WOMEN, PUBLIC SERVICE AND POLITICS A CRIC REPORT July 2005 INTRODUCTION “2004, which was the most recent year for which stats were collected for how many women were elected globally, was a world record-breaking year for the election of women in a positive way; for the first time ever, women represent 15% of elected officials in national parliaments globally, which is a phenomenal achievement. [...] Jane Arscott (University of Alberta)1 shows that while women candidates and office holders were on the rise in Canada during the 1980s and 1990s, the rate of progress has stalled and in some cases, is actually dropping. [...] There was a The Honourable Margaret-Ann Blaney, Minister of Training and Employment recorder and spokesperson at each table who Development, and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. [...] The guest speakers were Véra Danyluck, former Chair of the Executive Committee of the Montreal Urban Community; Josée Verner, Chair of the Québec Caucus of the Conservative Party and critic for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and for la Francophonie; and Kim Cornelissen, Coordinator, Réseau des élues municipales de la Montérégie (Municipal Elected Officials Netw [...] Guest speakers included the Honourable Margaret-Ann Blaney, Minister of Training and Employment Development and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women for the Province of New Brunswick; and Christine Augustine, New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women.