The discussion on October 23rd and 24th at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue in downtown Vancouver marked the first consultation of a series with Sherpa Peter Boehm that will help shape Canada’s priorities of the G7 Summit. The G7 Summit in 2018 will be hosted in Canada in Charlevoix, Quebec. Even in a discussion about the economic growth, international trade, innovation, and climate and energy, the Canadian Government’s feminist approach to policymaking seems to have somehow dictated the conversation. 

Participants – consisting of elite policymakers, corporate directors, and public servant veterans – seem to praise Canada’s efforts to promote greater gender equality and empowerment. Pluralism, multiculturalism, tolerance, and inclusiveness are lauded strengths of the nation. However, the conversation that day has seemed to have skimmed over the boiling and highly criticized bill the Quebec National Assembly has recently passed. The controversial law, Bill 62, bans public workers and anyone receiving public services (e.g. taking the bus) from wearing the niqab or any other face covering, in the pursuit of religious neutrality. This ban will invariably be targeting the female Muslim community who are living in Quebec.

This has been a long ongoing debate within Quebec and in Canada, and has split feminists into two main camps. However, the broader question and implication of this legislation is the signal that it will project for the world. What message will the legislature send to the G7 leaders, the media outlets and the global audience groups about the consistency of Canada’s values and philosophies about feminism?

As the G7 Summit will be taking place in Quebec, it will be particularly interesting to see how the ban will or will not impact Canada’s branding and leadership as a progressive, pro-feminism nation.