Links to Canadian Government Sites about Women's Issues - Sites des gouvernements canadiens pertinents à la condition féminine

Call for Proposals : Opening Doors: Economic Opportunities for Women
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/fun-fin/cfp-adp/2013-1/index-eng.html
Status of Women Canada is launching a Call for Proposals for projects that will both increase economic security and promote prosperity for women in communities across Canada. All projects will include a number of predetermined elements, which organizations must address in their proposals.
- incl. links to more info on the types of eligible projects that are acceptable along with an application guide and the application form

* Advancing Women in Non-Traditional Occupations
* Increasing Economic Options for Women
* Improving Prosperity for Immigrant Women

The deadline for applications under this Call for Proposals is 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, May 31, 2013.
All required documents must be provided at the time of submission. Please note that incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

February 25, 2013
Violence against women, 2011
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/130225/dq130225a-eng.htm
According to police-reported data, just over 173,600 women aged 15 and older were victims of violent crime in 2011, a rate of 1,207 female victims for every 100,000 women in the population. Common assaults accounted for about half of all police-reported violent crimes against women.

Ontario offering loans to help low-income women start businesses
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1315510
January 15, 2013
By Laurie Monsebraaten
Ontario will spend about $760,000 over the next two years to help more than 800 low-income women become entrepreneurs. The initiative, announced Tuesday by Women’s Issues Minister Laurel Broten, includes financial training and microloans of $500 to $5,000. The money could help a single mother start a new culinary business or a recent university graduate open her own fitness centre, she said.
(...)
Participants in the Microlending for Women in Ontario program will have access to financial literacy training, entrepreneurial mentoring, skills development and life skills support. Those ready to strike out on their own will be eligible for up to 400 microloans.

December 6:
National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence against Women

Government of Canada Marks 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence in Atlantic Canada
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/med/news-nouvelles/2012/1204-eng.html
News Release
December 4, 2012
OTTAWA – The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today called on all Canadians to join the worldwide 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence while highlighting government actions to address gender-based violence in Atlantic Canada.
(...)
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence commence on November 25, with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and conclude on December 10 with International Human Rights Day. The campaign also observes significant dates such as December 6, Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

CUPE joins women’s groups to mark the day of remembrance and action to end violence against women
http://cupe.ca/women/joins-womens-mark-day-remembrance
December 6, 2012
December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence against Women, is commemorated every year in Canada, on the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, where 14 women were singled out because of their gender, and murdered. (...) While we have made some progress on women’s equality over the years, gender discrimination and violence against women is still a major human rights issue in Canada and across the world.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women
http://www.canadianlabour.ca/14actions
Posted December 2, 2010
December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. On this day we remember and mourn the loss of 14 women, murdered at Montréal's École Polytechnique, murdered because they were women. We remember the 14 lives lost. And there are other numbers to remember...

Call for proposals : promotion of equality for women and girls and reduction of gender-based violence in Canada.
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/fun-fin/cfp-adp/2012-2/index-eng.html
September 11, 2012
Status of Women Canada is launching a call for proposals to invite funding applications for projects that promote equality for women and girls, and reduce gender-based violence in Canada.These projects consist of a number of predetermined elements. Eligible organizations must include these elements in their proposals. The projects under this call for proposals fall into four thematic areas (the date in parentheses is the deadline for each proposal):
1. October 12, 2012 : Preventing and reducing violence against women and girls in high-risk neighbourhoods;
2. October 12, 2012 : Engaging men and boys in ending violence against women and girls;
3. November 9, 2012 : Preventing and reducing violence against women and girls in the name of "honour"; and
4. November 9, 2012 : Preventing and reducing the trafficking of women and girls through community planning.

Click the above link for more details on the Call for Papers and the application process.

Latest cuts: Another federal ministry announces program closure
- the end of the Women’s Health Contribution Program
(<$3M/yr.)
http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/44620
April 23, 2012
Press release
One more women’s program falls victim to federal government budget cuts; 16-year program provided essential evidence and information on women’s health; group argues for need to consider how women are harmed by cuts to programs and services.

Six federally funded organizations devoted to research and communication in women’s health learned this week that their funding will end March 31, 2013.

The Women’s Health Contribution Program is critical to funding innovative social policy research, building community partnerships and providing important mentorship opportunities for students in women’s health. Within a year, the affected organizations will be forced to either close their doors permanently or attempt to find funding elsewhere.

