Canada

Alexa McDonough, whose leadership of the Nova Scotia NDP in 1980 made her the first woman to lead a major political party in Canada, has died at the age of 77.

McDonough, who also became the leader of the federal New Democratic Party in 1995, died at a care home in Halifax on Saturday after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's disease, her family said.

Maintaining that he intends to lead his party into the next election, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday overhauled his gender balanced cabinet, naming women to the foreign affairs and defense posts.

Trudeau named Mélanie Joly as foreign minister and Anita Anand as defense minister. Chrystia Freeland retains her positions as deputy prime minister and finance minister.

It's no coincidence that a wave of Indigenous women have won leadership roles previously held only by men, say leaders and advocates.

FREDERICTON -- Kassim Doumbia says he always wanted to get involved and be active in his community. He moved to Shippagan 14 years ago, and has spent the last nine years on the town’s council.

Tuesday night, Doumbia became New Brunswick’s first Black mayor. He calls it a dream.

The recent resignation of a former cabinet minster puts the Nova Scotia Liberals in a minority situation, with just 24 seats in the 51-seat legislature.

Margaret Miller submitted her resignation effective June 3 on Friday.

“I think ultimately the political implications are more symbolic than they are mathematical,” said Dalhousie political scientist Lori Turnbull.

Calgary city council has a representation problem.

Of the 15 people on council, including 14 councillors and one mayor, five are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) and three are women.

Calgary’s demographics from the most recent federal census are drastically different: about 40 per cent of Calgarians identify as BIPOC and 50 per cent are women.

A Rothesay council candidate says a series of harassing phone calls have led her to lobby for Elections Act changes — days away from New Brunswick’s municipal elections.

Tiffany Mackay French says the publication of her personal information made her vulnerable to a man who took an interest in her based on her campaign posters.