If you listen really closely, you can probably hear the faint noise of Nellie McClung weeping happy tears from the great beyond, because today is a day in Canadian history that the feminist icon would have loved to see. 

Today, Canadian politics passed an important (if overdue) milestone. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just named his cabinet, and for the first time in The North’s history, that group is equally split between men and women. AMEN. 

In an open letter to Canadians, the new PM explained his choices this way: “As a Canadian, you expect to see your values and priorities reflected in your government—and we have listened closely.” (The cabinet is also pretty diverse, so big yay for that too.)

A few of the 15 women now sitting around the cabinet room table include a first-time MP named Bardish Chagger, social activist Patricia Hajdu holding the women’s portfolio, former Paralympian Carla Qualtrough, and regional First Nations chief Jody Wilson Raybould. 

Now, who’s feeling just a little proud to be Canadian right now?

s a Canadian, you expect to see your values and priorities reflected in your government – and we have listened closely. Our strong, diverse, and experienced team will serve all Canadians, and – for the first time in our country’s history – there will be an equal number of women and men around the Cabinet table. – See more at: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2015/11/04/prime-minister-justin-trudeaus-open-letter-canadians#sthash.awHTcKkP.dpuf
s a Canadian, you expect to see your values and priorities reflected in your government – and we have listened closely. Our strong, diverse, and experienced team will serve all Canadians, and – for the first time in our country’s history – there will be an equal number of women and men around the Cabinet table. – See more at: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2015/11/04/prime-minister-justin-trudeaus-open-letter-canadians#sthash.awHTcKkP.dpuf

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