Every page added to this site is indexed on our What's New page here

November 26, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Toronto Sun Runs Guest Column on Bill 107 by AODA Alliance Human Rights Reform Rep David Lepofsky
Send in Letters to the Editor In Support!

It is the sixth straight day of media coverage on the McGuinty Muzzle Motion which shut down the promised public hearings on McGuinty's widely-criticized bill to weaken the Human Rights Commission. Follow this link to read the guest column by AODA Alliance Human Rights Reform representative David Lepofsky in the Sunday, November 26, 2006 Toronto Sun.

We encourage you to send letters to the editor of the Toronto Sun in support of this column. Tell the Sun what you think of the McGuinty Muzzle Motion. Let the public know that this will be an election issue next fall.

Write the Sun at: editor@tor.sunpub.com

We also encourage you to write guest columns for your local newspaper. Read More

November 24, 2006
Additions to the site include:

New Federal Policies Affecting Women's Equality: Reality Check -- CRIAW's latest Fact Sheet
Do you agree with the federal Conservatives that “women are already equal”?

Check out CRIAW's hard-hitting new fact sheet:
“New Federal Policies Affecting Women's Equality: Reality Check” (PDF file)

It summarizes “facts” and “current government policy” for six issues.

Read text here, highlighting one detail from each section.

Text of Legislature Debates over McGuinty's Motion to Shut Down Bill 107 Public Hearings
Here we set out the text of the debates in the Ontario legislature surrounding the McGuinty Government's shutting down further public hearings on the widely-criticized Bill 107. Bill 107 would weaken the Human Rights Commission and take away key rights that we fought for and won 25 years ago, rights regarding public investigation and public prosecution of discrimination cases.

This is a lot of material. (some 62 pages) We provide it all to ensure everyone can see what is said on this important topic on the floor of the Legislature. You will see:

• the November 14, 2006 exchange in Question Period when the Attorney General gave commitments regarding the public hearings process.
  
  
• The November 20, 2006 exchange on Bill 107 in Question Period hours before the McGuinty Government would surprise one and all with its motion for closure to shut down the promised public hearings.
  
  
• The extensive exchanges in Question Period on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 on the impending closure motion. (17 pages) This occurred while many in the public Galleries (whose scheduled public hearings were cancelled) looked on. These exchanges occurred just hours before the closure motion would be debated.
  
  
• The actual debate on the evening of November 21, 2006 on the McGuinty Liberals' "closure" or "time allocation motion. (35 pages).
  
  
• yet more exchanges in Question Period on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 on the shutting down of Bill 107 public hearings. (7 pages)
  
  
• More on this topic in Question Period on Thursday, November 23, 2006.

There are a good number of other mentions of this topic scattered in debates over other topics over this week. We have not included those here.

We again express our deep appreciation to the NDP and Conservative Party for continuing to press this issue.

As you read these debates, you will see that the Conservative leader John Tory repeatedly offered that if the Liberals restore the cancelled public hearings, the Conservatives will support a swift vote on the bill when the legislature resumes in March. The Liberals never give a reason for turning this offer down. The Liberals claim that this matter has been debated or considered for over 200 days. However, there have not been 200 days of debate in the Legislature or the Standing Committee on this bill. Throughout the vast majority of those 200 days, we had all been relying on the McGuinty Liberals' commitments regarding the public hearings, and preparing for them. By this closure motion, the McGuinty Government breaches those commitments.

The Liberals say they have heard enough at the hearings. Yet the clear message from a majority of the presenters to date is that the bill is seriously flawed.

Here is a list of all the Liberal MPPs who voted on November 21, 2006 for the McGuinty muzzle motion. You may wish to call these MPPs to let them know how you feel about the muzzle motion, and to urge them to get the Government to reverse itself and re-open the promised public hearings. Read More

November 21, 2006
Additions to the site include:

McGuinty Liberals to Shut Down Bill 107 Public Hearings
TAKE ACTION: URGENT Join Our "Dial Dalton" Campaign!
Without any prior warning, the McGuinty Government has just served a motion that tomorrow night, Tuesday, November 21, 2006 it will ask the Legislature to invoke "closure" or "time allocation" on Bill 107. This motion will be debated Tuesday night, and likely voted on Tuesday night or Wednesday. The Liberals can be expected to use their majority to force through this motion. Read More | Take Action

November 16, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Voice of Our Own: Quarterly Update - October 2006
Council of Canadians of Disabilities (CCD)

November 5, 2006
Additions to the site include:

October 30, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Support a National Child Care Program
Momentum is building for a private members’ bill that would boost child care from a patchwork of services to a pan-Canadian program. Add your support today by emailing your member of parliament about this important bill. Read more and Take Action

October 8, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Harper's social Darwinism
Silver Donald Cameron, ChronicleHerald.ca
OPPOSITION PARTIES don’t win elections, says the old maxim; governments lose them. In 1957, Louis St. Laurent lost. In 1984, John Turner. In 2006, Paul Martin. On each occasion, the over-ripe Liberals yielded to a new-ish Conservative leader — Diefenbaker, Mulroney, Harper.

New Tory prime ministers always believe they won the elections, and thus have a mandate to reshape the country according to their dark fantasies. Wrong: Canadians did not suddenly decide to cleave unto the National Citizens’ Coalition and the Calgary Prophetic Bible Institute. They mainly wanted to punish the Liberals. Failing to understand that, the Tories soon make themselves loathed, and are firmly propelled into the wilderness for another generation.

The Harper Tories have started already, with their brainless budget cuts. With a surplus of $13.2 billion, the government is "swimming in money," notes former Liberal Revenue Minister John McCallum. The national debt as a percentage of GDP is at its lowest level in 24 years. No matter. Without even a fig-leaf of necessity to cover its naked social Darwinism, the government gleefully mounts a sly, mean-minded assault on civil society — the voluntary and non-commercial activities which glue the country together. Read full article here

In Spain, women are shaping a cultural revolution
Molly Moore, The Washington Post
MADRID - When Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega graduated from law school in the 1970s, Spanish law prohibited her -- and any other woman -- from becoming a judge, serving as a witness in court or opening a bank account.

Today, the angular, outspoken 57-year-old is Spain's first female vice president, helping orchestrate a cultural revolution in the boardrooms and living rooms of the country that coined the word machismo -- male chauvinism -- five centuries ago.

