Elizabeth Weir, a former NDP leader in New Brunswick, says with Susan Holt's election win, 'It's a time to celebrate.' (CBC)
For Elizabeth Weir, Monday's election is one to remember.
"My
reaction and my emotion was simply a combination of joy and relief:
quite clearly joy to see that historic moment of a woman being elected
as our premier and honestly relief that the previous government was
gone," Weir said, in an interview with CBC Radio's Shift.
Weir served as New Brunswick's NDP leader from 1988 to 2005 and was the party's only MLA from 1992 until 2005.
Premier-designate Susan Holt is one of a record 17 women to win seats in this election, something Weir said matters.
"Well,
it matters because the issues that shape women's lives, the policies of
our legislature, the legislation that they adopt can so deeply affect
women's lives," she said of Holt's win.
Susan Holt has made history as the first woman to be elected premier of New Brunswick. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)
During
her time in the legislature, Weir was known for her quick wit in the
daily question period and her skill during contentious debates.
She
left elected politics when former premier Bernard Lord appointed her as
the first president and chief executive officer of Efficiency New
Brunswick.
Weir has spent time travelling around the world training others in democratic governance and oversight, working with parliamentarians, political party activists and social leaders.
She
has worked with the United Nations and with the National Democratic
Institute, an international non-governmental organization based out of
Washington that works in 55 countries.
Here at home,
she has advocated for more representation of women in politics through
the Women for 50% organization, where she is one of the founders.
Weir called out the outgoing Higgs government over its handling of issues such as Policy 713 and abortion access.
"So women need to be decision-makers to make those changes, so it matters big time."
Weir
said she feels fortunate to have had the example of the women who came
before her, such as Brenda Robertson, who was the first woman elected to
the New Brunswick legislature, in 1967, and later was the first woman
to hold a cabinet position.
Brenda Robertson, who died in 2020, was the first woman elected to the New Brunswick legislature. (Submitted by the Robertson family )
She
also pointed to Alexa McDonough, the first woman to lead a major party
in Nova Scotia, becoming leader of the province's NDP in 1980, and later
going on to lead the federal party.
"There was no women's bathroom in the Nova Scotia legislature for MLAs to use. If you can ... imagine that," Weir said.
"So
I really benefited. They would provide me advice, support. We were in
different parties. Sometimes I would work collaboratively with them."
Weir
also said she gives credit to former premier Richard Hatfield, who
governed from 1970 to 1987, for appointing women in his caucus to
cabinet.
In 1980, the NDP's Alexa McDonough became the first woman to lead a major political party in Nova Scotia. (Mike Dembeck/The Canadian Press)
"And
so when I came, you know, there really was a very different atmosphere
than the kind of hostility that Alexa encountered in a neighbouring
province in Nova Scotia," Weir said.
"And so, I see it as I also have an obligation to help women in different ways to continue to make those changes."
Shift - NB 9:44
Women in Politics
New
Brunswick will have its first woman premier and a record number of
women have been elected to represent their ridings. It's something
Elizabeth Weir has been advocating for through Women for 50 percent.
There's no silver bullet to achieving gender equality, Weir said, but there have been gains.
"I
just kept thinking of all those little girls around the province
watching Susan give her speech on election night and what a profound
change and impact that can have," Weir said.
"It's a time to celebrate. You know, we don't have good news in politics all the time and this is certainly it."
Sam
Farley is a Fredericton-based reporter at CBC New Brunswick. Originally
from Boston, he is a journalism graduate of the University of King's
College in Halifax. He can be reached at sam.farley@cbc.ca
Methinks much the chagrin of the NDP the trailblazer in N.B. politics burned a lot of bridges while doing so N'esy Pas?
David Amos
"She left elected politics when former premier Bernard
Lord appointed her as the first president and chief executive officer of
Efficiency New Brunswick."
Anybody remember why?
james bolt
Reply to David Amos
Because she is very capable person?
David Amos
Reply to james bolt
Try again
Denis Reagan
Reply to David Amos
You should tell us? Nessy paw?
James Wolf
Reply to David Amos
An affair?