The Women’s Health Contribution Program (WHCP) supports:
- Le Réseau québécois d’action pour la santé des femmes
- the Canadian Women’s Health Network
- the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health
- the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health
- the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence
- the National Network on Environments and Women’s Health, located across the country from Vancouver to Halifax.

Source:
Canadian Women's Health Network
http://www.cwhn.ca/en/
The Canadian Women’s Health Network (CWHN) was created in 1993 as a voluntary national organization to improve the health and lives of girls and women in Canada and the world by collecting, producing, distributing and sharing knowledge, ideas, education, information, resources, strategies and inspirations.
[ About CWHN : http://www.cwhn.ca/en/about ]

Women’s Health Contribution Program
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/gender-genre/contribution/index-eng.php
The Women's Health Contribution Program supports community-academic partnerships in the development and dissemination of policy research and information for women's health. The Program is managed by Health Canada's Bureau of Women's Health and Gender Analysis. The Program contributes approximately $2.95 million annually to eligible recipients.
Source:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php

In Focus: CSW57 – Stop Violence against Women
http://www.unwomen.org/news-events/in-focus/csw57/
Taking place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013, the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57) has the “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls” as its priority theme. It will focus on two key areas: prevention of violence and the provision of support services/responses to survivors of violence.

Source:
CSW57 - main page
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/57sess.htm
- incl. News and announcements - Bureau - Themes - Webcast - Organization of the session - Statements - General discussion - Interactive events - Agreed conclusions - Resolutions - Documentation - Participants - Side events - Preparations - Feature stories -

International Women's Day (IWD) 2013:
Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence against Women
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/iwd-jif/index-eng.html
March 8, 2013
On International Women's Day, Canadians participate in a worldwide celebration of women, peace and human rights. Canada's theme for International Women's Day 2013 is Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence against Women.
(...) Canada's theme aligns with United Nations Commission on the Status of Women's theme for its 57th session, Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. The meeting will take place in New York from March 4 to 15, 2013.

International Women's Day (IWD) 2013:
A global hub for sharing International Women's Day news, events and resources
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
- includes links to :
* Women's initiatives
* Events
* News * IWD Online
* Resources
* IWD Donations

International Women's Day 2012 - "Connecting girls, inspiring futures"
A global hub for sharing International Women's Day news, events and resources
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
- incl. links to :
Home | About | Theme | Events | Gender initiatives & User pages | Resources | Creative | Supporters | Media | Contact

2012 Theme: CONNECTING GIRLS, INSPIRING FUTURES
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme.asp
"Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures" is the 2012 theme of the internationalwomensday.com website and this has been widely used by hundreds of organisations including schools, universities, governments, women’s groups and the private sector. Each year the United Nations declares an overall International Women's Day theme. Their 2012 theme is “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”. Many organisations develop their own themes that are more relevant to their local contexts. For example, the European Parliament's 2012 theme is "Equal pay for work of equal value".

United Nations System Observances
for International Women's Day 2012
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/iwd/2012/
The official United Nations theme for International Women's Day 2012 is "Empower Rural Women — End Hunger and Poverty."

Facts and Figures on Rural Women
http://www.unwomen.org/infocus/rural-women-facts-and-figures/
October 13 2011
* Introduction * Facts & Figures * Statements & Speeches * Stories * Expert Group Meeting * Videos * Photos * Get Involved * Related Links

Celebrating IWD for more than a century!
http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/44446
March 2, 2012
This year’s International Women’s Day is our 101st! Imagine: we’re now in the second century since women around the world began celebrating our achievements to gain economic, political and social equality. While it’s true that some of us have gained much, many challenges – some of them monumental – still face women across the globe.
- incl. links to 18 IWD 2012 events in different Canadian jurisdictions

International Women's Day 2012
Strong Women, Strong Canada –
Women in Rural, Remote and Northern Communities: Key to Canada's Economic Prosperity
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/iwd-jif/index-eng.html
Women across Canada are as diverse as the communities they live in. This year's theme for International Women's Day and International Women's Week celebrates women's roles in the economic prosperity of rural, remote and Northern regions.
- incl. links to : Did you know? - Celebrate - History - Poster - Previous Themes

Women's organizations whose funding was cut by the Harper Government:
http://goo.gl/aruI6
Spring 2011

Harper government axes funding for 11 women's groups
http://goo.gl/88n90
May 2010

