The Department of Political Studies' Corry Colloquium Speaker Series presents:

Tracey Raney - Toronto Metropolitan University

"Gender-based Violence in Canadian Politics: Public Opinion, Legislative Accountability, and Actions Needed"

Friday, March 22, 2024 

12:00-1:30 PM

Light lunch served

Abstract: Gender-based violence in the public sphere poses a significant threat to political equality and democratic governance globally. Since the #MeToo movement, several countries in the global North have taken some steps to address this problem, including Canada. Yet little is known about what the public thinks of these steps or their expectations of what should happen when an elected official engages in this unethical behaviour. In this talk I will present public opinion data on what Canadians believe should happen when an MP engages in one type of gender-based violence: sexual harassment. The findings have relevance for lawmakers in Canada and elsewhere, revealing the importance of transparent, independent processes to improve legislative accountability on this issue. The talk will conclude with some reflections on future actions needed to address this growing threat to Canada’s democracy.

Biography: Dr. Tracey Raney is Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, and a member of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies, at Toronto Metropolitan University. She previously served as the Graduate Program Director of the MA in Public Policy and Administration.