David Amos
Reply to Denis Reagan
In 2004 the political lawyer had standing on
the Committee that oversees the legislative properties Once she knew
that the Attorney General and several others answered me in writing
about my being illegally barred the lawyer made a deal with Lord. The
proof can be found in the public record of Federal Court amongst others
David Amos
Methinks a lot members of peoplekind are
enjoying the days between mandates as some get fancy cabinet posts while
consultants are replaced and high level bureaucrats get golden
handshakes N'esy Pas?
Denis Reagan
Reply to David Amos
Wee. Sest!
Daniel Franklin
The loudest voices in the room during the election seemed to also be the smallest group.
Denis Reagan
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Echoes from a mirror can really impress a speaker.
David Amos
Reply to Denis Reagan Well put
james bolt
I strongly support the idea of equal representation in all things
Leonard Corcoran
Reply to james bolt
Oh boy ... stop the music ...
David Amos
Reply to Leonard Corcoran
Amen to that
Gordon MacFarlane
Reply to james bolt
I am far more concerned with competence than optics
Bill Hanson
Reply to james bolt
Like the casualty rates on military operations?
because those are pretty skewed
and everyone gets the same pay...for "work of equal value"
and risk
Denis Reagan
Reply to David Amos
Can either of you say something other than short swipes with a soft brush?
David Amos
Reply to Denis Reagan Wee. Sest!
Bob Somers
I really could not care less whether a politician is a
male, female, or undecided. In 2015 Trudeau appointed females in half
his cabinet because "It is 2015", whatever that means. Some proved to be
very worthy of the appointment, Dr, Jane Philpott and Jodi
Wilson-Raybout come to mind, but some were clearly only there because of
their gender (so called Finance Minister comes to mind). In the USA,
Hilary Clinton was touted as the first female President in spite of her
obvious shortcomings and now Harris.
From what I have seen, Premier designate Holt seems to
be extremely capable, but I hope she does not overlook competent people
of any sex in an effort to fill some quota.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Somers
Dream on
Daniel Franklin
New Brunswick fired Blaine Higgs. Die-hard PC
supporters are going to have to accept that eventually. Life is too
short to be that sore over a political election.
Bob Somers
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Agreed. Lets focus on getting rid of the teacher impersonating a PM in Ottawa.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Somers
I doubt he will agree with that
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Bob Somers
Yes, he's past his shelf life. It's
disappointing that he spent less than 12 hours reflecting on whether he
should stay or go. We all know Canadians are done with him.
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
Are you ever right about anything?
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
I am more than ready to support Mark Carney when he takes over.
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Now thats funny
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin
I am right about you
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
What's wrong with Mark?
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
In your mind.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Daniel Franklin
I wonder if I am in my right mind to bother dicing with a leftwingnut but you are amusing to me today
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Daniel Franklin
The fact that you flagged proves my point
Jos Allaire
Great person, Mrs Weir❗❗❗
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
Surely you jest
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
She's always been very well respected. Someone who ran in Saint John Harbour should know that.
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Clearly you have no clue as to why I do what I do
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
Too much cryptic speak for me to deciphe
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Go to court and check out the dockets from 20 years ago to find out about Dizzy Lizzy and I
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
Would need your real name.
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin I am who I say I am and you know it
Daniel Franklin
Reply to David Amos
I don't know much. At least I know that.
Jonathan Martin
Never heard of her, where do they dig these people up from? the hasbeen hotel?
MR Cain
Reply to Jonathan Martin
You have some kind of need to be what everyone has?
Jos Allaire
Reply to Jonathan Martin
Wow❗
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Jonathan Martin
If you haven't heard of Elizabeth Weir then you either aren't very old or haven't lived here very long.
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Jonathan Martin
You guys lost. At some point, you're going to
have to accept that and move on. Life keeps going. You don't want to get
left behind.
David Amos
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Everybody knows why I ran in Saint John Harbour after that lawyer got paid off
MR Cain
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Don't think he even lives here.
Daniel Franklin
Reply to MR Cain
He's likely from Alberta.
Leonard Corcoran
The damage inflicted by Susan on the populace will real and irreparable .
Another elections have consequences learning experience . Bonne chance' NB .
Jonathan Martin
Reply to Leonard Corcoran
100% accurate, she will destroy all the
momentum and progress achieved over tha last decade, NB will go back to
being the poorest, most depndent on handouts province. I guess being
dependent on handouts is an additiktion thats hard to shake.
