Introduction (read)
Sample Letter to Prime Minister Harper (download .doc)
Factsheets: A Series of Bad Decisions for Women’s Equality
Cuts to Status of Women Canada (SWC) (read)
Changes to the Terms and Conditions of the Women’s Program (read)
Outline of actual changes to the Women’s Program’s Terms and Conditions (read)
A Broken Promise to Respect Women’s Human Rights (read)
The Abolition of the Court Challenges Program (read)
The Refusal to Adopt Federal Pay Equity Legislation (read)
Childcare Cuts (read)
Other related actions (read)
Dear Friends:
The Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA), in concert with an ad hoc group of nationally and regionally based organizations (see below), has launched a month-long campaign for women’s equality and human rights in Canada. This is because we are very concerned about the negative impact on women of many of the federal government’s recent decisions. These decisions include: 1/ changes to the funding criteria for women’s groups, i.e. the removal of the word equality and the barring of all advocacy and lobbying by women’s groups (with federal funds); 2/ cuts to the operating budget of Status of Women Canada in the order of approximately 40%; 3/ the cancellation of the Court Challenges Program; 4/ the refusal to adopt improved pay equity legislation and; 5/ the cancellation of a pan-Canadian child care program resulting in cuts of $1.2 billion annually to provinces and territories for child care services.
These decisions are an affront to women, and the groups that defend women’s rights. They are also a departure from Canada’s long-standing commitment to the promotion of women’s equality and human rights.
In response, we are organizing a campaign which will challenge the federal government to immediately improve its own record on women’s equality and human rights, and encourage all Members of Parliament to speak up on behalf of women. It is critical that Canada maintain its leadership as a forward looking country that values the progressive realization of all women’s human rights, in the international arena and here at home.
We invite individuals and organizations to join us in writing the Prime Minister and/or your local Member of Parliament.
To assist you, we have prepared:
- a model letter to Prime Minister Harper that groups and individuals can use or adapt; (download .doc)
- one page fact sheets on the following key issues: pay equity, childcare, cuts to Status of Women Canada, changes to the terms and conditions of the Women’s Program at Status of Women Canada and Canada’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (available at www.criaw-icref.ca)
WHY DECEMBER 10th ?
December 10, 2006 is International Human Rights Day. It will also mark the 25th anniversary date of Canada’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Instead of celebrating this historic milestone, we will be mobilizing to ensure that Prime Minister Harper respects his own election commitment to uphold women’s equality and human rights in Canada. During the 2006 election campaign, Mr Harper stated:
If elected, I will take concrete and immediate measures, as recommended by the United Nations, to ensure that Canada fully upholds its commitments to women in Canada. (January 18, 2006, FAFIA ).
In 2003 the United Nations recommended that Canada double its efforts to:
- implement pay equity,
- support a national childcare program,
- enhance the Court Challenges Program;
- consult women’s equality-seeking groups regarding the preparation of Canada’s next CEDAW report
In addition, the Committee recommended Canada accelerate its efforts to eliminate the persistent and system discrimination faced by so many Aboriginal women, increase its efforts to combat high levels of poverty among particular groups of women, fund civil legal aid, effectively address violence against women, improve maternity and parental benefits, change immigration laws to respect the rights of live-in caregivers, and ensure a more equitable participation of women in the political institutions.
This campaign is important because we need to protect and advance the rights and freedoms that we have won after patient and determined struggle throughout the 20th Century. Women in Canada can not afford to have further setbacks and our country has the wealth and know-how to honour and respect women’s equality and human rights. It is a question of choices.
