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This UCP appointee to the PCNC (a committee that selects judges) has made sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic statements. We asked @doug_schweitzer about those remarks; he refused to condemn them. He even asked me to apologize for the question. 1/ #ableg https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5618816
Making sure all aspects of government reflect the diversity of our population is critical. It is even more so with Judges.
Systemic racism is real. And Judges are the guardians of rights in our system. We absolutely must work to ensure equal opportunity on the bench. #ableg 2/
Systemic racism is real. And Judges are the guardians of rights in our system. We absolutely must work to ensure equal opportunity on the bench. #ableg 2/
Our appointees to the committee (the ones Schweitzer fired) were majority women and majority people of colour. They were selected through an open process - all Albertans were allowed to apply.
When asked how he was ensuring diversity on the bench he refused to answer. #ableg 3/
When asked how he was ensuring diversity on the bench he refused to answer. #ableg 3/
We also appointed an expert on sexual assault law to the committee - ensuring this lense was present when screening possible judges.
When asked what he was doing Schweitzer, again, dismissed the question. #ableg 4/
When asked what he was doing Schweitzer, again, dismissed the question. #ableg 4/
It’s bad enough that these issues were not considered when appointing this committee - but the suggestion that the question is absurd, or should be apologized for, implies that the issues aren’t important in the legal system - and they are fundamental. #ableg 5/
This UCP appointee said Judge selection should be based on “merit” not “identity politics.” That implies the current - biased - system is merit based. That women and minorities are underrepresented because of a lack of merit.
These views do not belong in leadership. 6/ #ableg
These views do not belong in leadership. 6/ #ableg
The appointment, the refusal to take questions about diversity seriously, and especially the continued defending of the comments - all speak to a UCP government that does not take racism or sexism in our institutions seriously. 7/ #ableg