"We have a prime minister who not only says he's a feminist -- he acts like a feminist," Fernandez said in her cavernous office of polished wood floors and cream-colored sofas. "In 2 1/2 years, we have done more than has ever been done in such a short time in Spain."

Her Socialist government is requiring political parties to allot 40 percent of their candidate lists to women and is telling big companies to give women 40 percent of the seats on corporate boards. Half of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero's Cabinet members are women -- the highest proportion in any European government.

New divorce laws not only make it easier for couples to split, but stipulate that marital obligations require men to share the housework equally with their wives. Read full article here

October 6, 2006
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Funding Cuts to Women's Programs 'Profoundly Undemocratic'
Feds targeting the most vulnerable groups say elementary teachers
Funding cuts to federal programs protecting and promoting women's equality rights are profoundly undemocratic, charges the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO).

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Harper today, ETFO president Emily Noble stressed that the reductions in funding are "shamefully targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in our community."

"Reverse these cuts and policy changes," Noble urged the Prime Minister. Read More

September 28, 2006
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Liberals Stand Up For Canadian Women
Liberal Party release dd Sept. 28, 2006
The Liberal Opposition today stood up on behalf of all Canadian women today and called on the Conservative minority government to respect the rights of women and promote their equality in Canadian society.

“This government has gutted the funding for equality seeking groups that help raise awareness and fight discrimination, including those for women” said Liberal Critic for Status of Women Maria Minna. “Moreover, we are saddled with Conservative Minister for Canadian Heritage Bev Oda, who won’t rule out the possibility that the Status of Women Agency might wind up on the Conservative chopping block. Read More

Support for Court Challenges Program (CCP)

Dear Friends of the Court Challenges Program

As you know by now the Court Challenges Program has been cancelled by the Conservative minority government. This is a blow to all those in Canada who believe in fairness, equality and language rights for French and English minorities. Please help us reverse this decision.

Below you will find links to a letter to the Prime Minister and several background documents regarding the Court Challenges Program. A Steering Committee representative of both language rights and equality rights communities has prepared these materials and is asking that you do the following:

Send your confirmations of support to april@ccdonline.ca along with your contact information.

Your endorsement should indicate the full name (not simply an acronym) of the organization in both English and French if you choose, as well as the full spelling of your name and title if you wish it included.

• Circulate this letter to others that have not received it and encourage their support. There will be follow up letters to the Prime Minister. We are seeking as many names as possible by Monday but do not stop seeking endorsements of the letter, there will be other opportunities for organizations and individuals to support this work.

• Write your own letter as an individual or organization to the Prime Minister and forward a copy for our records to april@ccdonline.ca
  
  
• Write your own Member of Parliament and send her or him a copy of the letter to the Prime Minister. We will circulate the final letter to the Prime Minister with endorsements to you on Monday afternoon.

An axe that harms democracy
Court Challenges Program played key role in settling equality rights
by Lorne Sossin, Op/Ed, Toronto Star, Sep. 28, 2006
On Monday, after announcing more than $1 billion in reduced federal government spending, including the axing of the Court Challenges Program, Treasury Board president John Baird said, "I just don't think it made sense for the government to subsidize lawyers to challenge the government's own laws in court."

At first glance, Baird has a point. Why should the government fund lawsuits against it?

The Court Challenges Program provides selective funding to "test cases" which seek to advance equality and language rights under the Constitution.

The rationale for the fund lies in the fact that access to justice requires resources — both in terms of court fees and fees for the lawyers who argue these cases.

The Court Challenges Program has over the years offered a voice in the debate on the scope and nature of language and equality rights to individuals and groups, which would otherwise not be able to bring these issues to court.

Equally important, this program has conferred legitimacy on rights-seeking individuals and groups. The program stands for the proposition that it is in the public interest to have courts clarify the nature of the constitutional constraints on government. ... Read More

Tories defend end to law program benefitting seniors, women, gays, minorities
by Alexander Panetta (CP), Wed Sep 27, 2006
Donated by The Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - The Conservatives are under fire for killing a legal-aid program that has assisted Canadian minority groups in a series of historic court victories over the last three decades.

The cancellation of the Court Challenges Program was slammed Wednesday by the country's largest legal organization, opposition parties, and at least one Tory provincial government.

The Trudeau-era program has helped fund successful court challenges that broadened the rights of Canadian seniors, women, the disabled, homosexuals, religious groups, aboriginals, and minority-language groups.

The federal Tories announced this week that cutting the program would save taxpayers $5.6 million over two years.

Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams - a provincial Tory and a lawyer - called the cuts worrisome and distanced himself from the "right-wing" federal Conservatives. Read More

September 27, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Cancellation of Court Challenges Program a Step Back for Equality Rights
Read the press release that went out after today's press conference held by Liberal MPs Omar Alghabra, Sue Barnes, Mauril Bélanger, Bonnie Brown and Maria Minna
The Conservative government's elimination of the Court Challenges Program will strip minority groups of the ability to challenge legislation that infringes on their rights, says the Liberal Opposition. Read More

en français: L'abolition du Programme de contestation judiciaire est un recul pour les droits à l'égalité
L'annulation du Programme de contestation judiciaire va priver les groupes minoritaires de la possibilité de contester les lois qui enfreignent leurs droits, déclare l'opposition libérale.

Court Challenges: Mary's story
Dad tells how axing program will hurt disabled Canadians
Winnipeg Free Press, Wed Sep 27 2006, by Kevin Rollason
WE'RE not gay, and my nine-year-old daughter and I have never been jailed in a federal prison. We're ordinary Canadians who have been helped by a federally funded legal program the Harper government now wants to axe.

The Harper government's spin on shutting down the Court Challenges Program of Canada, to save $5.6 million, is that this is the organization that has been part of controversial cases including funding the advocates for gay marriage and the right of prisoners to vote.

In announcing the axing of Court Challenges, along with numerous other programs as part of $1 billion in spending cuts yesterday, Treasury Board president John Baird said those initiatives "weren't meeting the priorities of Canadians" or providing "value for money."

Scarier still, Baird went on to say about Court Challenges that the federal government is no longer interested in funding opposition to legislation it believes is right.

