Women in politics seek creative solutions to harassment in the wake of #MeToo
OTTAWA — The advent of the #MeToo movement in Canadian politics has cabinet ministers speaking publicly — and young staffers, quietly — about the open secret of predatory, sexualized behaviour in political Ottawa.
Many describe the so-called whisper network, where staff members secretly share stories and trade advice on which politicians to avoid, or who to reach out to for some informal support.
Women in politics deserve better, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel forcefully told the House of Commons this week.
“Using the whisper network, the gossip chain that we use to tell each other when we see something or hear something, can no longer be seen as the main way to manage incidents of harassment,” Rempel said.