TO CONTACT US: womenactionfemmes@gmail.com
In solidarity,
Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne
Canadian Council of Muslim Women
Canadian Federation of University Women
Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action
Canadian Labour Congress
Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women
Canadian Women’s Community Economic Development Council
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada
Coalition of Provincial and Territorial Advisory Councils on the Status of Women
Fédération des femmes du Québec
National Association of Women and the Law
National Council of Women
Regroupement provincial des maisons d’hébergement et de transition pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale
Women’s Space
YWCA Canada
Two recent decisions have had a significant impact on SWC. One is the financial cuts to its operational budget, the other is the changes to the terms and conditions for the Women’s Program. This fact sheet deals with the cuts.
Quick Overview of Status of Women Canada
SWC is a federal government agency which is part of the current Canadian Heritage Portfolio. The minister responsible is thus the minister for Canadian Heritage currently Beverly Oda.
SWC is organized in the following directorates:
Women’s Program (Provides funding to women’s organizations)
Gender Based Analysis (Conducts gender-based analysis and promotes its application throughout the federal government)
Policy Research Fund (Provides funds to individuals and groups to carry out independent policy research. It is through this fund that the “blue” research documents are produced.)
Policy which includes international relations (Carries out analysis on a number of policy areas, staff sit on inter-departmental committees and represent Canada in international fora including the United Nations)
Communications and Corporate Affairs
Cuts to SWC
Prior to the cuts announced on September 25th, 2006 Status of Women Canada’s annual budget stood at approximately 24.7 million dollars (2007-2208). Of this amount, nearly 11 million is disbursed through the Women’s Program (WP), as well as one million to the Sisters in Spirit Campaign, thus leaving 12.7 million for all SWC work.
The cuts announced to SWC are of five million dollars. These will take effect on April 1st, 2007. The five million is to be withdrawn from the agency’s operational budget of 12.7 million. This means that the amount disbursed through the WP will NOT be reduced. If women’s organizations do not receive funding in the future it is NOT because of the cuts but rather because of the changes to the terms and conditions of the Women’s Program (see separate fact sheet).
The five million dollars represents a cut of 40% to the operational budget of SWC. Cuts of this magnitude are far greater than simply administrative; they cut to the core of the agency’s budget. The remaining budget of 7.7 million must cover all salaries, including those of the people administering the women’s program, rent, supplies, web site, communications, publications etc.
It is clear that the capacity of SWC will be severely weakened in the future. This will have enormous impact in terms of the agency’s capacity 1) to inform government wide policy, 2) to ensure that GBA is taken up and properly implemented across government departments, 3) to monitor Canada’s obligations to CEDAW and 4) to fund independent policy research. The decision to slash the operational budget of SWC completely contradicts the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Gender Accountability which called for stronger federal mechanisms.
The Terms and Conditions (T & Cs) of the Women’s Program (WP) have been renewed for the period September 27, 2006 to September 27, 2011. Significant changes have been made to the Women’s Program’s mandate, objectives, eligibility criteria and activities NOT funded. Women’s equality, social justice, political and legal participation of women are examples of the language which has been erased from the T&Cs.
All activities linked to advocacy, lobbying and most research have been excluded from the new T&Cs. It is for this reason that a significant number of equality-seeking women’s groups, especially though not exclusively those working at the national level, will find it extremely difficult to secure funding through the Women’s Program. By no longer funding advocacy, lobbying and most research, the “new” government of Canada is ensuring that coordination of activities and campaigns does not happen.
The current T&Cs aim to provide “direct” and “local” assistance. This is very much based on a charity model which ignores the systemic issues behind the problem at hand. Instead of providing analysis and aiming for legal change the current approach privileges a case by case basis, almost as if women’s poverty and violence against women were exceptions, aberrations to the norm. This approach is not meant to result in any significant change and does not challenge the status quo.
For example, when considering women’s poverty, the charity model approach is about ensuring that women can find a donated business suit which will allow them to access a minimum wage job. What women’s groups have been working on over the last few years is how women’s poverty cannot be addressed solely from the vantage point of finding a job, whatever the job, but that multiple forces such as those behind racism, colonialism and ableism need to be simultaneously addressed if we are to seriously improve women’s economic well being.