Oscar Biasinni
Reply to Leonard Corcoran
Lot of sour grapes, Higgs lost in a fair and
democratic elections. Democracy is great and the people of New Brunswick
have spoke.
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Leonard Corcoran
You guys are terrible at predictions.
"Higgs is going to win a majority"
"Trump won the 2020 election"
"Susan Holt is going to damage the province"
Maybe hold off on more predictions until you observe how things actually work first.
e very long.
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Jonathan Martin
Not to burst your bubble but we are already the poorest, most dependent province in Canada. Thanks Higgs!
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Jonathan Martin
If by progress you mean austerity then yes, Higgs definitely brought us lots and lots of progress.
Bob Somers
Reply to Daniel Franklin
Are they the same folks who proclaimed Hilary Clinton would win by a landslide in 2016?
David Amos
Reply to Bob Somers
Yup
Daniel Franklin
Reply to Bob Somers
The same pollsters, yes. Polls are not a reliable gauge of reality.
James Wolf
Not sure why this is a big deal. Plenty of women politicians in Canada, the most promising being Danielle Smith of course.
Oscar Biasinni
Reply to James Wolf
DS is so promising, she scared away billions of
dollars in energy projects in Alberta. That's what passes as
conservatives these days consider promising leadership. These cons might
as well re-elect Trudeau.
Mandel Rooney
Reply to James Wolf
We've had 35 male premiers in a row and the 1st female one does not seem like a "big deal" to you?
Bob Somers
Reply to Mandel Rooney
Is she competent? That should be the only concern.
de in 2016?
David Amos
Reply to Bob Somers
I concur
John Charlton
The "Historic moment" is a issue that will die
out quickly if the Premier is not up to the challenge(s), the opposition
will eat her for lunch if she is unable to make the changes needed to
make voters happy.
valmond landry
Reply to John Charlton
she is still the first woman to be elected as a premier in NB and all woman should be proud including men of coarse .
Oscar Biasinni
Reply to John Charlton
What opposition, Higgs and his cronies were swept to the curb.
Gilles Vienneau
Reply to John Charlton
What opposition? Higgs' faithfuls who won't have time to be an opposition while they rebuilt from the base.
Bob Somers
Reply to John Charlton
Funny. NB has a long long history of doing
this. Falling in love with someone that promises the world and change,
letting them hang around for a couple terms, and then decimating the
party in the next election. Definition if insanity is doing the same
thing over and over and expecting a different result. People forget
that Holt was Shawn Grahams campaign manager when he was kicked to the
curb,.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Somers
Methinks we get the governments we deserve because peoplekind don't care about history in enough numbers that count N'esy Pas?
Oscar Biasinni
Reply to Bob Somers
And now New Brunswick voters kicked Higgs to the curb. Democracy is great
michael levesque
Had Elizabeth Weir as a Professor when i studied Law at UNB in 1982. She was a good communicator.
David Amos
Reply to michael levesque
Hmmm Have we crossed paths?
Eugene Peabody
We need to have more women involved in
government as the people who step forward usually are very smart,
organized and driven to accomplice goals. Ms.Weir was a prime example of
this, when she was in question period she always had good pointed
questions and when she led the Efficiency NB group she really turned it
around. Our democratic system needs more people like Ms.Weir.
David Amos
Reply to Eugene Peabody
Yea right
Louis Leblanc
A great moment in NB history. We need a law stating 50% women representation in the legislature.
Bryan Jones
Reply to Louis Leblanc
I agree we need more women but enforcing such
makeup by law is not the answer. I lived in the UK when the Labour
party brought in all women shortlists for constituency positions and
that went badly for them, the position people hold should be based on
their ability not their gender. We need to make politics in NB more
about serving all members of the province, not doing favours for a
select few who don't deserve it.
Susan Holt has made history as the first woman to be elected premier of New Brunswick. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)
Brenda Robertson, who died in 2020, was the first woman elected to the New Brunswick legislature. (Submitted by the Robertson family )
In 1980, the NDP's Alexa McDonough became the first woman to lead a major political party in Nova Scotia. (Mike Dembeck/The Canadian Press)
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