Threats, harassment and online hate driving women out of politics, MPs warn – National [Video]

As longtime Liberal MP Pam Damoff prepares to leave politics when the next federal election is called, she is wistful but open about what is driving her to leave a career she has had for more than a decade.

Vocal about the misogyny and threats she faced during her time in government, she wants public safety officials to take these threats more seriously.

“We’ve seen a shift in how people treat politicians, and I really worry that at some point, someone will be injured or killed,” Damoff said in an interview.

Damoff said harassment escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She adds, “I have no regrets about running for office … the real issue is retention. Whether you’re on a construction site, in journalism, or in politics, we make better decisions when diverse voices are around the table.”

While just over half of the Canadian population identifies as female, data from Equal Voice, a registered charity advocating for gender …