There is general agreement that there is a need for increased funding to women’s shelters, however, if current divorce laws continue to fail to take into account spousal and family violence we are not really addressing the issue of violence against women. The new T&Cs allow funding for shelters but not for work related to questioning, challenging and changing the laws.
Local work clearly needs to happen. However the women providing local services, often with little pay and job security cannot be expected to add advocacy work to their plate. Women’s equality work must also take place at the policy, research, legal and lobbying and advocacy levels. Providing short term services will not address long term, systemic discrimination issues which allow women’s poverty and violence against women to prevail.
Previous Terms and Conditions
Mandate:
The Women’s Program of Status of Women Canada (SWC) provides technical and financial support to women’s organizations and other partners seeking to advance equality for women by addressing women’s economic, social, political and legal situation.
Objectives:
1. Promote policies and programs within key institutions that take account of gender implications, the diversity of women’s perspectives and enable women to take part in decision-making processes;
2. facilitate the involvement of women’s organizations in the public policy process;
3. increase public understanding in order to encourage action on women’s equality issues; and
4. enhance the effectiveness of actions undertaken by women’s organizations to improve the situation of women.
Eligibility
1. Women’s organizations in Canada whose objectives are to promote equality for women in Canadian society; and
2. Other non-profit, voluntary organizations in Canada committed to equality for women in Canadian society.
Initiatives not eligible include:
1. Provide direct social or health services;
2. Are emotional, spiritual, personal or professional development.
Current Terms and Conditions
Mandate:
The mandate of the WP is to facilitate women’s participation in Canadian society by addressing their economic, social and cultural situation through Canadian organizations.
Objective:
1. To achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social and cultural life of Canada
To do so, the Program supports projects that improve the situation of women in key areas such as women’s economic status and violence against women and girls.
Eligibility
1. Incorporated not-for-profit and for-profit Canadian organizations whose mandates are consistent with the objective of the Women’s Program.
Initiatives not eligible include:
1. Capacity building for organizations unless related to a clearly articulated need in order to carry out a project that will result in an outcome that would improve directly the situation of women;
2. Research and polling activities not directly tied to a project that will result in an outcome that would improve directly the situation of women; and
3. Domestic advocacy activities and lobbying of federal, provincial and municipal governments.
During the federal election campaign in January 2006, Stephen Harper agreed “that Canada has more to do to meet its international obligations to women’s equality.” He also publicly stated that: “If elected, I will take concrete and immediate measures, as recommended by the United Nations, to ensure that Canada fully upholds its commitments to women in Canada.” (January 18, 2006, FAFIA).
In so doing, Prime Minister Harper recognized the significance of Canada’s commitments under UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the only UN Convention devoted to women’s human rights. Canada ratified this Convention in December of 1981, and 175 countries are now part of this Convention.
In 2003, the UN Committee overseeing countries’ implementation of the Convention urged Canada to do more. It was critical of many of Canada’s policies, and directed governments to better address women’s poverty, pay inequity, discrimination against Aboriginal women, childcare, housing for women, and legal aid for family law, among other things. It also asked Canada to find effective ways to share resources between the federal, provincial and territorial governments so that women in Canada are guaranteed access to programs and services, regardless of where they live. The committee also noted that gender based impact analysis should be mandatory, and that non-governmental organizations be involved in a national discussion regarding Canada’s next report to the Committee.
The recent changes made by federal Minister Beverley Oda, Minister of Status of Women, to the federal guidelines regarding funding for women’s groups will make this work very difficult. The guidelines ban all “domestic advocacy” with federal funds, limit the ability for groups to conduct general research, and share or promote a particular policy position. The goal of advancing women’s equality has also been removed from the guidelines.
This may explain why the current government rejected the recommendations of a federal taskforce on pay equity to improve the current legislation, and have declined to adequately invest in the development of childcare spaces, and housing, among other things.