Is Stephen Harper displaying fascist-like tendencies?
http://canadiandimension.com/articles/4486/
February 8, 2012
By Nick Fillmore
(...) A few years ago, a former U.S. business executive, Laurence W. Britt, came up with a 14-point description of fascism.
[ http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/britt_23_2.htm ]
In view of Harper's behaviour of late, I think it’s time to look at Britt’s document again.
---
By Gilles:
In his article, author Nick Fillmore presents a condensed version of Britt's 14 points (listed below FYI), followed by quotes from Canadian journalists and other sources concerning Harper’s actions and beliefs with respect to each point.
Click the first link above to the Fillmore article for a point-by-point comparison with Harper's actions and beliefs.
Click the second link above to the Britt article for his 14-point description of fascism. Britt's article was written in 2004, two years before Harper came to power, and yet his list reads like a Stephen Harper Performance Review since he's been at the helm of the Ship of State.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
5. Rampant sexism.
6. A controlled mass media.
7. Obsession with national security.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together.
9. Power of corporations protected.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
14. Fraudulent elections.

February 26, 2012
Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/89-503-x2010001-eng.htm
This is the sixth edition of Women in Canada – representing the 25th anniversary of this publication. (...) As noted in the original 1985 report, "Women in Canada is intended to aid the continuing discussion and evaluation of the changing roles and social characteristics of Canadian women as well as contribute to the development of policies concerning the status of women in Canada."

(Click the link above, then select a chapter in the left-hand margin of that page.
Each section appears in HTML format, and a link to the PDF file appears at the top of each section.)

* Female population
* Families, Living Arrangements and Unpaid Work
* Women and Health
* Women and Education
* Paid work
* Economic Well-being
* Women and the Criminal Justice System
* First Nations, Métis and Inuit Women
* Immigrant Women
* Visible Minority Women
* Senior Women
* Women with activity limitations
* Tables and charts <========== links to 200+ tables and charts!
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/2010001/tbl-c-g-eng.htm
* More information
* Other issues in this series

Source:
Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report - Product main page*
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=89-503-X&lang=eng
Understanding the role of women in Canadian society and how it has changed over time is dependent on having information that can begin to shed light on the diverse circumstances and experiences of women. Women in Canada provides an unparalleled compilation of data related to women's family status, education, employment, economic well-being, unpaid work, health, and more.
---
[ * On the product main page, click "View" to see the latest issue
of this report online; click "Chronological index" for earlier issues. ]

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
December 6, 2011

Statement from the Honourable Rona Ambrose,
Minister of Public Works and Government Services
and Minister for Status of Women
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/med/sta-dec/2011/1206-eng.html
December 6, 2011
"I call on all Canadians today to observe Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. "It was on this day, December 6, 1989, that 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal lost their lives in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation."

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence:
November 25 – December 10
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/vaw-vff/index-eng.html
TIP : Click the "Today" tab under the graphic to see features for each of the 16 days.
Excerpt : "[December 6] is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions* to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls."

* With its 615,000 members across Canada, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) [ http://cupe.ca/ ] is by far Canada's largest community of workers. CUPE reminds us that the gun registry is a concrete action to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

Support the call to end violence against women
December 6, 2011
http://cupe.ca/women/dec-6-support-call-violence-women
On the 22nd anniversary of that tragic day, CUPE is calling on the Harper Conservative government to stop putting the safety of women and frontline workers across the country at risk with the proposed elimination of the gun registry.

Submission by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to the
Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (PDF - 72K, 5 pages)
November 24, 2011
http://cupe.ca/ckfinder/userfiles/files/SubmissionBillC-19-Rev-Eng.pdf
CUPE recently made a submission to the standing committee on public safety and national security against Bill C-19 and in support of keeping the gun registry.

The tragic, joyous meanings of December 6
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1097416
By Sarah Blackstock
December 5, 2011
How does a feminist celebrate her daughter's seventh birthday and commemorate the École Polytechnique massacre, both on December 6?
Sarah Blackstock, director of advocacy and communications at YWCA Toronto, explains what the day means for her and how she can find balance in this day of extremes for her.
Source:
Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/

June 27, 2011
Shelters for abused women, 2010
On April 15, 2010, there were 593 shelters offering services to abused women in Canada, up from 569 in 2008 when this information was last collected. On that day, 4,645 women were residing in these shelters. More than one-third (36%) were staying at transition homes, followed by emergency shelters (21%), second-stage housing (20%) and women's emergency shelters (15%). The remaining 7% were staying in other types of shelters.

