Globe and Mail, September 23, 1993. Globe and Mail, September 16, 1993. October 26, 1993. "Le syndrome de la préférance aux Young, Lisa, "Legislative tum over "Conservative methods did not males." La Presse, October and the election of women to the work." The Globe and Mail, 1, 1993. Canadian House of Commons," in October 18, 1993. Makin, Kirk, "Voters send 54 Women in Canadian Politics. Delacourt, Susan, "B.C. vents anger at women to shake up old boys' Towards Equity in Representation. Campbell on the air." The Globe club." The Globe and Mail, K. Megyery (ed.), Toronto, and Mail, September 28, 1993. October 27, 1993. Dundurn Press, 1991 h

SK1>X1X1X1X1X1)31:1>X1X1>X1X1>X1)11 WEDR1 siglo s veintiuno Novedades NUEVA ÉPOCA editores La creación literaria NOVIEMBRE-DICIEMBRE. 1993 LA PALABRAS ANDANTES Eduardo Galeano DESDE EL MIRADOR DE CUADERNOS RADIOGRAFÍA DE LA PAMPA SESENTA ANOS Este libro esta tejido con historias-leyendas sobre los AMERICANOS DESPUÉS espantos y encantos de la imaginación —provenientes de g diferentes paises latinoamericanos—, y breves ventanas Jet Abasto.. Naturalezas muertas Roberto Fernández Retamar. Desde el %un de Ezequall Jorge Carpir. MeG regar. Amé n ca Latina y sus probkmas que provienen de 'la vigilia de la realidad'. En esta obra Maniaco Estrada g Andrzej Dem Mes. Estudios latinoamericanos en Polonia . Peter G. Earle. Las soledades de Martino. Estrada no sólo habitan las palabras de Galeano sino los Retos y proyecciones N idia Burgos. Un documento inédito de Martille. Estrada fantasmas, diablos, animales fabulosos y figuras grabadas Corlo. M. Tur Dona«. Crisis social, xenofobia y Liliana Weinherg. Ezequiel Martínez Estrada y el uni verso en madera realizadas por el artista José Francisco Borges, nacionalismo en Argentina, 1919 de la paradoja Savia Dattrénh Blcloso. Visiones de la crisis nacional que maestro brasileño del antiguo arte del 'cordel', folletín g Influyeron en el programa del movimiento obrero-popular DOCUMENTOS. EL DESCUBRIMIENTO PUESTO popular que se difunde, todavía, en los pueblos y uruguayo (1938-1965 1. EN DÉCIMAS mercados de su tierra. André. Or deka. El fin de una hurona La comunicación intercultural y el nuevo orden internacional en formación Judith Orozco y Fernando Nava. El Sisfentude Crisióhol La creación literaria ('indo VIller. Latinoamérica integración y utopia Colón y la Riogrofiu dr Colón. una muestra de poezla pupoular rnexicana. Sistema de Cristóbal Colón Biografla EL POLVO Y EL ORO de Colón Julio TRAVIESO Esta novela sitúa a su autor en la vanguardia de la literatura latinoamericana. Es la historia de la degradación y la riqueza, la fantasía y la verdad, una CUADERNOS AMERICANOS meditación gozosa Revista dedicada a la diseusiOn de temas de y sobre América latina de la historia cubana donde pueden SolicItud de suscrinción/Subscrtprion order advertirse múltiples aristas de la realidad actual; hecha con desenfado y LI Adjunto cheque o giro llamarlo núniAnclosed check ce money urde, IP. riguroso oficio, con 'sabio decir" como Por la cantidad dc/Amount: diría el académico. Además con profundo conocimiento A nombre de Cuadernos Americano, Impone de ml/malle outcan Cuadernos Americanos for my del tema, aparece la santería afro-cubana y su efecto en O Suscripción/Subscription ❑ Renovación/Renewal

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