École Olds High School alumna Ashley Anderson had the opportunity to be a part of the Daughters of the Vote program as the delegate from Red Deer-Mountain View.
Daughters of the Vote is a program put on by Equal Voice, which aims to get more women into politics on every level and in this case federally. Delegates came to Ottawa in early April.
Anderson has obtained an undergraduate degree in political science and was happy to have this opportunity. She said the experience was in line with her expectations and described it as "incredible."
“To really be there and see it in action, attending question period and sitting in the House of Commons, just made it feel so real,” Anderson said. “It was also more accessible in a way, to bring someone from Alberta who’s never even been to Ottawa before, it was really incredible.”
Anderson got involved after seeing an ad to apply to go. She was accepted to be the representative for Red Deer-Mountain View.
The four-day trip to Ottawa was packed with workshops and panels that covered a wide variety of topics and issues including campaign strategies, leadership and oppression.
One of the more noteworthy moments from the Daughters of the Vote event was the silent protest where a select few of the delegates turned their backs on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and walked out on Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer in the House of Commons.
Anderson didn’t participate in those acts of protest but does understand and support those who did.
“I personally did not participate out of respect for Equal Voice and the leadership offices," she said. “That being said, I do support the women who walked out or turned their backs; I believe many of them had valid reasons to do so.
“I think we’re very fortunate to live in a country where we have the right to peacefully protest. I think everyone should be able to exercise that right when they feel necessary.”
On the rest of the experience in the House of Commons Anderson said “it was very, very interesting being in the room and really seeing that politics and democracy in action.”
When asked how she thought Trudeau and Scheer would feel about Daughters of the Vote in the Commons Anderson felt she wasn’t able to say.
“I don’t know if I can really speak to that. I think it’s important for everyone in the government to see these young women and you really did get a sense of change within the House of Commons, seeing all the seats occupied by women,” said Anderson.
“I think several of my other delegates gave speeches about some really pressing issues within Canada," she said.
“I think it was important for the leaders and various members of all of the parties to hear the issues that many young Canadians — especially young female, transgender or non-binary Canadians — find important.
“Hopefully that’s something they’ll be able to address with it being an election year in their upcoming platforms,” Anderson said.
