Women's Organizations Cut Staff in Wake of Conservative Funding Guideline Changes

Women's groups across the country continue to lay off staff, and others fear they will close their doors for good because the Harper Conservatives are quietly changing the criteria for funding, Liberal Status of Women Critic Maria Minna said today. "

As feared by many women across Canada, the anti-women ideology of the current Conservative government is forcing more women's groups to lay off staff and close their doors," said Ms. Minna.

The most recent victim of the Conservatives' anti-women agenda is the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW), which had to lay off three out of five staff because the organization no longer qualifies for funding from Status of Women Canada. The Conservative government made changes to the rules that prevent any group that advocates for women's equality from receiving funding. "Minister for Status of Women Bev Oda uses smoke and mirrors to try and keep from Canadians what is really happening," said Ms. Minna.

"In addition to denying funding to women's groups, 12 of 16 Status of Women's regional offices have been closed, a move that particularly isolates women in rural areas." Time is running out for many other organizations. For example, the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) and the Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) are deeply concerned for the future well-being of their organizations. Ms. Minna said this story is becoming far too common among women's groups.

"The Conservative government is trying to silence the voices of Canadian women when there is so much work still to do to for them to reach true social, political, economic, cultural, and legal equality in Canada," she said.