Liberal and New Democrat MPs are disappointed with the loss of the longtime Conservative chair of the parliamentary committee on the status of women.
Government members say they were sad to hear Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Karen Vecchio would no longer be at the helm, after having first served as chair in 2017.
Her time as committee chair ended Wednesday and the Conservatives on the committee voted the next day to replace her with Tory MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman.
In 2019, Vecchio was named Shadow Minister for Women and Gender Equality. She vowed to focus on human trafficking across Canada.
At the time she told myFM, “We know there is a hub in London, so for me that is a really important thing I’ll also be focusing on true equality. What does that mean for men, for women, for people of the LGBTQ2+ community and looking at how we can proceed with any legislation or policies that make sure we have true equality for all Canadians.”
Vecchio added she would also use her new title to advocate on behalf of women working in Science, Engineering, Technology and Math industries such as agriculture, oil and gas, and manufacturing as women continue to be underrepresented in these fields.
In October of 2022, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced Vecchio would remain as as Shadow Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth.
Earlier that year on the steps of city hall in St. Thomas to commemorate National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada, Vecchio noted human trafficking is real.
“I have had the opportunity to speak with so many victims from coast to coast to coast who have shared with me their stories about human trafficking. Who have shared with me the exploitation of their own selves when they were 11 years old. These are the things we have to be aware of and, as a community, we can work to alleviate this.”
Kelly Franklin, director and founder of Courage for Freedom paid tribute to what Vecchio was able to achieve as chair.
Vecchio, who was first elected in 2015, has not commented publicly.
