A young woman from New Ross has been given an opportunity to see what it feels like to sit in the House of Commons.
Ellen Hiltz has been selected as the delegate for South Shore-St. Margaret’s in a program intended to inspire the next generation of female political leaders.
She along with 337 other women nation wide will be flown to Ottawa to take their seats in parliament.
Happy to meet @EllenHiltz #daughtersofthevote who will be taking my seat in the house on March 8th. @EqualVoiceCA pic.twitter.com/exIxCO4pU4
— Bernadette Jordan (@BernJordanMP) January 12, 2017
“I’m looking forward to it. Just knowing that we’re all there for the same reason, and we all have the same views of the world and where we’d like it to go, and I just think it will be a really heart warming experience.”
Hiltz says it’s an experience she isn’t taking lightly.
“I think younger people from rural communities don’t always see those opportunities. It’s really important for people in my position help people in rural communities be aware of them.”
Hiltz says she plans to use what she learns while in the capital to help other young women reach for bigger goals.
She says she can’t wait to learn from both her fellow delegates and those already making policy in Ottawa.
Meanwhile, the program is being put on by an organization called Equal Voice.
Co-Chair of the Nova Scotia chapter, and Political Science Professor Louse Carbert, says Nova Scotia is ready for more female leaders.
“Policy and partisanship are more important than whether the candidates are male or female. But, the problem is getting those candidates in the first place and this is why we need to start cultivating the next generation of political leadership.”
Carbert hopes this program will influence these women to step up and start the process of change.
