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Newfoundland and Labrador arts and tourism minister Andrea Barbour opened Thursday’s House of Assembly session with a tearful speech about bullying she says she’s faced since taking office.
“I’ve experienced bullying, harassment, mental cruelty and disrespect,” said Barbour.
The minister said she’s faced such treatment both in and outside the legislature, particularly after receiving harsh criticism for using generative artificial intelligence in a social media post — something she since said she regretted.
“There’s a difference between accountability and cruelty,” said Barbour, crying while she spoke on a point of privilege.
“What message do we send when women apologize, take responsibility and it’s still pursued the next day?”
WATCH | Andrea Barbour says she won’t back down:
In wake of AI gaffe, N.L. minister says she’s faced ‘harassment, mental cruelty and disrespect’
Newfoundland and Labrador tourism and arts minister Andrea Barbour was under fire this week for using AI to edit a photo she posted to social media. Two days later, she spoke in a point of privilege to decry what she calls bullying from her colleagues.
Barbour said she’s faced bullying for being herself her entire life, and is disappointed to see that continue into her political career. She said she’s faced hostility from the Liberal opposition, noting most of it came from fellow women.
The minister spoke for more than 10 minutes, vowing that she “will not be shamed.”
Opposition sympathizes
Opposition House Leader and Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair MHA Lisa Dempster rose to say she’s faced similar behaviour throughout her career.
“I’m truly, truly sorry for what the member across the way [has] gone through in her life experience,” said Dempster.
Liberal MHA Lisa Dempster says she’s faced similar poor treatment as a woman in politics. (House of Assembly)
She said social media in particular has become a “terrible place,” but reminded Barbour that it’s sometimes important to tune out the outside world in order to focus on the work at hand.
However, Dempster questioned whether any rules had broken in the House, and reminded the Progressive Conservatives that the opposition’s role is to criticize and ask questions. She also took the chance to criticize the PCs.
“We’ve gone to a new level of low,” she said, pointing to last fall’s election campaign advertisements and social media posts.
Dempster said she hopes Thursday’s events serve as a reminder to every member of the House of Assembly that they must treat one another — as well as the legislature itself — with respect.
St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi NDP MHA Sheilagh O’Leary also took a stand against poor treatment of women in politics.
She apologized for what Barbour has gone through, but agreed with Dempster in saying members still have a duty to the people of the province.
“However, it is extremely important that we continue to fight for the rights of everybody, women, gender diverse people and all, without clipping the wings of the nature of democracy,” said O’Leary.
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