The current direction takes Canada backwards, not forwards on its CEDAW commitments. The changes to the funding guidelines will jeopardize many women’s organizations and the advocacy they undertake on behalf of women. It will mean that women in Canada who rely on women’s groups to ensure that their rights are respected will be left to do this on their own. Years of consultations with women, research and knowledge will be lost.
The Prime Minister has not kept his word to respect women’s human rights. The 25th anniversary year of Canada’s ratification of CEDAW on December 10th, which should be cause for celebrating, is now a year of struggle.
On September 25 2006, the Harper government announced that it would immediately end all funding for the Court Challenges Program of Canada. This is a bad decision for women, and it must be reversed.
The Court Challenges Program (CCP) is a very important program that funds test-cases initiated by individuals and groups to challenge federal laws and policies that violate their constitutional equality rights. With the help of CCP funding, women’s organizations and other equality-seeking groups have been able to access the justice system, and present progressive interpretations of the law. This has resulted in more egalitarian outcomes for women, gays and lesbians, persons with a disability and other disadvantaged groups.
For example, the CCP provided funding for the Women’s Legal an Education Fund (LEAF) to argue against the use sexists myths in sexual assault trials. LEAF intervened before the Supreme Court of Canada in the Ewanchuk case, where the accused argued that the way a woman is dressed for a job interview can imply that she consents to having sex with a potential employer. Fortunately, the Supreme Court agreed with LEAF arguments and rejected this sexist defense.
The Court Challenges Program also funds test cases to defend the language rights of francophones outside of Québec and anglophones in Québec. This funding has been crucial in the struggle of francophones across Canada to obtain French language schools, and health care services in French.
This is the second time that a Conservative government has abolished the Court Challenges Program. The first was in 1992, and that decision was decried in all quarters and intense mobilization was successful: during the 1994 elections, all federal political parties promised to re-instate the Program if elected. In 1994, the CCP was indeed re-instated by the Liberal government.
The United Nations has repeatedly recognized the vital role that the CCP has been playing in the respect and promotion of human rights in Canada. In January 2003, the CEDAW Committee acknowledged the importance of the CCP in the struggle to end al forms of discrimination against women. And just last May the U.N. Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recommended that the Court Challenges Program be expanded to fund test case litigation against provincial laws and policies that violate constitutional equality rights.
For more information on the Court Challenges Program, and for suggestions as to how you can support the campaign for the reinstatement of the CCP, please go to the following website: www.savecourtchallenges.ca
In September, the federal government announced that it will not introduce a new pay equity law. This is a bad decision for women. It is a giant step backwards on the question of equal pay for work of equal value.
Women still earn less than men regardless of their occupation, age or education. There is a wage gap in Canada. According to Statistics Canada most report on women, on average, women working full-time full-year earn 72 cents for every dollar a full-time full-year male worker earns.
The wage gap is not the result of lower educational levels. Women with university degrees still earn 74% of what university educated men earn. Women earn less than men working the same sectors or even in the same jobs. Except for babysitters and nannies, there are no occupations in which women’s average earnings exceed men’s. Canada has one of the largest wage gap out of the world’s 29 most developed countries - only Spain, Portugal, Japan and Korea have larger wage gaps.
This wage gap persists despite the fact that in the federal sector, for almost 30 years, equal pay for work of equal value has been the law, as part of the Canadian Human Rights Act — and it clearly doesn’t work.
In 2001 the government established the Pay Equity Task Force. After extensive consultation and research they recommended a new proactive pay equity law in May 2004. Employers, unions and women’s groups all agreed that a new effective, accessible law which requires positive employer action, provides clear standards and allows access to an expert independent adjudicative body is needed.
Proactive pay equity law is not a new or radical concept in the Canadian context. Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick all introduced such legislation for their public sector in the early 80s. Ontario and Quebec both have proactive laws covering both the public and private sectors. In all these jurisdictions, these laws have been more effective that the current federal complaint based model.