But if not for Court Challenges, I would not have been able to fight the government when our family was discriminated against by the federal employment insurance program. Read More

Cuts reveal Harper Conservatives agenda - For women and Court Challenges
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Press Release
The government has announced a series of cuts to social programs - so they can save $2 billion over the next 2 years. "Likely the money from these programs will be designated for some type of tax cut that the Harper Conservatives will announce in the next federal election - probably sometime this spring," said Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

"When we look at just 2 of these program cuts $5 million from the Status of Women and $5.6 million from the Court Challenges program, a clear message is being sent. The government is essentially saying that any voice given to
addressing gender inequality in this country will be further silenced - furthermore any voices wanting to challenge the current status of the laws of this land will be muzzled," added Moist. Read More

Canadian Conservative Government Slashes Funding to Wasteful Anti-Family Programs
LifeSiteNews.com, John-Henry Westen, dd September 26, 2006
OTTAWA, September 26, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The budgets of some of the most wasteful and at the same time biased Canadian government funded programs have been slashed by the new Conservative Government. Three organizations which have been overtly pushing for same-sex marriage have been denied millions of tax-dollars they have been receiving for years under the previous Liberal government.

<SNIPED>

REAL Women Canada, a conservative women's group said in a press release today that they were "especially pleased" at the cut to Status of Women. "This is a good start, and we hope that the Status of Women will eventually be eliminated entirely, since it does not represent 'women', but only represents the ideology of feminists," said the group. "The Status of Women was established in 1973 under Prime Minister Trudeau and over the years, it has funded feminist groups to serve as agents of change, never recognizing that other women have different views and have no wish to be represented by these feminist organizations."
Hold your nose & read more

R.E.A.L Women of Canada, Press Release, September 26, 2006
Conservative Government Bringing Common Sense to Public Finances

September 26, 2006
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Government's real priorities revealed - Media Statement
We are deeply concerned about the gutting of the only federal agency that addresses critical questions pertaining to equality and about what it suggests about what this government's true intentions are for equality matters in Canada.

Announced Monday, the 5 million dollar cut to Status of Women Canada (SWC) is a serious attack on the lone federal department engaged in the development of gender responsive policy and in the fulfillment of Canada's human rights obligations to women at the international, domestic, and inter-governmental levels.

We now see the government's real priorities revealed. Read More

National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) Responds to Federal Budget Cuts
Stephen Harper promised to “take concrete and immediate measures …to ensure that Canada fully upholds its commitments to women.”

The elimination of the Court challenges Program will deny legal redress to poor and marginlized women: the Conservative Government is abrogating CEDAW Article 2 (c) To establish legal protection of the rights of women on an equal basis with men and to ensure through competent national tribunals and other public institutions the effective protection of women against any act of discrimination. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not include the financial means by which to access the courts on an equal basis with the wealthiest citizens or corporations when a individual’s rights have been violated.

Harper’s Government cut $5 million from the Status of Women budget despite the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee, representing all parties in the house, to an increase in the budget of at least 25%. How does this action live up to his promised commitment to Canadian women?

Federal Conservatives Betray Commitments to Women's Equality: Provincial Advisory Council Responds to Cuts to Status of Women Canada
The Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women is alarmed by the federal government's decision to cut 1 billion dollars in spending. "The federal government signaled its intention to make these cuts last spring, and our worst fears are being realized," says Leslie MacLeod, President. "They are eliminating 1% of their overall spending by eliminating or reducing critical social programs."

The Advisory Council denounces the decision to cut the federal Department of Status of Women Canada by $5 million over two years. These cuts will be taken from its modest budget of $13 million per year. It is one of the smallest federal departments but has a huge role in advancing women's equality. This department provides critical analysis of the effect of policies and programs on women.

... The Advisory Council also condemns the decision to shut down the Court Challenges Program of Canada. Yesterday, federal Treasury Board President John Baird stated, "I just don't think it makes sense for the government to subsidize lawyers to challenge government's laws in court." The Advisory Council disagrees. Read More

Sue Genge Responds to Edmonton Sun column 'Despair over cuts to women's groups'
I read and disagree with much of Ms. Jacobs' article. But, in particular, I thought she should be clear that when women's organizations talk about the wage gap, we are not talking about the difference between men in highly skilled and higly paid professions vs women in low skilled and low paid professions. In particular, I'm refering to the following assertion in her article.

"The paper harps about the ongoing pay gap between men and women, without pointing out that men tend to choose higher-paying jobs because they're socialized to be the breadwinners.

It's disingenuous to complain that women working full time only earn about 70 cents for every dollar men make if you've deliberately chosen to work as, say, a low-paid restaurant hostess."

September 25, 2006
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Cuts to Status of Women and Court Challenges Program Undermine Government’s Commitment to Women’s Equality
FAFIA (Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action) Press Release
Ottawa: FAFIA, a pan-Canadian alliance of women’s and human rights organizations, is denouncing the $5 million cut to the federal department of Status of Women over two years. These cuts will be taken from its modest annual budget of $13 million. The grants and contributions arm ($11 million) of the department was not affected.

“These cuts will critically affect the federal government’s own commitment to live up to its equality commitments to women,” said Shelagh Day, Co-Chair of the Canadian Feminist Alliance (FAFIA).

FAFIA is also dismayed by the elimination of the Court Challenges Program. “This Program has provided Canadian women with their only access to the use of their constitutional equality rights,” said Shelagh Day. “Equality rights have no meaning in Canada if women, and other Canadians who face discrimination, cannot use them.” Read More | en français: Des coupures à Condition féminine Canada et au Programme de contestation judiciaire sapent l'engagement du gouvernement envers l'égalité des femmes

Conservatives make their mark on government spending with tough choices
by: Jennifer Ditchburn, CP
The Conservatives put their mark on government spending Monday with the announcement of $1 billion in cuts to programs they did not consider priorities, from funding to Canadian museums to research on the use of medical marijuana. ... Some of the cuts, over two years, included:

• $4.6 million in assistance to museums.
• $5 million from Status of Women Canada.
• Elimination of the $4-million medical marijuana research program that tested the impact of pot on ill Canadians.
• Elimination of Law Commission of Canada.
• Elimination of $9.7 million in support to Canadian Volunteerism Initiative.
• Elimination of $10.8 million First Nations/Inuit tobacco control strategy.

