Today’s NDP – Not the Womyn’s Party you thought it was...

Within the caucus of Today’s NDP there are eight women. From rumblings heard from the mouths of the Blackberry Addicts, they want one of them to retire. Namely, Diane McGifford. Of all the super stars to pick on, the Blackberry Staffers chose to put a drive by on Diane. With men like Conrad Santos and Oscar Lathlin still kicking around, there might be some philosophical reasons for this.

Have you noticed the disturbing trend in Today’s NDP? One by one, women who have espoused feminist views have been dropping off the roster. From the 1999 election, several women have dropped off the seen. Jean Friesen, Marianne Cerelli, Becky Barrett, MaryAnn Mihychuk. Some by choice because they couldn't stand it anymore, others were pushed out.

These were the tough women of the NDP caucus and were considered the most outspoken. They were effective at getting under the skin of Tories across the province. It has long been rumoured that the NDP in Manitoba are considered an old boys club. It is filled with uneducated male union types who enjoy drinking beer and telling fart jokes.

Last I checked, those kind of guys did not have much time for the angry feminist types. One of my relatives is a shop steward jokingly said the “fringe” types, as he called them, such as women activists were merely tolerated and not exactly listened to. Window dressin’ for the “chick” vote. Gary is a good looking guy who is female friendly.

However, Premier Doer’s buddies are old boys like Victor Schroeder, Bill Uruski and Eugene Kostyra. Plus, all of his major cabinet posts are held by men like Chomiak, Sale and Selinger. One has to ask the question: what is the role of women in Today’s NDP?

Here’s a list of Today’s NDP female caucus members:

Diane McGifford - Minister of Advanced Education and Training
Christine Melnick - Minister of Family Services and Housing
Theresa Oswald - Minister of Healthy Living
Nancy Allan - Minister of Labour and Immigration
Rosann Wowchuk - Minister of Agriculture
Kerri Irvin-Ross
Marilyn Brick
Bonnie Korzeniowski

The only real street fighter in the group is Wowchuk, but many in the agricultural community do not think the hobby farmer from Swan River has been that great. You don’t hear much in the MSM on the rest of the gang except for missteps by Christine Melnick. I have never heard of Kerri Irvin-Ross until I decided to write about this topic. I am sure she is super.

I would be interested in chatting with the former feisty women of the NDP so they could explain their story first hand. Sadly, they won’t likely share their story of second class citizenship within the party as it would hurt the “best” vehicle for their brand of radical (and sometimes liberal) feminist views. Some of those views are shared by PC caucus women (which will be the topic of another story in the near future).

Perhaps Premier Doer is wise to keep a tight grip on the women in his party (no pun intended!) Perhaps the damage sustained in espousing staunch feminist views is worth more than losing a few female MLA’s. Besides, he can replace them with kinder, gentler women like the lovely Theresa Oswald who will fall in line and be the good foot soldier for the greater cause.

This still leaves one to ponder, does Today’s NDP really represent Manitoba today? Will women in the NDP continue to be second rate members while the old boys club cleans up at the political trough on board appointments and real cabinet power? Women like Jean Friesen and Marianne Cerelli didn’t think so. Why should anyone else?