International Women’s Day 2020: Minister’s and Parliamentary Secretary’s Video Message
Video / March 08, 2020
Transcript
Minister: On March 8, the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of Defence joins with people around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Parliamentary Secretary: International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of women in the Defence Team. It also gives us time to reflect on the progress that society and our organization has made.
Minister: It also reminds us of the work that we still have to do. Though women have been serving in Canada’s military for over a century, and the Canadian Armed Forces was one of the first militaries to allow women to serve in all occupations we know that our Canadian Armed Forces needs to be more representative of the Canadians they protect. We are increasing our representation of women in our ranks, so that by 2026, women make up at least 25% of serving members.
Parliamentary Secretary: Many Canadians may know about the impressive women who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces like Major General Jennie Carignan, Commodore Josée Kurtz or Lieutenant General Christine Whitecross, but we are also increasing the number of civilian women in the Defence Team, particularly in leadership roles, such as the Deputy Minister Jody Thomas. Together, we are building an organization that recognizes the strength diversity brings. Gender equality is about creating opportunity for everyone, and we can all make an impact.