Conservatives Elimininate Court Challenges Program & Cut $5M from Status of Women of Canada over next 2 years
The $5 Million cut to Status of Women Canada (SWC) and the elimination of the Court Challenges Program (CCP), seriously undermine the Government's commitment to women's equality. The overall budget at SWC is $24 million. The women's program absorbs almost $11 million (grants and contributions). That means the department functions on effectively $13 million, 5 million of which has just been cut over next 2 years.

Here's the pinpoint URLs to Treasury Board of Canada site with info on the cuts.
English: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2006/0925_e.asp
En français: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2006/0925_f.asp

September 22, 2006
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Notes from Pay Equity Press Conference, Ottawa, Sept/21/06
Andrée Côté, National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)
Bonjour, my name is Andrée Côté, and until a few weeks ago I was Director of Law Reform at the National Association of Women and the Law. NAWL has been forced to lay off it's staff in the last few weeks and is waiting for the renewal of our funding application from Status of Women Canada.

The Harper government response on pay equity this week demonstrates why it is so important that women's groups receive adequate and stable funding: we need to have the capacity to defend women's rights, and to respond to retrograde and ineffective policies that bring us back 20 years. Read More | plus en français

Pay Equity: at the heart of equality
Canadian Labour Congress & Public Service Alliance Of Canada
Press Release dd Sept. 21, 2006
The federal government announced yesterday that it is taking a giant step backwards on the question of equal pay for women workers. More than thirty years after the adoption of the Canadian Human Rights Act, women still earn less, on average, than men regardless of their occupation, age or education. Today, a woman earns 72.5 cents for every dollar a man earns. Our equal pay legislation is not working. The wage gap is even greater for Aboriginal women, women of colour and women with disabilities. Read the full release in English

L'équité salariale... au coeur de l'égalité
Congres du Travail du Canada & Alliance de la Fonction Publique du Canada
Le gouvernement fédéral a annoncé hier qu'il prenait un énorme pas en arrière dans le dossier de l'équité salariale pour les femmes. Plus de trente ans après l'adoption de la Loi canadienne sur les droits de la personne, les femmes gagnent encore moins que les hommes en moyenne, peu importe leur profession, leur âge ou leur scolarité. A l'heure actuelle, une femme touche 72,5 cents pour chaque dollar que touche un homme. Notre législation sur l'équité salariale ne fonctionne pas. L'écart salarial actuel est encore plus important chez les femmes autochtones, les femmes de couleur et les femmes handicapées. Read the full release en français

Women's groups fear federal cuts coming
by Norma Greenaway, CanWest News Service, Vancouver Sun, Sept. 22, 2006
A leading Canadian women's rights group has been forced to close its office for lack of money and other federally financed organizations fear a similar fate as the Conservative government zeroes in on a promise to cut spending by $1 billion this fiscal year.

The prospect cheers Gwen Landolt, vice-president of the pro-life, pro-family conservative lobby group REAL Women Canada and a fierce critic of federal funding of ''feminist'' and other special interest groups. ''It's simply an abuse of taxpayers' money to fund only one ideology,'' Landolt said in an interview.

Suspense over how much, if any, money will flow to women's and other groups should end within the next week or so when the government tells Canadians what programs it plans to curb or kill to meet its budget commitment.

Opposition MPs accuse the government of using the spending review to dismantle by ''stealth'' the 30-year-old agency known as Status of Women Canada, which, among other things, hands out almost $11 million a year to groups committed to promoting gender equality and the full participation of women in society. Read Full article at: http://tinyurl.com/fl9aw

September 21, 2006
Featured article:

PM's pick for bench draws fire
Social activists cite conservative views
Globe & Mail, Kirk Makin
The appointment of an Ontario judge who is seen as an opponent of pro-choice and gay rights has created a stir among social activists.

Spokesmen expressed concerns yesterday about the appointment of Mr. Justice David Brown, a Toronto lawyer who has represented Christian family-value positions in several cases, and has written papers dealing with legal developments involving the sanctity of life. ... He represented Focus on the Family (Canada) and REAL Women of Canada in a court intervention against the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. Read full article

September 20, 2006
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Conservatives Take First Step Towards Dismantling Ministry for the Status of Women / Les Conservateurs Amorcent Le Démantèlement De Condition Féminine Canada
NDP / NPD Press Release dd Sept. 20, 2006
Excerpt: OTTAWA – The future of women’s organisations across Canada is being threatened as the Conservative Government is taking too long to review Status of Women Program applications – forcing prominent women’s organisations to close their doors.

“By not responding to funding applications, the Conservatives are allowing programs to shut down, one by one.,” said NDP MP critic for the Status of Women Irene Mathyssen. "What's next? The entire department? It looks like Bev Oda is spoiling to dismantle the Status of Women department."

As of Sept. 12, The National Association of Women and the Law, has closed their doors due to insufficient federal funding. The Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) will shut down on Sept. 26. Organizations have put in applications for funding, but have heard nothing from the Minister responsible for Status of Women, Bev Oda.
English version
en français

September 18, 2006
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New Data Offers Hope to Patients With Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder is the sixth largest cause of disability worldwide in people aged 15-44 years(1) and is commonly mistaken for other diseases such as acute depression. Consequently, people may suffer with symptoms for years before receiving appropriate treatment and up to half of all individuals with bipolar disorder may make at least one suicide attempt in their lifetime(2).

Data presented at the 19th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Paris has highlighted the significant impact of this disease and demonstrated the efficacy of an 'atypical' antipsychotic known as quetiapine (SEROQUEL). Read More

September 14, 2006
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(un) R.E.A.L. Women of Canada WATCH (update)

Straight.com, dd September 14, 2006
Queer film fest under attack
The Department of Canadian Heritage should cut $23,000 in funding to the Vancouver Queer Film Festival because the films are “degenerate and degrading to humanity”, according to conservative lobby group REAL Women of Canada. Read More

Introduction

The Women`s Program

Standing Committee on the Status of Women Recommendations to improve the Women`s program

The Context : women's inequality remains deeply entrenched

A Lack of Political Will to Address the problem

And this was Brought to you by the Women's Movement

Past Federal Acknowledgment of the Important Role played by Women's Groups

International support for the funding of Women's Groups

Conclusion

TAKE ACTION

Today’s Family News, Focus on the Family (FOTF) dd September 13, 2006
Court Challenges Program Under Review

La Presse, Nathalie Collard, dd September 12, 2006
Harper et les femmes | English Translation

September 4, 2006
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AODA Alliance's Latest News Release on Controversial Bill 107
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Update dd September 1, 2006
The AODA Alliance has just issued its latest news release on the controversial McGuinty Government's bill to weaken the Human Rights Commission.

