Female voters were well-served by leaders' debate, says advocate

The executive director of the St. John's Status of Women Council says Monday night's leaders' debate will allow female voters to cast their ballot on Nov. 30 with more confidence and awareness.

"I think women around the province who were really looking at what leader was going to address issues affecting them and their families, I think they got some answers," Jenny Wright said following the conclusion of the first-ever leaders' debate focused solely on issues affecting women.

The 90-minute debate took place at the LSPU Hall in St. John's and was organized by the status of women council. 

All three party leaders quickly agreed to the format when challenged recently on Twitter, and more than 170 people crowded into the hall.

The debate was also broadcast live on CBC Radio and was streamed on cbc.ca/nl.

A wide range of issues

The event quickly trended on social media as Premier Paul Davis, Liberal Leader Dwight Ball and NDP Leader Earle McCurdy took questions from a panel of female journalists.

The topics ranged from violence prevention, poverty and health care to wage and employment equity, childcare and sex education.

The role of females in leadership positions, including politics, was also debated.

There was no clear winner, with all three leaders holding their own, though McCurdy seemed to have most of the audience in his corner.

Each party was permitted to admit 15 supporters each, while the remaining seats were filled by those representing various women's groups, and members of the general public.

Wright said the real winners were women in the province, who make up more than half of the population, yet struggle to a larger degree when it comes to issues such as poverty, wage parity, violence and childcare.

"For those who are undecided, I think they will now go into the election much better informed on which leader is going to address the issues that are important to them."