Cercle des femmes parlementaires
About the Cercle
Background
The Cercle des femmes parlementaires du Québec (circle of women Members of the Assemblée nationale) was established in 2010 on the initiative of the Member for La Pinière. Bringing together the women Members of the Assemblée nationale, the Cercle is intended as a forum for reflection and for sharing experiences to better equip women to play their roles of legislators and overseers of Government action.
Objectives
The Cercle’s objectives are twofold:
- to encourage the free flow of ideas and create a venue for non-partisan exchange on all issues involving women or of particular concern to women parliamentarians;
- to equip women Members with the best possible tools and practices for their role as parliamentarians.
Guiding Principles
The Cercle has adopted guiding principles (Principes directeurs (PDF, 72 KB), in French only), which set out its mandate and operating procedures and govern its actions and powers.
Members of the Select Committee
The Cercle comprises the women Members of the Assemblée nationale du Québec and is administered by a four-member select committee. In addition to its Chair, the Committee includes a member from each political party represented in the Assemblée nationale. These representatives are chosen by their peers within each party.
The select committee members are:
- Ruba Ghazal, Member for Mercier
- Isabelle Lecours, Member for Lotbinière-Frontenac
- Michelle Setlakwe, Member for Mont-Royal–Outremont
The Cercle's Activities
The Cercle organizes a range of activities such as meetings, symposiums and conferences in which women parliamentarians can share and obtain information on matters of mutual interest.
November 28, 2019
Recognizing the importance of fighting cyberbullying directed at women (French only)
November 20, 2019
Round table on online hostility toward women (French only)
April 3, 2019
Launching of the Cercle des femmes parlementaires de la 42e législature (Circle of women Members of the Assemblée nationale for the 42nd Legislature)
February 20, 2019
Select committee of the Cercle des femmes parlementaires du Québec: First meeting of the 42nd Legislature
May 16, 2018
Meeting between the members of the Comité des anciennes parlementaires du Québec (committee of former women parliamentarians) and the Cercle des femmes parlementaires (circle of women Members of the Assemblée nationale).
November 29, 2017
Discussion session between women Members of the Assemblée nationale and psychologist and author Rose-Marie Charest on the stress related to their work and how it makes itself felt on a day-to-day basis.
May 31, 2017
Luncheon conference on assertiveness as a stress management technique with psychologist and author Rose-Marie Charest
February 15, 2017
Discussion sessions with women parliamentarians
January 11, 2017
Presentation by Maryse Gaudreault to the young women taking part in the Student Forum
November 16, 2016
Dinner and discussions with the new Chair of the Conseil du statut de la femme, Eva Ottawa
May 11, 2016
Showing of The Sex Trade, a documentary by filmmaker Ève Lamont
April 20, 2016
Conference by journalists Caroline Plante and Jocelyne Richer on the theme "women, politics and the media"
April 22, 2015
Activity marking the 75th anniversary of women winning the right to vote and run for election in Québec
February 18, 2015
Signing of a Solidarity Protocol between the women Members of the Assemblée nationale and the Elected Women of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador
November 25, 2015
Luncheon conference with Julie Miville-Dechêne and Catherine Lagacé (biographies (PDF, 15 KB), in French only) on the theme "quotas for women in politics"
October 29, 2014
Luncheon conference with Céline Lafontaine and Marie-France Bureau (biographies (PDF, 23 KB), in French only) on the theme "the phenomenon of surrogate mothers"