April 1, 2011
Women in Canada: The criminal justice system, 2009
The involvement of women and female youth in the criminal justice system has largely been as victims of crime rather than as offenders. While females accounted for about one-half of all victims of violent crime reported to police authorities in 2009, they represented a minority of offenders. The analysis in this report is based on the third section of what will be the latest edition of the publication Women in Canada, which is published periodically by Statistics Canada. This chapter examines the prevalence and nature of female victimization and female criminality, as well as the processing of female offenders through the criminal justice system.

Source:
Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report - Product main page*
Understanding the role of women in Canadian society and how it has changed over time is dependent on having information that can begin to shed light on the diverse circumstances and experiences of women. Women in Canada provides an unparalleled compilation of data related to women's family status, education, employment, economic well-being, unpaid work, health, and more.
[ * On the product main page,click "View" to see the latest issue of this report online; click "Chronological index" for earlier issues. ]

International Women's Day 2011
100th anniversary of International Women's Day
March 8

International Women's Day 2011
Theme for UN International Women's Day 2011:
Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women
- includes links to 11 IWD 2011 events at the UN and other international venues

International Women's Day 2011 - A global hub for sharing International Women's Day news, events and resources
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

- incl. links to :
* Home * About * 2011 Theme * Events * Global IWD Arts Initiative * IWD Interactive * Media & IWD Resources * Your Say * Contact

International Women's Day Centenary sees largest ever activity (Word file - 45K, 2 pages)
March 8 sees the highest level of global women's activity
ever witnessed as groups celebrate the International Women's Day centenary.
London, March 2, 2011
The first International Women's Day events were run in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland in 1911 and attended by over one million people. 100 years on, International Women's Day (IWD) has become a global mainstream phenomena celebrated across many countries and is an official holiday in approximately 25 countries including Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam and Zambia.

International Women's Day [Canada] : Girls' Rights Matter
March 8, 2011
In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women's rights and international peace. Following the United Nations' lead, Canada chose March 8 as International Women's Day (IWD). Each year at this time, Canadians celebrate progress toward equality for women and their full participation, reflect on the challenges and barriers that remain, and consider future steps to achieving equality for all women, in all aspects of their lives. Over time, International Women's Day has grown into a week-long series of commemorative events and activities across the country. International Women's Week (IWW) 2011 begins on Sunday, March 6 and wraps up on Saturday, March 12.
- incl. * Theme * Fact Sheet * Products Available * To Order a Poster * Previous Themes.

December 20, 2010
Study: Why has the gender wage gap narrowed? (1988 to 2008)
During the past two decades, the gap in average hourly wages between men and women has narrowed steadily. In 1988, women earned 75.7 cents in wages for every $1 earned by men. By, 2008, they were earning 83.3 cents on the dollar. The wage gap converged in all age groups during this period, although older workers experienced the largest change. The gap among workers age 25 to 29 narrowed by 5.6 percentage points, while among older workers age 50 to 54, it converged by 16.2 percentage points. A key factor in the convergence was that the growth in relative wages of women outpaced the gains of men.

Why has the gender wage gap narrowed?
Highlights
Full article:
HTML
PDF (146K, 11 pages)

Perspectives on Labour and Income - product main page*
This publication brings together and analyzes a wide range of labour and income data. Topics include youth in the labour market, pensions and retirement, work arrangements, education and training, and trends in family income.
* On the product main page, click "View" to see the latest issue of this report online; click "Chronological index" for earlier issues

December 16, 2010
Women in Canada: Economic well-being, 2008
Between 2000 and 2008, average total income for Canadian women increased at almost twice the pace as it did for men, although women continued to have lower income levels. On average, total income for women was $30,100 in 2008, up 13% from $26,300 in 2000. During the same period, total income for men increased by 7% to $47,000.

Economic Well-being
by Cara Williams
PDF version (1.1MB, 34 pages)
Table of contents:
* The many determinants of economic well-being
* Income
* Earnings
* Low income
* Financial security
* Retirement savings
* Home ownership and shelter affordability
* Factors contributing to the decline in the gender wage gap

December 9, 2010
Women in Canada: Paid work, 1976 to 2009
The employment rate for women with children has been steadily on the rise during the past three decades. In 2009, 72.9% of women with children under the age of 16 living at home were employed, nearly twice the rate of 39.1% recorded in 1976.

Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report
Paid Work
HTML version - click the links in the left-hand margin to access the content
PDF version (357K, 31 pages)
By Vincent Ferrao
December 2010
Source:
Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report - Product main page*
Understanding the role of women in Canadian society and how it has changed over time is dependent on having information that can begin to shed light on the diverse circumstances and experiences of women. Women in Canada provides an unparalleled compilation of data related to women's family status, education, employment, economic well-being, unpaid work, health, and more.
[ * On the product main page,click "View" to see the latest issue of this report online; click "Chronological index" for earlier issues. ]

Economic hard times cast shadow over women
December 6, 2010
By Eileen Morrow
Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Typically on this day each year, there is a lot of remembrance. Action is another matter. Fears are that this trend may continue, if not increase, now that governments are flagging austerity at every level. That would be dangerous because research and experience show that violence against women rises during tough economic times. The observance of that terrible day in 1989 when Marc Lepine stalked and murdered 14 women at Montreal’s l’École Polytechnique is, regrettably, an opportunity to keep ongoing violence against women on the public policy agenda.
Source:
Toronto Star
[Eileen Morrow is Coordinator of the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses ]

Conservatives continue to fail victims of
gun violence with deferral of gun marking regulations
December 6, 2010
The Conservative government has ignored victims of gun violence by refusing to help police officers track imported guns used in violent crimes with their decision to delay life-saving firearm regulations for two more years, Liberal MPs said today. (...) Marking a firearm for import can assist domestic law enforcement with the identification of a firearm that was lawfully imported – even if the serial number is obliterated. Knowing that a firearm was lawfully imported may help an investigator identify the firearm’s source when linked to knowledge about legal importers or the firearms registry.
(...)
“For the first time nearly 20 years – since the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada was created – we have the victims and families of the l’École Polytechnique de Montréal massacre refusing to participate in the federal government’s annual memorial ceremony because they are disgusted with this government’s track record on gun safety,” said Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville. (...) The Canadian Shooting Sports Association lobbied the Conservatives to delay marking and tracing regulations again and praised them for their decision in an alert to their members last week. “Liberals are calling on the Conservative government to immediately adopt life-saving Firearms Marking Regulations and stop paying lip-service to victims of gun violence,” Ms. Neville concluded.

WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY:
Canada Moves Forward to Increase Women’s Engagement (PDF - 7.5MB, 176 pages)
Fifth Report of the
Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
November 18, 2010
From September 2009 to April 2010, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights conducted a study of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, which was adopted unanimously by the Council in October 2000. The Committee focused its study on the implementation of the resolution by the UN and, in particular, Canada. Resolution 1325 was the first adopted by the Security Council to explicitly address the impact of armed conflict on women. It introduced a set of international standards for all UN member states, conflict belligerents, the UN system and its peacekeeping forces, and other stakeholders. Under the resolution, these actors must take varying steps to ensure that efforts to prevent, resolve and rebuild from armed conflict incorporate the perspectives of women.
(Excerpt from the Executive Summary)

Source:
Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
- includes links to the four first reports of the Standing Committee, covering the following topics:
* Canada and the United Nations Human Rights Council
* Matrimonial interests or rights respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves
* Employment Equity in the Federal Public Service
* Expenses of Committee members

Women's participation and economic downturns
May 2010
* Highlights
* Full article:
--- HTML version
--- PDF version ( 119K, 5 pages)
Using data from the Labour Force Survey, this article examines the evolution of the employment rate and work hours of wives whose husbands suffered job loss during the last three labour market downturns: 1981 to 1983, 1990 to 1992 and 2008 to 2009.

Funding cut to 14 women's groups
Critics charge Tories with fostering
a 'culture of intimidation' over abortion
May 5, 2010
OTTAWA
Critics are accusing the Harper government of ideologically driven intimidation for cutting funding to women's groups even as it prepares to champion maternal health at June's G8 Summit. The Conservatives have axed funding up to 14 women's groups in the past two weeks. News of the cuts surfaced a day after Tory Senator Nancy Ruth warned aid groups they risk a backlash from the government if they don't "shut the f--- up" on the government's refusal to include abortion in the G8 plan.
Source:
The Canadian Press

