'You just have to be strong': Former Edmonton MLA downplays Jansen's allegations about PC party sexism
'It's a test of your character ... but in the political arena you have to be very strong,' says Janice Sarich
Allegations that Alberta MLA Sandra Jansen faced a barrage of sexist harassment before her exodus from the Progressive Conservative caucus will not deter women from entering the political arena, predicts a former Edmonton PC MLA.
Misogyny is extremely rare in Alberta politics, said Janice Sarich, who insisted that in her years as a provincial politician she "absolutely never" encountered sexism.
Though women have to work hard to earn respect, those strong enough to prove their capabilities — and face some friction — will always thrive in public office, she said.
"It's a test of your character," said Sarich, who represented the Edmonton-Decore riding from 2008 to 2015.
"But in the political arena, you have to be very strong to be able to take — I'm not saying take abuse or harassment in any way — but when those situations arise you have to activate some steps and measures to deal with it. And the party has steps and measures."
Jansen, a Calgary MLA, abandoned her bid for the PC leadership on Nov. 8 after alleging she was harassed and intimidated by volunteers from another candidate's campaign.
'She appears to be the only one'
Jansen said her social media feeds were "filled with filth" and "insults were scrawled" on her nominations forms at a Red Deer party convention.
On Thursday, nine days after she dropped out of the race, Jansen crossed the floor to join the NDP caucus, citing her frustration with "extremists" joining her former party's ranks.
Sarich said it will be up to an internal PC party investigation to determine whether there is any credence to Jansen's "very serious" allegations, an investigation that may be complicated by the candidates sudden departure.
"If what happened to Sandra has any ounce of validity to it, only those people who were right there to see that and experience that first-hand can comment on that," Sarich said.
"It's really unfortunate. She appears to be the only one, because it's my understanding that Donna Kennedy-Glans never experienced any form of harassment."
Kennedy-Glans, the former PC MLA for Calgary-Varsity, dropped out of the leadership race on the same day as Jansen.
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Sarich said Jansen's decision to join Premier Rachel Notley's NDP government will anger many of her constituents in the Calgary-North West riding.
"I'm very confident that her constituents will have an opinion about her going all the way from the Progressive Conservatives to an ND caucus," said Sarich. "I'm sure her phone in the constituency office will be ringing quite heavy today."
'She tarred the entire conservative movement'
Former Wild Rose communications director Brock Harrison said Jansen's departure unfairly characterized the PC party as misogynist and discriminatory.
"Sandra is very strong. She's proven that," Harrison said. "But she tarred the entire conservative movement. I think it was an irresponsible way to go about it, to leave a party when it's clear that you're not going to win the leadership and burn the place down on your way out. And I think that was her goal."
Though her departure has left many party members with a "bad taste" in their mouths, Harrison said the party needs to focus on identifying those responsible for the "appalling" harassment allegations.
"I would love to know who they are. I would love to know names so we can actually call these people out, shame them for being the jerks and the idiots they are.
"It's disgusting and it has no place politics and it has no place in the PC party."
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