We need government action that will bring Canada’s pay equity regime into line with its national and international human rights commitments. We need government action that recognizes the contribution women employees make to our economy. The Conservative government is saying that women will just have to live with a status quo that doesn’t work. They want us to rely on education, more mediation and wage rate inspections. All of these initiatives have repeatedly proven inadequate.
Let the federal government and your MP know that Canadian women need a new pay equity law, based on the Pay Equity Task Force recommendations.
For more information: www.nawl.ca or www.canadianlabour.ca
Quality child care has been called the “ramp’ to women’s equality. Without it, women can’t participate fully in economic, social, political and cultural life. That’s why Canadian women need – and deserve - a publicly-funded and publicly accountable, non-profit, pan-Canadian child care system. More and more women with children are working (72%). They need quality child care to study, train for jobs and work with peace of mind. Women working in the home need quality developmental experiences for their children too. All women want to know their children are in good hands. One in six children in Canada (15.6%) lives in poverty. More than 50% of female lone parents are poor. Access to dependable, affordable child care can help mothers improve the lives of their families. It allows them to train for jobs, and to get decent jobs and keep them. Child care contributes to women’s economic independence, and that means they can more easily take themselves and their children out of abusive relationships. Child care supports the employability of mothers while at the same time helping provide children with the foundations for lifelong health, learning and skill development. A Child care program also benefits childcare workers who only earn 62% of what most women earn.
In 2003, the previous federal government dedicated federal funds for early learning and child care programs and then continued to build a child care system through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories that provided an additional $5 billion commitment over five years. The current federal government has announced the cancellation of these bilateral agreements on March 31 2007. This results in cuts of $1.2 billion that was committed to provinces and territories to invest in their own communities, families, and children. Instead of funding child care services in communities, the current federal government has introduced a taxable family allowance and announced a$250 million incentive-based child care spaces initiative – an approach tried and abandoned by other governments because it simply doesn’t work.
Canada’s productivity relies on working mothers with young children, who contribute $53 billion annually to Canada’s GDP. Canadian economists identified a $2 benefit for every $1 invested in a high quality child care system. Quebec which has introduced a comprehensive child care system is already seeing a return of forty cents on every dollar invested. Child care is a tremendous support to families because it allows parents, particularly women, to increase their labour force attachment. Two recent international studies show that Canada is well behind other countries when it comes to early learning and child care services. While Canada is one of the wealthiest countries, we rate at the very bottom when it comes to investing in child care, and investments in maternity / parental leave and other social programs – don’t rate much better. We have a long way to go to begin to achieve the equity, social justice and enlightened self-interest that most Canadians appear to want.
Reversing the cuts: what’s required
1. Restore and increase sustained, long-term federal funding to the provinces and Territories. Federal transfers must be specifically dedicated to improving and expanding child care services, based on provincial and territorial plans to advance quality, inclusion and affordability. Ongoing operating funds such as those committed in the bilateral agreements must be ensured.
2. Enact federal child care legislation that recognizes the principles of a pan-Canadian child care system, makes the federal government accountable to Parliament with respect to child care funding and policy, and respects Quebec and First Nations’ rights to establish their own child care systems.
3. Replace the capital incentives for child care spaces with dedicated capital transfers to the provinces and territories to be used to build child care services that communities prioritize, own, deliver and account for.
4. Provide effective income supports for Canadian families by incorporating the current taxable family allowance into the Canada Child Tax Benefit.
THE WOMEN ARE ANGRY campaign (go to)
Pan-Canadian Campaign Launched November 21, 2006
They are a group of women in Halifax who are angry about the Harper government’s anti-women mandate. They are pleased to be joining the ‘wave of campaigns’ that have responded to this government’s recent funding cuts. Through this campaign, they are reaching out across Canada to women (and those who love them) to join our fight for equality (which Harper has mistakenly declared over).
Status Report (go to)