Women's group cuts 'ideological': MPs
May 5, 2010
Opposition parties say the Conservative government has recently cut federal funding to more than a dozen women's groups because the organizations don't share Prime Minister Stephen Harper's ideology and dare to criticize his policies. The Liberals circulated a list on Wednesday of groups that promote human rights, equality rights and anti-homelessness initiatives that have lost federal funding within the past two weeks. But the Conservatives say the groups were "inefficient" and the government is just making sure taxpayers get their money's worth.
Source:
CBC

Harper government axes funding for 11 women's groups
May 4, 2010
A women's rights group is charging that the Harper government has cut funding for 11 women's groups in the last two weeks, just prior to June's G8 summit at which maternal health to a key part of the agenda
Source:
CTV

Tories accused of culture of intimidation
May 4, 2010
By Richard J. Brennan
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been accused of systematically undermining women in this country by stripping their advocacy groups of tens of millions of dollars and targeting those critical of his government’s anti-abortion stance on the world stage. In the past two weeks, the federal government has ended funding to 14 women’s groups, including a non-governmental agency that was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for more than 30 years.
Source:
Toronto Star

In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women's rights and international peace. Following the United Nations' lead, Canada chose March 8 as International Women's Day (IWD).

Each year at this time, Canadians celebrate progress toward equality for women and their full participation, reflect on the challenges and barriers that remain, and consider future steps to achieving equality for all women, in all aspects of their lives.

Over time, International Women's Day has grown into a week-long series of commemorative events and activities across the country. International Women's Week 2010 begins on Sunday, March 7 and wraps up on Saturday, March 13.

We encourage all Canadians - women and men, girls and boys - to promote International Women's Day / International Women's Week. Better yet, why not organize your own IWD/IWW event in your community, organization, workplace or school?

Your 2010 IWD theme is "Strong Women. Strong Canada. Strong World"
Your 2009 IWD theme was "Strong Leadership. Strong Women. Strong World: Equality."
Your 2008 IWD theme was "Strong Women, Strong World"

International Women’s Day in Canada: Progress for all?
AS I SEE IT by Carol Metz Murray
March 5, 2010
“Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.”
For the government of Canada, this year’s theme will have an unpleasant sting. Our federal government has received a humiliating reprimand by several UN human rights bodies for its handling of the issues of women’s poverty and endemic violence against Aboriginal women and girls. In his official 2006 report, National Council of Welfare chairperson John Murphy called Canada’s welfare rates for women “shameful and morally unsustainable in a rich country.” Between 2004 and 2009, Canada managed the formidable task of slipping from seventh to 25th place on the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index, and was ranked a shameful 73rd in the 2009 UN Gender Disparity Index.
[Author Carol Metz Murray is Executive director of the
Tri-City Women's Resource Society in Port Coquitlam, BC.]
Source:
Tri-City News

International Women's Day (8 March 2010) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. The International Women's Day website provides a free service to women around the world wanting to share and promote their IWD activity, videos, opinions and ideas. Please feel free to submit gender-related items for the site that you consider relevant and useful.
- incl. links to :
* Home * About * 2010 Theme * Events * Pictures / Videos * Jobs * Business & Finance * Science & Technology * Justice * Health * Other
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Human Rights of Incarcerated Women in Canada
Provincial/territorial Government Women's Links

Women's Rights in Canada since 1900
- links to info about key court cases and laws that have shaped human rights in Canada since 1900
Source:
Human rights in 20th Century Canada - A Historical Perspective
[ Justice Canada ]

The Liberal Party's Pink Book

From the Liberal Party of Canada:

Liberal Women’s Caucus Releases Pink Book II
December 5, 2007
News Release
Calls for changes to Divorce Act, elimination of fees
OTTAWA – The Liberal Women’s Caucus today released Volume II of the Pink Book: A Policy Framework for Canada’s Future, to respond to concerns about violence against women, housing, Aboriginal women, immigrant and refugee women and rural women.

The Pink Book, Volume II: A
Policy Framework for Canada’s Future (PDF file - 425K, 39 pages)
2007
Source:
Liberal Women’s Caucus

Pink Book, Volume I (2006) (2.6MB, 29 pages)

Links to Canadian Government Sites
about Women's Social Issues

Sites canadiens gouvernementaux
pertinents à la condition sociale féminine

Links to Canadian Government Sites about Women's Social Issues

Sites canadiens gouvernementaux pertinents à la condition sociale féminine

Links to Canadian Government Sites
about Women's Social Issues

Sites canadiens gouvernementaux
pertinents à la condition sociale féminine