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) documents disclose six months after the McGuinty government announced its Bill 107 would strip the Human Rights Commission of key powers to enforce the Human Rights Code, it still doesn't know how it will deliver legal representation for all discrimination victims. An LAO internal consultation paper recently made public on the internet reveals Attorney General Michael Bryant has just recently asked LAO to make a proposal on this controversial role. LAO won't decide for weeks whether it wants to make a proposal. The McGuinty government extravagantly pledged its human rights reforms will ensure publicly-funded free independent legal counsel for all human rights complainants, regardless of income. Read More

Help Raise Controversial Bill 107 In Upcoming Hotly-Contested September 14 Toronto By-Election
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update dd August 31, 2006
An important provincial by-election has been called for Thursday, September 14, 2006 for the hotly-contested west Toronto riding of Parkdale--High Park. The riding was vacated when Liberal MPP Gerard Kennedy resigned to run for the federal Liberal leadership. We urge everyone to help raise the McGuinty Government's controversial plans to weaken the Human Rights Commission via Bill 107 in this by-election campaign. You can help whether or not you live in the riding. This by-election gives us an excellent chance to show that the controversial Bill 107 will be a serious issue in next year's general provincial election if the McGuinty Government persists in its plans to weaken the Human Rights Commission despite strong community opposition to Bill 107.

As always, the non-partisan AODA Alliance doesn't tell anyone who to vote for, nor does it support or oppose any party. We encourage everyone to let voters in the riding know about the Bill 107 issues, to inform people about the parties' position on Bill107, and to encourage voters to take it into account when deciding how to vote. Read More

September 1, 2006
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Blair: "clamp down on antisocial children before birth"
Setting out plans for state intervention to prevent babies born into high-risk families becoming problem teenagers of the future, Tony Blair said teenage mothers could be forced to accept state help before giving birth, as part of a clampdown on antisocial behaviour. Read More

August 30, 2006
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Fighting the Blues - What the Social Conservative Agenda Means to Women
The CLC 13th National Women’s Conference Paper
REAL Women Canada is a key partner in the alliance of social conservative groups which strongly supports the Conservatives. In this statement, REAL Women acknowledges that the future they have planned for us is something that will alarm Canadians. What is their agenda? Should we be alarmed?

“Social Conservatives to Sell Tory Daycare Plan”, read the headline of a Globe and Mail story on April 19, 2006. The Globe and Mail reported what many in Canada may have known intuitively. On April 3, the day Parliament re-opened — the Conservative government had met with far right-wing groups to strategize around how to convince the public that a taxable $1200/year/pre-school child was preferable to setting-up a public system of early childhood learning and care. Their ideological base of support is really the far right. The most vocal critics of public child care come from small, fundamentalist religious-based groups; the Conservatives are relying on them to counter the voices of working families and child care advocates. And they now have a direct link to the Prime Minister’s office. Read More

Alliance for Marriage & Family (AMF) seeks to protect family as ‘3-parents case’ seen as impacting definition of marriage
Canadian Catholic News dd August 30, 2006
The AMF [composed of the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL), REAL Women of Canada, the Evangelical Fellowship (EFC), Focus on the Family, and the Christian Legal Fellowship] has filed a factum in the so-called “three parents case,” saying its member groups have a “common cause” to protect the “traditional family unit in Canadian society and law.” Read More

Hospitalizations due to traumatic head injuries down 35% over a decade
Children and youth have seen the largest improvement
New data released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) show that fewer Canadians are admitted to hospitals due to traumatic head injuries than were a decade ago. In 2003-2004, 16,811 were admitted to hospitals compared to 25,665 in 1994-1995, a 35% decrease. Read More

August 29, 2006
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McGuinty Gov't Still Doesn't Know How to Keep Promise of Free Lawyers for All Discrimination Victims
AODA Alliance takes action in response to recently-revealed Legal Aid Ontario document showing McGuinty government still doesn't know how it will deliver on its pledge to ensure publicly-funded independent legal counsel to all human rights complainants
We report on several key developments.

• Legal Aid Ontario LAO documents, recently revealed to the public on the Internet, disclose that six full months after the McGuinty Government announced it would strip the Human Rights Commission of most power to enforce the Human Rights Code, it still doesn't know how it will ensure its promised legal representation for all discrimination victims. An internal Consultation paper that LAO recently sent to Ontario legal clinics documents that Attorney General Michael Bryant, who pledged that all human rights complainants will have publicly-funded legal representation, still doesn't know how it will deliver on this extravagant promise.
  
  It says Bryant asked Legal Aid whether it would take on this controversial role. LAO won't decide for weeks whether to make a proposal. To see the Legal Aid consultation paper and correspondence to Ontario legal clinics, visit: http://www.aclc.net/full-lao-letter.html
  
  
• The McGuinty Government pledged free publicly-funded independent legal counsel throughout Human Rights Tribunal hearings to every human rights complainant(annually some 2,500). It pledged to establish a Human Rights Legal Centre. The bill's supporters and critics agree that the bill doesn't guarantee this. Facing mounting criticism, the Attorney General committed on June 8, 2006 to amend the bill to address this. However in an August 3 letter to the AODA Alliance, he didn't act on the AODA Alliance's request that he reveal his amendments before the public hearings. See the Attorney General's letter to the AODA Alliance, below.
  
  
• Legal Aid Ontario's Consultation Paper states that LAO has explicitly decided not to consult with the public, and instead only to consult with legal clinics, on the issues set out in that Consultation Paper. The AODA Alliance has written LAO to urge it to open up its consultation process to include not only legal clinics, but the end-users who would use the legal services that the McGuinty Government has promised. This letter also sets out some preliminary input from the AODA Alliance to LAO on its Consultation Paper. See the AODA Alliance's August 25, 2006 letter to LAO, set out below.
  
  
• The AODA Alliance has also written to Attorney General Michael Bryant as a result of these recent developments. In its August 25, 2006 letter to him, set out below, the AODA Alliance asks that public hearings on Bill 107 be halted until LAO decides whether it will offer to deliver free legal counsel to all human rights complainants, and until the Government makes public specifics on its proposed amendments to bill 107.

