An Engineering Graduate’s Reaction to Our New Governor General
Last week I was overjoyed to hear the news about Julie Payette becoming our new Governor General. I once heard that the nature of the role of Governor General requires one to transcend politics. So here, I plan to write my perspective on this not as a Tory, a Liberal, a New Democrat, or even as a political commentator, but as a female engineering graduate considering a career in politics herself one day.
Most of the news around our fabulous Governor General designate has been praising her many accomplishments, and there’s no surprise how much coverage there has been given her amazing career. The Beaverton provided their hilarious take on this, how she needed to go to space only twice for a man not to question her qualifications. Unfortunately, satire is often not too far from the truth, especially when it comes to the comment section on social media.
Some of my favourite, um, insightful comments include:
- “Because she’s the best candidate for the job or because it’s a woman or French or a certain religion or colour? Seems to be the later how they have been filling positions since Justin took over.”
- “good for her and congrats. BUT…did Trudeau appoint her because she’s the best qualified for the job and the right person for the job OR did Trudeau enact on its gender tokenism policy and appoint her ony because she’s a woman”
- “Load of liberal cow droppings- she gets the job because she is female- so much for gender neutral ..”
- “Lol this job should be redundant but all the sheeple are just happy she has a uterus because It’s 2017…”
- “An astronaut… just in case we need to do business in space? Unbelievable really unless she has legal credentials making her the best suited candidate male or female.”
- “LOL As if being an astronaut gives her the qualifications to be a Governer General. The man has NO sense!!”
- “PM selected her on his own unlike Harper did. She filled the one silly requirement:French. nothing else”
- “She still has her head in the clouds. Polictis happens on the ground with people who know political. If we want a pilot we should just call West jet.”
It was hard to gather my thoughts on many comments like these over the last few days, but I can boil it down to two main questions I’ve been pondering:
- Why are people even considering the notion Payette was selected because of her gender, given her many incredible achievements?
- Why wouldn’t an engineer be suited for a career in politics, especially one brilliant enough to become an astronaut?
While there may be valid criticisms of the practice of gender quotas for hiring in general, Payette’s appointment is far from being an example of quota-based selection. It is reasonable to critique the selection process of a position like Governor General, or even the need for one. However, when somebody as incredible as Payette is chosen for the position, credit must be given for such an excellent selection. We need to ask ourselves as a whole, “Would we be questioning her credentials if she were a man?”
We can’t forget the fact that there have been three female Governor Generals before Payette, and none of them, waltzed into the position just for being women. As former journalist, Member of Parliament and Speaker of the House, Jeanne Sauvé became the first female Governor General. Adrienne Clarkson was the second woman to be named Governor General; a refugee who went on to become an award-winning journalist, she also made a name for herself before coming into the role of Governor General. Another well-known journalist and refugee to be appointed to this position was Michaëlle Jean, who like Clarkson, did not have a background in politics or the military. Regardless of what you thought of these former Governor Generals during their tenues, you can’t deny that they were accomplished in their careers.
As for my second main question, there’s the fact that the one thing that does set Payette apart from many other Governor Generals is her background in engineering, rather than politics or law. However, who is to say that an engineer isn’t suited for a career in politics? Especially an engineer that shone so brightly, she was chosen from a pool of 5,330 applicants to be one of four new astronauts with the Canadian Space Agency in 1992.
In addition to being an advocate for more women in politics, I am one for more engineers in politics as well, despite the stereotype that engineers are merely human calculators or lab monkeys. I was surprised in my final year of engineering to learn that none of our Prime Ministers have been engineers, and only one U.S. president was; also, there are only six engineers serving as MP’s in Parliament right now. Yes, engineers go to university to learn about stuff like partial differential equations, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, root locus, Fourier transforms (you still awake there?), but in the end, engineers have to be able to apply a systematic approach to decision-making, based off rigorous research and solid evidence. We need analytical minds who have been trained for solving problems to help us solve huge problems that impact our nation as a whole. To help provide a new perspective to the issues our government addresses on a daily basis.
Engineers excelling in politics is nothing new, especially when it comes to female engineers. This goes for women in politics coming from backgrounds in STEM in general. Lisa Raiit, candidate for the 2017 Conservative Party leadership, has a master’s degree in environmental biochemical toxicology. Marilyn Gladu became the first female professional engineer to be elected as an MP. And I cannot forget my own riding’s MP, Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who built a business around health-care based research.
Upon graduating, I received a published collection called, “Letters to a Young Engineer.” One quote that stood out at me was: “As engineers…the power is in your hands to change the world.” – Jacquie Hoornweg
While Governor General might not be the most exciting Payette will have, it’ll be one where she’ll have the influence to change the world. I have full confidence in her to be able to transfer her engineering skills, as well as the other notable skills and experiences she’s gained over her illustrious life, to her new role as Governor General. I also have confidence that she will bring the tenacity she’s shown through her career, as a woman in a male-dominated field, to the role as well.
If there’s one thing I hope young girls take from Payette’s upcoming new career, it’s not that their credentials will be questioned even if what they do is out of this world (excuse the pun), but this: “You got this.”
Originally posted on Story of a Tory.