Smackdown – Minister Oda Discredits Stronach's Feminism

Last Wednesday in Question Period, there was an exchange between MP Belinda Stronach and the Minister of Heritage, Bev Oda. It starts out with Stronach giving a bit of a low blow to Minister of the Environment, Rona Ambrose, and it ends with Minister Oda laying the smackdown on Stronach.

Hon. Belinda Stronach (Newmarket—Aurora, Lib.)
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment drives a car with a bumper sticker which says, “A woman’s place is in the house, the senate and the oval office”. That is a great sentiment if we were all Americans, but it is too bad that she did not advocate for rights and equality for Canadian women within her own cabinet.

In fact, the six women in cabinet sat back, said and did nothing, while equality was dropped as part of this government’s mandate.

Hon. Bev Oda (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, I shared with you an experience this morning of honouring some very significant women and in fact these women are with us today.

I would suggest that the member opposite who had the opportunities, at one time being recognized as the most powerful businesswoman in Canada, did very little about it. Consequently, when we look at her board at Magna, there is no female representation on that board.

Ouch!!!!

Bravo to the Minister from Durham for pulling this one out. Considering the statement, I find it hard to take any comment on women’s issues seriously when it comes from the mouth of Stronach.

9 thoughts on “Smackdown – Minister Oda Discredits Stronach's Feminism


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    October 20, 2006 at 11:15 pm
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    Good on ‘er!


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    October 21, 2006 at 12:00 am
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    I saw that, but the Liberals were braying so loudly, I could barely hear her, thanks for giving the printed version! Yup, Belinda the woman DOGgedly in pursuit of, well, justice, or uhm, oh never mind, she’s forgotten what the heck she stands/sits/kneels for!

    Oh no, did I just call the Liberals donkeys?? The animal labels are going to be flying fast and FURious!


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    October 21, 2006 at 12:30 am
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    Wow!!! That’s a HR if I ever saw it.


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    October 21, 2006 at 12:35 am
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    I’ve watched Ms. Oda quite a bit lately, and she may not be the most charismatic politician, but can be so disarming with her plainspokenness, that it makes up for her lack of theatrics. She strikes me as the kind of lady who just cuts the crap, gets down to business and gets the job done and lets the chips fall where they may.


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    October 21, 2006 at 1:41 am
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    >> “honouring some very significant women and in fact these women are with us today”

    A little bit off-topic, but who were these women and what is their significance? The context for Be Oda’s remark probably adds some extra zing to the zinger.


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    October 21, 2006 at 5:48 am
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    wonders why dumb-asses like Belinda can’t think at least a half-step ahead of the stupid spew that comes out of their mouths?

    I guess sleeping with hockey players clouds their judgement?……….opps, did I say that out loud??

    dumb C%nt comes to mind, but I digress….


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    October 21, 2006 at 9:59 am
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    “A little bit off-topic, but who were these women and what is their significance?”

    Oda was naming the first female MP, the first female cabinet minister, and the first female PM, all of which were Conservatives.

    She also pointed out that women were given the right to vote under a Conservative government.


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    October 21, 2006 at 10:42 am
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    F.Rottles (#5) and Cool Blue (#7) I am not sure. I noticed that comment by Minister Oda as well and it did not seem to be regarding the first females in various positions. I think something happened earlier in the day where a group of women were hired or presented with something. I really can’t say, but that is the impression I got.


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    October 25, 2006 at 10:02 pm
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    How is McKay’s ‘alleged’ comment worse than Hedy Fry making up a story about the KKK burning crosses in BC? Should we make Unsteady Hedy apologise to every white person in that province?

    Or how about… ‘I would therefore like to table this document for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition this summer. It is a document called The South Beach Diet.’

    Paul Martin, to Stephen Harper, June, 2005, in reference to Mr. Harper’s weight.

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