The women of Canada’s official Opposition had a very good 2016 — and it had nothing to do with gender balance.

Principled leadership came straight from the top.

Opposition leader Rona Ambrose set a tone that was respectful and dignified while holding the Liberal government to account for raising taxes, stalling job growth and, frankly, questionable ethics.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel’s motion calling for the provision of asylum to women and girls from persecuted minority groups was one of last year’s biggest wins.

Conservative MP Lisa Raitt, who’s running for the leadership of her party, joined Ambrose and Rempel in having one of last year’s best overall performances. Beyond her role as finance critic, she has waged a long-overdue war on Alzheimer’s.

Her ability to connect with victims, support caregivers, and raise awareness will help tremendously to reduce the stigma of Alzheimer’s.

Again, all of this wasn’t because of any pledge to gender parity.

It’s been a year since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named his new cabinet, choosing 15 men and 15 women — the first gender balanced ministerial team in the country’s history. The only problem is that this vacuous, ill-thought-out election stunt yielded very little in the way of actual success.

And while there are smart, extremely qualified and wildly accomplished women in the current cabinet, the gender-balance pledge has only served to demean their skills and take away from their capabilities and talent.

It has done nothing to help promote women in politics.

It has done nothing to change the discourse.

What it actually says is this: If you are a woman, you get a big job and you don’t do that job well, then you didn’t actually deserve it in the first place and you got it because you were a woman. And that is a step backwards.

Selecting members based on gender rather than on merit backfired.

Just ask Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef, who has been unable to explain, defend or make any sense of a signature Liberal promise — electoral reform. Oh, and she also misrepresented where she was born.

Ask House Leader Bardish Chagger, who seems unable to pass legislation but has become a pro at mindlessly repeating nonsensical talking points to defend cash-for-access fundraisers.

Both set up for failure to make good on a vacuous promise that doesn’t help women at all.

The next cabinet might as well be 18% vegans who do CrossFit.

It might yield a better chance at a cabinet less defined by mediocrity and various levels of incompetence.

— Melissa Lantsman was a senior political adviser to the previous Conservative government. She currently lives, works and casually observes politics in Toronto.

@MelissaLantsman