Mother’s Day Weekend - May 11th & 12th, 2007

The National Association of Women and the Law invites you to a Conference to discuss some of the policies, programs and reforms that will really promote the equality rights of mothers: improved maternity and parental benefits, universal childcare, family law reforms that promote women’s safety and equality, access to matrimonial property for Aboriginal women living on Reserve, parental rights for lesbian mothers, spousal sponsorship of immigrant women, and many more important issues. Throughout the conference, we want to discuss how these issues are relevant to young women, in particular.

We are also organizing a Mothers Day Lobby on Parliament Hill, on Monday May 14, and we invite you to come and let your MP know what women really need from the federal government.

LINK: Join us at the 2007 NAWL Conference!

Manitoba Women's Advisory Council Appointment

Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan, minister responsible for the status of women, today announced the appointment of Marlene Bertrand as the new chair of Manitoba Women's Advisory Council. Vicky Yakemishin and Laurie Favell-Mowat were also named as members of the council.

LINK: Winnipeg Sun

Maude Barlow's 10 steps to generating change

There are few social issues that Canada's most famous activist has not tackled. Maude Barlow, feminist, environmentalist, champion of the poor and anti-globalization campaigner, has pretty well seen them all and devised effective campaigns to raise awareness of them. The national chairperson of the Council of Canadians offers a succinct 10 steps on how to change society

LINK: Montreal Gazette (subscription)

LINK: F-email Fightback link

Valentine's Day

Harper!! Stop Breaking Our Hearts !!
“Last year on Valentine’s Day, we asked the Prime Minister to forget about the chocolates and the flowers. Instead, he forgot about WOMEN. And now The Women Are Angry.

This year, we’re asking you to send Stephen Harper a special Valentine to let him know what you want for Valentine’s Day. After all, chocolates and flowers don’t last, but Equality is Forever.

We recommend that you download the Valentine postcard from our website. Print the PDF file on cardstock (perhaps in pink or red for the occasion). Distribute widely, and don’t forget to send your own Valentine to the Prime Minister.

Happy Valentine’s Day from The Women Are Angry!

International Women's Day - IWD - 2007

Let’s Put Equality Back On Track!
• If you have any information on IWD events in your province and/or your city, please send details to: cforeman@cupw-sttp.org.
• Si vous savez quoi que ce soit au sujet d’activités qui se dérouleront dans le cadre de la Journée internationale des femmes dans votre ville ou dans votre province, veuillez communiquer cette information à : cforeman@cupw-sttp.org.

Visit the F-email Fightback IWD Events page

"REAL women" complain: Hearings by Status of Women Committee a Hoax

Feb 8m 2007: Press Release by Gwen Landolt: The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women, on which the opposition holds the majority, is conducting four days of televised hearings on the topic of the potential impact of the funding cuts at Status of Women Canada.

The Committee selected the groups which were to testify before it. The score: 27 groups who opposed the cuts and a total of only 3 groups who supported the cuts, including REAL Women of Canada. Although REAL Women has extensive background knowledge about Status of Women funding, we didn't even make the initial selection. Only after extensive pressure was the Committee prepared to hear our views on the subject.

LINK: REAL Women of Canada
LINK: Family Matters Blogger
LINK: FEWO Minutes

Day of Action at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax.

Added to YouTube February 09, 2007: Protesting the cuts to Status of Women, and angry about the removal of the "equality" mandate from Status of Women. We're equal? Who knew? ...Click here

Halifax Radical Cheerleaders

Added to YouTube January 12, 2007: Feminist carols : more great fun from those Halifax Radical Cheerleaders !!!
Click here

B.C.-Black Tuesday to be followed by Childcareless Tuesday

On the first anniversary of Stephen Harper being sworn in as prime minister, early childhood educators protested damage they say his Conservative government helped cause. Throughout B.C., parents, children and early childhood educators rallied yesterday — a day dubbed “black Tuesday” — to raise awareness about the implications of childcare cuts.

“We’re taking a stand for the very weakest members of our society,” said federal Liberal representative Brian Scott. “a stand Prime Minister Harper does not understand.”

On Feb. 13, some registered daycare facilities will close so childcare educators can attend a mass protest at the provincial legislature and parents have been supportive of educators fighting to improve the early childhood education system.

[more]

Keeping some advocacy groups out of court

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper axed the Court Challenges Program last fall, Ottawa's rationale was that taxpayers shouldn't have to support interest groups trying to take elected governments to court. But taxpayers are still subsidizing interest groups that want to take governments to court. The big difference is that, now, proportionally more public money goes to fund conservative causes — including attempts to dismantle medicare.
Read it here. >by Thomas Walkom > full post on F-email Fightback

SWC Supports Prince George New Hope's Initiative to Help Women Starting New Lives

Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, announced funding of $49,140 to Prince George New Hope Society, the first grant to be provided through the renewed Women's Program of Status of Women Canada. This funding will help sex-trade workers start new lives by providing refuge and training opportunities.. [more]

Projects Aimed at Improving Lives of Women

The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, today announced that Canada is committing more than $9 million to fund two projects, executed by Oxfam Canada and Oxfam Quebec respectively, to empower women in developing countries. .. [more]