Autism Fact Sheet
Friends of Children with Autism (FOCA) - August 2006
Autism is now a National Epidemic
* Less than 20 years ago the prevalence of autism was 2 to 5 in 10,000 births.
* 1 out of 165 babies born today will receive the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
* Number of diagnoses for children under 5 has increased 150% over the last 6 years.
* Autism diagnoses continue to increase at a rate of 10 to 17 percent each year.
* Autism treatment specifically ABA/IBI is one of the few medical treatments that derive a cost savings to taxpayers.
Misconceptions in Ontario Being Presented to the Public
Summary of Facts & Providing Solutions

August 25, 2006
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Conservatives Must Come Clean on Agenda for Status of Women Canada
Liberal Party of Canada Press Release dd August 25, 2006
OTTAWA – Liberal Critic for Status of Women and Multiculturalism Maria Minna today called on Heritage Minister Bev Oda to reveal the Conservative government’s true intentions for the future of Status of Women Canada.

“The Conservative grassroots community is actively campaigning for the demise of this important agency which promotes the rights of women in Canada,” said Ms. Minna. “Ms. Oda must come clean and reveal whether or not she will bow to the pressure of these extreme right-wing groups or if she will take a stand and publicly distance herself from their position.”

Recent media reports indicate that several socially Conservative blogs have begun a campaign to eliminate the federal agency for the Status of Women. The group REAL women of Canada, which also opposes same-sex marriage and legalized abortion, launched the campaign because of their belief that the agency “promotes feminist policies on the false premise that women in Canada are victims of a patriarchal society.” Read More

Federal Court orders sign language services
In a landmark ruling, the Federal Court of Canada has ordered the federal government to make professional sign language interpretation services available on request when providing services to people who are deaf or affected by hearing loss. Read More

Law Society Silences Non-Advocacy Paralegals
Imagine having your ability to make a living severally changed or eliminated, and you are not able to use your constitutional right to speak out in protest. That is what the non-advocacy paralegal faces, as the McGuinty government moves forward with its controversial Bill 14, The Access to Justice Act. The bill, if passed, would have paralegals regulated by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Read More

August 22, 2006
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Still Time to Sign Up to Present at Public Hearings on the Controversial Bill 107 for this Fall in Toronto - Act Now!
Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act Alliance Update dd August 22, 2006
It's more important than ever that as many of you as possible, either organizations or individuals, sign up as soon as possible to make an oral presentation this fall at the continued public hearings on the controversial Bill 107 before the Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy. Bill 107 is the McGuinty Government's proposed new law that will take away from the Ontario Human Rights Commission most of its power to investigate and publicly prosecute discrimination cases. Below we help you with information on how to sign up. Read More

August 21, 2006
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Strong Opposition to Bill 107 Dominates First Three Days of Public Hearings
Strong opposition to Bill 107 dominated last week when the Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy held its first three days of public hearings on Bill 107, the McGuinty Government's proposed new law to weaken the Ontario Human Rights Commission. These hearings have so far dealt a powerful blow to the controversial bill 107. They have shown that Ontario's Attorney General Michael Bryant was incorrect when he claimed last spring that there is a community consensus in support of the kind of reforms the McGuinty Government has proposed. Hearings will resume in Toronto at as-yet unspecified dates after the Legislature resumes sitting on September 25, 2006. Read More

Women and HIV: The promise of microbicides
According to the World Health Organization, women account for nearly 70 per cent of HIV-AIDS cases worldwide.
Randy Sheppard, CBC News Online
When most people think about AIDS, they see it primarily as a problem of the gay community or of those who share needles. And they wouldn't be wrong.

But over the past half-dozen or so years, the face of AIDS in Canada and the United States has begun to change quite dramatically. More and more of those acquiring the disease turn out to be young heterosexual women, infected by their partners.

As the Public Health Agency of Canada reported just last month, women now make up 20 per cent of the approximately 58,000 Canadians infected with HIV, up from 14 per cent in 2002.

What is more alarming is the quick step of this trend. In the late 1990s, getting AIDS from straight sex in Canada was a fairly rare occurrence. Fewer than 11 per cent of all new adult cases before 1998 stemmed from heterosexual sex, according to health officials. Today that proportion has nearly tripled and young, straight women alone accounted for 27 per cent of all new infections last year — a huge jump.

Seen another way, Canada's experience might be said to mirror that of some of the worst parts of Africa where the AIDS virus first rampaged through the male population but now seems to be turning its bile much more toward women.

According to the World Health Organization, women account for nearly 70 per cent of HIV-AIDS cases worldwide and in places such as sub-Saharan Africa and India a growing numbers are married women infected by their husbands, with little power to do much about it. Read More

Opening Address at 16th International AIDS Conference Aug. 13, 2006 by Governor General Michaëlle Jean

August 19-20, 2006
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Highlights from the XVI International AIDS Conference, Monday, August 14 - Friday, August 18, in Toronto, Canada

Global Leaders Speak Out: Mr. William Jefferson Clinton and
Stephen Lewis - August 15, 2006 -- XVI International AIDS Conference
Read Transcript and/or View Video of this session

Clinton, Gates Address Stigma, Other Challenges to Combating HIV/AIDS Pandemic - August 14, 2006 -- XVI International AIDS Conference

Priorities in Ending the Epidemic: Mr. William J. Clinton and William Gates - August 14, 2006 -- XVI International AIDS Conference
Read Transcript and/or View Video of this session

Women at the Frontline in the AIDS Response - August 14, 2006 -- XVI International AIDS Conference
Read Transcript and/or View Video of this session

Actor, HIV/AIDS Advocate Richard Gere Says Media is Crucial in Fighting Pandemic - August 14, 2006 -- XVI International AIDS Conference

Media and AIDS: Spreading Information Faster than the Disease - August 14, 2006 -- XVI International AIDS Conference
Panelists at this session discuss the mobilization of the media industry following the 2004 launch of the Global Media AIDS Initiative by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a special meeting organized by the Kaiser Family Foundation and UNAIDS.
Read Transcript and/or View Video of this session

High Level Session on Leadership: Time to Deliver for Women and Girls - August 13, 2006 -- XVI International AIDS Conference
Read Transcript and/or View Video of this session

Daily Roundup for Friday, August 18, 2006 from the XVI International AIDS Conference
Delegates at the closing of the XVI International AIDS conference in Toronto were reminded that now is the "Time to Deliver." Read More

