It’s ‘an important time for women’ around the world, says Maryam Monsef
OTTAWA — Maryam Monsef, like all her Liberal cabinet colleagues, was careful to step around a direct question about U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
She might have actually had to be more nimble than most, because the question was not about his views on climate change, trade, immigration or any of the other issues likely to keep Canadian politicians and public servants awake at night.
This question was about his views on women — including his disrespectful comments and the accusations of sexual misconduct — and how that shapes how she views her new role as minister for status of women, where working to increase gender quality and decrease the gender-based violence is central to her mandate.
Still, after she began by describing the strength of the long-lasting relationship between Canada and the U.S., she decided, in a way, to let herself go there.