Elizabeth Weir, trailblazer in N.B. politics, reflects on Holt victory
Weir 'thinking of all those little girls around the province watching Susan give her speech' on election night
For Elizabeth Weir, Monday's election is one to remember.
"My reaction and my emotion was simply a combination of joy and relief: quite clearly joy to see that historic moment of a woman being elected as our premier and honestly relief that the previous government was gone," Weir said, in an interview with CBC Radio's Shift.
Weir served as New Brunswick's NDP leader from 1988 to 2005 and was the party's only MLA from 1992 until 2005.
Premier-designate Susan Holt is one of a record 17 women to win seats in this election, something Weir said matters.
"Well, it matters because the issues that shape women's lives, the policies of our legislature, the legislation that they adopt can so deeply affect women's lives," she said of Holt's win.
Susan Holt has made history as the first woman to be elected premier of New Brunswick. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)
During her time in the legislature, Weir was known for her quick wit in the daily question period and her skill during contentious debates.
She left elected politics when former premier Bernard Lord appointed her as the first president and chief executive officer of Efficiency New Brunswick.
Weir has spent time travelling around the world training others in democratic governance and oversight, working with parliamentarians, political party activists and social leaders.
She has worked with the United Nations and with the National Democratic Institute, an international non-governmental organization based out of Washington that works in 55 countries.
Here at home, she has advocated for more representation of women in politics through the Women for 50% organization, where she is one of the founders.
Weir called out the outgoing Higgs government over its handling of issues such as Policy 713 and abortion access.
"So women need to be decision-makers to make those changes, so it matters big time."
Weir said she feels fortunate to have had the example of the women who came before her, such as Brenda Robertson, who was the first woman elected to the New Brunswick legislature, in 1967, and later was the first woman to hold a cabinet position.
Brenda Robertson, who died in 2020, was the first woman elected to the New Brunswick legislature. (Submitted by the Robertson family )
She also pointed to Alexa McDonough, the first woman to lead a major party in Nova Scotia, becoming leader of the province's NDP in 1980, and later going on to lead the federal party.
"There was no women's bathroom in the Nova Scotia legislature for MLAs to use. If you can ... imagine that," Weir said.
"So I really benefited. They would provide me advice, support. We were in different parties. Sometimes I would work collaboratively with them."
Weir also said she gives credit to former premier Richard Hatfield, who governed from 1970 to 1987, for appointing women in his caucus to cabinet.
In 1980, the NDP's Alexa McDonough became the first woman to lead a major political party in Nova Scotia. (Mike Dembeck/The Canadian Press)
"And so when I came, you know, there really was a very different atmosphere than the kind of hostility that Alexa encountered in a neighbouring province in Nova Scotia," Weir said.
"And so, I see it as I also have an obligation to help women in different ways to continue to make those changes."
There's no silver bullet to achieving gender equality, Weir said, but there have been gains.
"I just kept thinking of all those little girls around the province watching Susan give her speech on election night and what a profound change and impact that can have," Weir said.
"It's a time to celebrate. You know, we don't have good news in politics all the time and this is certainly it."
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