The Conservatives and Prime Minister Stephen Harper are at it again. Putting them back in power has set any forward movement back about 20 years, from environmental issues to women's rights, to democracy, to just about anything you can name. If you disagree publicly with something he has said...he kicks you out of the party without even a reasonable explanation.
This is an article from CBC News.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Conservative government is closing down most of its Status of Women Canada offices, saying they are not doing enough to serve women directly.
Twelve of the agency's 16 offices will close by April 1, Heritage Minister Bev Oda said Wednesday.
"We don't need to separate the men from the women in this country.… This government as a whole is responsible to develop policies and programs that address the needs of both men and women."
Oda said the closures will save on unnecessary rent and utility bills, savings that she said will free up more than $700,000 for women's programs even after $5 million in funding cuts.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said the move will cut 61 of 131 jobs at the Status of Women.
Oda said women in regions will be able to get service from offices of the Canadian Heritage Department. Liberal critic Maria Minna, citing a letter from Oda, said there will be four offices left as of April 1:
• Edmonton, serving Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon.
• Montreal, serving Quebec and Nunavut.
• Moncton, N.B., serving the Atlantic region.
• Ottawa, serving Ontario and national organizations.
Status of Women Canada works to advance women's economic equality and human rights, and eliminate violence against women.
Minna called the move "reprehensible."
"Canadian women are still only earning 71 cents to every dollar earned by their male counterparts, more and more women are living in poverty, and we are still waiting for the government to create child-care spaces," she said.
"With the closure of these regional offices, the government is taking away one of the very few remaining resources for women."
Minna said the closures are a clear sign that the Conservatives plan to completely dismantle Status of Women Canada.
This is an article from CBC News.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Conservative government is closing down most of its Status of Women Canada offices, saying they are not doing enough to serve women directly.
Twelve of the agency's 16 offices will close by April 1, Heritage Minister Bev Oda said Wednesday.
"We don't need to separate the men from the women in this country.… This government as a whole is responsible to develop policies and programs that address the needs of both men and women."
Oda said the closures will save on unnecessary rent and utility bills, savings that she said will free up more than $700,000 for women's programs even after $5 million in funding cuts.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada said the move will cut 61 of 131 jobs at the Status of Women.
Oda said women in regions will be able to get service from offices of the Canadian Heritage Department. Liberal critic Maria Minna, citing a letter from Oda, said there will be four offices left as of April 1:
• Edmonton, serving Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon.
• Montreal, serving Quebec and Nunavut.
• Moncton, N.B., serving the Atlantic region.
• Ottawa, serving Ontario and national organizations.
Status of Women Canada works to advance women's economic equality and human rights, and eliminate violence against women.
Minna called the move "reprehensible."
"Canadian women are still only earning 71 cents to every dollar earned by their male counterparts, more and more women are living in poverty, and we are still waiting for the government to create child-care spaces," she said.
"With the closure of these regional offices, the government is taking away one of the very few remaining resources for women."
Minna said the closures are a clear sign that the Conservatives plan to completely dismantle Status of Women Canada.
5 comments:
Yep, Harper has nothing to worry about until women get the right to vote!
Wait a second!!!
Didn't he learn from Bush that you can't wear a cowboy outfit and impress the people - at least most of them?
That's the sad thing about "conservatives" as a whole - that when you're dealing with the theoretical Thoreauvian play on Jefferson that "that government is best which governs least" you end up with refusal to pay for some of the good things (like taking care of the environment). And maybe private people do it best, but frankly, I don't want my pristine parks in the hands of those that would make it the Chase Bank Grand Canyon or Fleet Mountains of Yellowstone.
Have a better 1.
So let's look at the track record so far, shall we?
Cried foul when Stronach left the party, but happily accepted a liberal after the election. Even gave him a cabinet post!
Cried about accountability and ethics, yet appoints a guy to the Senate and then gives a cabinet position to an unelected official!
Environment programs? Cut.
Aboriginal languages? Cut.
Tax rebates for tourists? Cut.
Daycare funding for everyone with children? $100/month. (FYI: it can cost upwards of $900/mo for daycare).
And now women's programs. Cut.
Oh yeah. The Conservatives are BEGGING for re-election!
Forgot to mention how Harper appointed an anglophone to manage the francophone file.
Smooooth.
Oh..And a male to manage the status of women file!
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