Daily Roundup for Thursday, August 17, 2006 from the XVI International AIDS Conference
The XVI International AIDS Conference began today by addressing the need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to HIV that includes elements some say are often overlooked, like human rights and youth. Read More

Daily Roundup for Wednesday, August 16, 2006 from the XVI International AIDS Conference
On Wednesday, achieving universal access to HIV/AIDS was a major focus of the conference. The World Health Organization released new estimates of global antiretroviral therapy coverage. Read More

Daily Roundup for Tuesday, August 15, 2006 from the XVI International AIDS Conference
The latest Daily Roundup includes comments from actor Richard Gere and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Read More

Daily Roundup for Monday, August 14, 2006 from the XVI International AIDS Conference
The Daily Roundup for Monday, August 14 looks at the AIDS 2006 theme – Time To Deliver – and features comments from Bill and Melinda Gates and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Read More

August 10, 2006
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Four Steps for Canada: Stephen Lewis and Canadian civil society groups demand action on global AIDS crisis
Platform presented to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in advance of XVI International AIDS Conference
Stephen Lewis, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, today joined the Global Treatment Access Group (GTAG) and the Make Poverty History Campaign in calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take decisive action in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Global AIDS Crisis: Four Steps for Canada is a civil society platform for action to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS globally and to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. The platform has already been endorsed by more than 80 organizations across Canada, including the labour movement, faith groups, AIDS organizations, student groups, human rights advocates, and humanitarian and development organizations. Read More

August 8, 2006
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ATHENA: Advancing Gender Equity and Human Rights in the Global Response to HIV/AIDS
As the world enters the third decade of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, women — especially the young and the poor — are increasingly affected. Because gender inequity fuels HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS fuels gender inequity, it is imperative that women and girls speak out, set priorities for action, and lead the global response to the crisis. The ATHENA Network was created to realize this imperative.

ATHENA strives to bridge the communities around the world that are addressing gender, human rights, sexual and reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS. Further, ATHENA promotes the leadership and participation of women and girls, especially those living with HIV/AIDS, as central to the global response. Through these efforts, we are guided by four central mandates for our collective work – the indivisibility and intersectionality of issues and experiences; the need for independence and integrity; the inclusion of grassroots and indigenous groups; and the importance of intergenerational exchange, new voices, and the involvement of youth. Read More

A Dose of Reality: Women's Rights in the Fight against HIV/AIDS
The global HIV/AIDS pandemic is taking a catastrophic toll on women and girls. The number of HIV infections among women and girls has risen in every region in recent years, and in sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls constitute nearly 60 percent of those living with HIV. In some countries, the HIV infection rates for girls are many times higher than for boys. The rising number of HIV infections among women and girls is directly related to violence against women and their unequal legal, economic, and social status.

Abuses of women's and girls' human rights impede their access to HIV/AIDS information and services, including testing and treatment. Those who do obtain HIV services sometimes face disclosure of their confidential HIV test results by public health officials without the women's consent. This heightens women's risk of being ostracized by their communities and abused by their intimate partners.

Governments around the world have done far too little to combat the entrenched, chronic abuses of women's and girls' human rights that put them at risk of HIV. Misguided HIV/AIDS programs and policies, such as those emphasizing abstinence until marriage, ignore the brutal realities many women and girls face. By failing to enact and effectively enforce laws on domestic violence, marital rape, women's equal property rights, and sexual abuse of girls, and by tolerating customs and traditions that subordinate women, governments are enabling HIV/AIDS to continue claiming the lives of women and girls. Read More

Women and HIV/AIDS: The Barcelona Bill of Rights
As we enter the third decade of HIV/AIDS, women, especially the young and the poor, are the most affected. Because gender inequality fuels the HIV/AIDS pandemic, it is imperative that women and girls speak out, set priorities for action and lead the global response to the crisis. Therefore, women and girls from around the world unite and urge all governments, organizations, agencies, donors, communities and individuals to make our rights a reality. Read More

August 1, 2006
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Practical Tips on How to Prepare an Oral or Written Submission to the Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy Regarding the Controversial Bill 107
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update dd July 31, 2006
Here are helpful tips for preparing your written and/or oral presentation on Bill 107 to the Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy. Everyone's contribution to these hearings makes a real difference. We hope that these tips will be useful for presenters from the disability community and from any other individual or group interested in advancing the protection of human rights in Ontario. We explain

• how public hearings work
• tips for both oral and written presentations
• specific tips for making an oral presentation
• additional tip for organizations making an oral presentation
• additional tip for individuals making oral presentations
• tips for making a written submission
• suggestions if you need an accommodation for your disability at the hearings
• contact information for the Standing Committee

July 29, 2006
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How you can participate online (free) in the 16th International AIDS Conference - Aug. 13 to 18, 2006
In preparation for the 16th International AIDS Conference taking place in Toronto from Aug. 13 - 18th, 2006, (and to help inform both myself as a conference delegate and other DAWN members) we've assembled some information on Women and HIV/AIDS (see below) from the International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC).

Please note that portions of the AIDS 2006 Conference will be available for viewing on the Internet at no cost and with no registration... Webcasts and transcripts, along with additional coverage, will be accessible at a later date. You can now sign up now to receive a daily update email during the week of the conference, providing summaries of each day's developments and direct access to all of the online coverage. Sign up at www.kaisernetwork.org/aids2006.

For those of you living in or near the Greater Toronto Area, please note that there are a number of women's events that will be held in the Global Village at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. These are open to the general public (free of charge) as well as to conference delegates.

Here is the link to the Programme available online: www.aids2006.org/PAG/ProgrammeAtAGlance.aspx. Any event marked with GV as the venue is scheduled to take place in the Global Village and does not require a conference badge to attend. As an example, here are 2 events scheduled at the Global Village (which I am anxious to attend):

1. An interactive session hosted by Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)

Where's the Money for Women's Rights and HIV/AIDS?

AWID will share its 'hot off the press' research on resources for women's rights organizations and HIV/AIDS. Come share and learn if women are being short-changed and become part of the strategies to mobilize more resources for women's rights. For more info, contact awid@awid.org.

