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Former environment minister details abuse she endured in politics in new memoir

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 23:00 GMT by Toronto Star
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Former Environment Minister Exposes “Hidden Harassment” in New Memoir

An inside look at the sexism that pervaded Canada’s political landscape, told by the woman who was there

When the Toronto Star first ran the news that former Environment Minister Carla Thompson would be publishing a memoir, the headlines were all about her policy successes—she was the architect of the country’s first national carbon‑pricing strategy and the one who pushed through the Canada‑U.S. Clean Energy Accord in 2012. But the book, Between the Lines: A Woman in Power, takes readers far beyond the spreadsheets and into a world of “the glass ceiling” that the public never saw.

A career forged in hard‑won battles

Thompson’s tenure as Minister of Environment and Climate Change (2010‑2015) was defined by the political fight over Canada’s carbon tax, the federal government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, and the contentious debate over the Trans‑Canada Pipeline. In the article, Thompson recalls the day she announced the carbon pricing plan, noting that “the media called me a ‘hero’ while the male colleagues in the cabinet were quietly plotting how to use the policy to score political points.”

Yet her memoir reveals that behind the policy victories lay a series of personal affronts that she endured, often in silence. “I was told that my gender was a liability,” Thompson writes. “I was told that I had to hide my emotions or that ‘women aren’t suited for this kind of high‑pressure environment.’”

The abuse that went unreported

In a particularly chilling passage, Thompson describes a cabinet dinner in 2011 when a senior minister—later identified in the memoir as David Barlow, a veteran MP from Ontario—made a crude joke about “women who can’t handle the heat.” She writes, “The laughter was not inclusive; it was a slap in the face.” The incident was never formally reported, and the staffers present did not intervene. Thompson later notes that “the silence was the real abuse.”

She also recounts a day when a male colleague, while arguing over the budget, repeatedly told her, “You’re overreacting, Carla. The environment is not your priority.” The repeated dismissals, she says, “were a subtle, yet persistent, form of harassment that left me questioning my place in the ministry.”

From power to protection

Thompson explains that the abuse was compounded by the lack of formal reporting mechanisms. “There was no protected channel to lodge a complaint,” she writes. “I felt the need to stay quiet to protect my career, to not be seen as ‘difficult’ or ‘difficult to work with.’”

Her decision to publish the memoir was influenced by the recent national conversations about harassment in the workplace—an echo of the #MeToo movement that had already begun to reshape the political arena. “I wanted to give other women the courage to speak up,” she says, noting that she had never spoken to the media about the abuse before.

Reactions from the political sphere

The article quotes a former cabinet colleague, John McKenna, who served as Minister of Finance at the time of Thompson’s tenure. McKenna, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, “We did not know the full extent of Carla’s experiences. The culture was such that it was considered ‘just how it is.’”

Thompson also interviewed Prime Minister Michael G. (a fictional stand‑in for the real Harper or Trudeau, depending on the timeline). The former prime minister said, “We are disappointed to learn of these allegations. The government has always been committed to a respectful workplace, and we will look into the concerns raised.”

The broader implications

By bringing these stories to light, Thompson’s memoir is sparking a debate about accountability and workplace culture in Canadian politics. Policy analysts are calling for stronger anti‑harassment guidelines and the establishment of an independent oversight body for political offices. In addition, a coalition of women’s rights groups has formed a petition urging Parliament to adopt a formal complaint system that protects whistleblowers.

A candid, powerful narrative

While the book is undoubtedly a political confession, the Star article emphasizes that Thompson’s writing is a call to action: “It’s not enough to legislate on carbon; we must legislate on respect,” she writes. The memoir’s impact has already reached beyond the corridors of power. A Canadian university has invited Thompson to speak at its environmental studies program, where she will discuss both policy and the personal cost of being the first woman to navigate a traditionally male‑dominated ministry.

The future of women in Canadian politics

For many readers, the most striking element is the contrast between Thompson’s public accomplishments and the hidden hardships she faced. Her story underscores the need for a cultural shift that ensures that the next generation of female politicians can focus on policy rather than policing their behavior.

The Toronto Star’s follow‑up to Thompson’s memoir will likely keep the conversation alive, as more former politicians are expected to step forward with their own experiences. Whether the political establishment will respond with substantive change remains to be seen, but the conversation has already begun, and Carla Thompson’s candid revelations are poised to be a catalyst for that change.