Hanes: Montreal has come a long way in terms of diversity

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There was no broken glass around Valérie Plante just over a week ago when she danced triumphantly on stage in front of her fans after being decisively reelected for a second term as mayor of Montreal.

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She had been there, done that, after making history as the first woman to hold the highest position on City Hall in 2017. Even if she is now the first woman to win two terms, proclaiming that her victory was not “an accident.” The Ceiling Breaking Talk this time focuses more on his election to the executive committee chair.

Dominique Ollivier will become the first black person to hold the crucial post in Montreal once the new council is sworn in at the Palais des congrès on Thursday night. And the tandem of Plante and Ollivier running the city together marks the first time that two women will be in command in Montreal.

If everything seems inevitable, after all, it is 2021, think again.

These important steps forward for women, and women of color, were the product of years of hard work, overcoming obstacles, and proving the skeptics wrong. The public is present to witness the celebrations when a historic milestone is reached. We do not see the blood, the sweat and the tears shed, the sexism and discrimination endured, the double standard passed.

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Perhaps that is why we tend to take equality, diversity, and inclusion for granted once pioneers have had their time in the sun. But we shouldn’t.

Believe it or not, universal suffrage in Montreal’s municipal elections was first introduced in 1970, 30 years after Quebec granted women the vote.

It seems strange given how modern this city seems today, but Montreal was the last place in the province to extend this right to all citizens, men and women. Before that vote it was a privilege granted primarily to homeowners and renters, and only one per household. Given the rules of the day, that left many women disenfranchised.

Despite the obstacles, some women managed to win positions under that restricted system. The first was Kathleen Fisher in 1940 .

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Fast forward to 1986, and Mayor Jean Doré was the first to introduce gender parity to his executive committee, appointing three women and two men (plus himself) in 1986.

This historical tidbit was largely forgotten in 2017 after Plante turned to an equal number of men and women after his first win. But surprisingly, most of the emphasis at the time was on the fact that Doré had appointed the first English speaker, Councilor Michael Fainstat, as president.

Plante’s election and equality on the executive committee were among the top three in 2017. More women than men were also elected on the city council. Unfortunately, what the council had in female representation lacked diversity.

Plante promised to do better next time, and it’s his credit. Recruiting Ollivier, a longtime chair of the Montreal Public Consultation Office, with the express purpose of her serving as chair of the executive committee is a powerful way to fulfill that commitment.

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Ollivier, who was born in Haiti, is an engineer and public administrator who has worked in the offices of various government ministers and has led multiple para-public organizations over a career spanning three decades. After presiding over OWHC hearings on systemic racism and discrimination, you can now lead by example.

The 2021 elections also set other new precedents. Montreal voted on a more diverse council. About 17 percent of its 65 city councilors come from ethnic, cultural, racial or religious minorities. This is a better representation of Montréal’s population as a whole, but there is still work to be done, given that one-third of Montréal’s are members of diverse communities.

And, of course, the symbolism must be followed by actions and policies aimed at ending discrimination, reducing inequality and taking advantage of the demographic wealth that Montreal has in abundance.

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However, this is still a time to reflect on the importance of symbols, mentors, examples, barrier breakers and pioneers and to pay your respects to those who will help forge a path for others, today and in the future.

Surely it was not easy for Daviau, as it was not easy for Plante and it will not be for Ollivier.

The goodwill that accompanies initial success is also accompanied by high expectations. The currents of misogyny and racism are still deep. Biases persist, both conscious and unconscious. And mistakes will be made generating legitimate criticism, as even leaders who break new ground are only human.

With each historical leap forward, women in high office and minorities in positions of power will eventually become less important and more normalized. As they should be.

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But it is still necessary to reflect on how far Montreal has come.

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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Thérèse Daviau was the first woman elected to the Montreal City Council. In fact, it was Kathleen Fisher in 1940. The article also wrongly stated that women could not vote in municipal elections until 1970. Although universal suffrage that guarantees the right to vote for all citizens was only introduced that year, women could vote before that year. in some circumstances, as if they were owners or tenants. The Gazette regrets the mistake.