A policy aimed at attracting more mothers and fathers to run for MLA has received universal support at the NWT Legislative Assembly.

Kam Lake MLA Caitlin Cleveland introduced a bill providing childcare benefits to assembly members that passed unanimously last month. Since then, MLAs have welcomed the step.

The policy emerged from a committee of the previous assembly, with the aim of increasing the representation of women in politics. Among those suggestions was introducing childcare supports for members.

The change includes a capped amount to help cover childcare expenses for various duties that can stretch into the evening. It allows children to travel with their parents in special circumstances. 

ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 an approval process through the clerkSA国际影视传媒檚 office that considers how many children a member has, how old they are, and reasons for not having childcare otherwise. 

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an above-and-beyond kind of fund,SA国际影视传媒� Cleveland said.

Cleveland, who's also a parent, noted there are now baby change tables and a family room at the assembly building, though they would mainly be useful to members with children in Yellowknife. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 think it recognizes that there needs to be a place for women and working parents at the table within the legislative assembly,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f you want a variety of voices at the table, you need to make sure that youSA国际影视传媒檙e accommodating those voices.SA国际影视传媒�

For Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Lesa Semmler, itSA国际影视传媒檚 one less barrier facing women in leadership.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith any other job in the government, there are things in place for people with children who have to travel for work to be accommodated,SA国际影视传媒� said Semmler. SA国际影视传媒淏ut as a political leader and an MLA thatSA国际影视传媒檚 never been the case.SA国际影视传媒�

That said, it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 cover childcare during regular business hours, including session and committee meetings, she said. It rather covers their ability to engage other duties that stretch into the evenings. 

She added it has to be pre-approved for situations out of normal hours. 

For her and other women coming from outside of Yellowknife, it gives the opportunity to hire childcare if both her and her husband are travelling for work. She could also cover the costs of bringing her daughter with her, if she had no school.

SA国际影视传媒淭his helps us be able to accommodate our family together. And theySA国际影视传媒檒l be engaged in all aspects of our work because all of us donSA国际影视传媒檛 live in Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

These circumstances were in the back of her mind when she chose to run, said Semmler, noting her daughter is a teenager and capable of handling long stretches away.

If her daughter was younger, Semmler believes she couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have run for her position.

SA国际影视传媒淚n my house, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 two of us parenting. But ISA国际影视传媒檓 the mom. I do most of the children stuff. I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 run. Just living in a small community and having to travel, I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 run,SA国际影视传媒� she said, acknowledging this could apply to other families and circumstances. 

SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e having to pay for childcare all day, and then youSA国际影视传媒檙e paying for childcare all night to go to every event or every function, it costs a lot for childcare."

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 difficult to be away for long periods -- and that can particularly apply to ministers who have to be away from home for longer while overseeing their portfolio, she said.

If a member does choose to move to Yellowknife, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 also a political choice. 

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes people feel that you take a position and you move to Yellowknife out of your community, how do you represent your community? SA国际影视传媒� Then you throw kids on top of that, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a hard one,SA国际影视传媒� she said.