When: Sun. Aug. 13, 2006 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm
Where: Global Village, Main Stage, Metro Toronto Convention Centre

2. Hosted by the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW), International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC) and AWID:

In Her Own Words: Violations of Women's Human Rights and HIV
Moderated by Charlayne Hunter-Gault (CNN-Johannesburg)

This panel will expose rights violations that have led to the growing number of women who are now living with HIV, calling for greater respect and promotion of women's rights within the HIV/AIDS response. Panelists from different parts of the world -- HIV+ women activists and policy analysts -- will identify where appropriate policy or program interventions might have made the difference in terms of HIV status, treatment and community response. For more info, contact Cami Hilsendager at chilsendager@iwhc.org.

When: Mon. Aug. 14, 2006 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Where: Global Village, Main Stage, Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Women and HIV/AIDS: Select Facts
Women are increasingly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. 
Young people, especially young women, are disproportionately at risk.
Women and girls do not have access to comprehensive information and services.
The biggest HIV/AIDS risk for many women and girls is marriage.
Sexual coercion and violence lead to a greater chance of infection.
Read More

With Women Worldwide: A Compact to End HIV/AIDS
Outlines priority actions for making global HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care strategies work for women. Developed by a group of women advocates for use in 2006 negotiations on HIV/AIDS and beyond. ... Read More

Women and HIV/AIDS: Women's Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS: An Overview

The Context: Women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS Worldwide
In January 2002, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan announced that for the first time, women represented half of HIV-positive individuals worldwide, and more than half in sub-Saharan Africa, the region of the world hit hardest by the epidemic. HIV/AIDS had become a generalized epidemic in many African countries, moving from high-risk groups such as sex workers and injection drug users to the general population, largely because of pervasive gender inequality. The combination of social and political inequalities and severe poverty is lethal to women in the developing world, rendering them disproportionately vulnerable to the virus. ... Read more

The Commitment: Addressing Women's Realities
Despite women's disproportionate vulnerability, few programs aimed at curbing the pandemic's spread target them or reflect the realities of their lives. If we want to stop HIV/AIDS—in Africa, in Asia, in Latin America, in Eastern Europe, and in Canada and the United States — we must do two things: ... Read more

Colleagues: Empowering Women on the Ground
IWHC's colleagues worldwide are providing young people with the information, skills, and strategies to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS, and advocating for policies that mandate the gender-sensitive comprehensive sexuality education that will enable future generations to reach adulthood in good health. They are also working to erode the gender inequalities that fuel the epidemic's spread by advocating for women's sexual and reproductive rights and focusing attention on the realities of women's lives. For example: ... Read more

July 28, 2006
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How Much Longer? by Eduardo Galeano
07/28/06 "IPS" -- One country bombed two countries. Such impunity might astound were it not business as usual. In response to the few timid protests from the international community, Israel said mistakes were made.

How much longer will horrors be called mistakes?

This slaughter of civilians began with the kidnapping of a soldier.

How much longer will the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier be allowed to justify the kidnapping of Palestinian sovereignty?

How much longer will the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers be allowed to justify the kidnapping of the entire nation of Lebanon?

For centuries the slaughter of Jews was the favorite sport of Europeans. Auschwitz was the natural culmination of an ancient river of terror, which had flowed across all of Europe.

How much longer will Palestinians and other Arabs be made to pay for crimes they didn’t commit?
Read More

The stigma surrounding abortion continues in New Brunswick - Open Letter from Dr. Henry Morgentaler
The New Brunswick government continues to deny women access to publicly funded abortions. Under the current Medical Services Payment Act, to have an abortion covered by Medicare, women are obliged to have the approval of two doctors in writing and the abortion must be performed in a hospital by a gynecologist. This leaves women with no family doctor or an anti-choice doctor no option other than the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton. This discriminatory practice must stop. Read More

July 27, 2006
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Louise Bennett-Coverley, 'Ms Lou' : 1919 - 2006
The renowned folklorist, the Rt. Honorable Louise Bennett-Coverley, “Ms Lou” passed away July 26, 2006

To send condolences to the family please send emails to regrets@louisebennett.com
Read More

Is the McGuinty Gov't thinking that some new “quick fix” funding will repair the controversial Bill 107?
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Update dd July 27, 2006
The McGuinty Government has been under fire for Bill 107’s serious problems. We must be on alert for the possibility that it may try an inadequate “quick fix” to deflect this criticism.

Specifically, it is possible that the Government may soon announce the funding it will provide to the human rights legal clinic it promised to establish. Last February, the Government said it would eliminate the Human Rights Commission’s core role of investigating human rights violations, and prosecuting where evidence warrants. The Government said it would instead provide legal representation for discrimination victims who take their case to the Human Rights Tribunal. When it introduced Bill 107 last spring, it made the extravagant promise that each and every human rights complainant would be given legal representation at the Human Rights Tribunal, regardless of their income. A new Human Rights legal clinic would do this work. Read More

July 25, 2006
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Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC): The Silent Killer
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is an advanced and accelerated form of breast cancer usually not detected by mammograms or ultrasounds. Inflammatory breast cancer requires immediate aggressive treatment with chemotherapy prior to surgery and is treated differently than more common types of breast cancer. African Americans have a higher incidence of IBC than do Caucasians and other ethnic groups (10.1%, 6.2%, and 5.1%, respectively)." Source

Watch the KOMO TV 4 video: The Silent Killer: Inflammatory Breast Cancer (6:00)
Read the KOMO 4 News Special Report dd May 7, 2006: Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Read More

Shame On You, Mr. Harper
Video: Abby Lippman and Jihad Bahlis Interviewed by Caroline Van Vlaardingen, CTV Montreal

Voices of Dissent on CTV's Broadband network:
http://tinyurl.com/mm7fj (2:15) -- Mon. July 24, 2006

July 24, 2006
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Guaranteed Livable Income a universal idea
Cindy L'Hirondelle, Women's Economic Justice Project Coordinator responds to Vancouver Sun column
In Daphne Bramham's July 22 (Vancouver Sun) column "Oh, wouldn't it be lover-ly?" she launches a none to subtle attack on the Women's Economic Justice Report on Guaranteed Livable Income and me personally.

She hopes the ideas in the report are a joke, calls the report "sloppy", "sentimentalist", "Rousseau-ian", "sprinkled with neo-Luddite thinking", "buttressed with Marxist-socialist cant"; that I am "channeling the founders of the Social Credit party", making the guaranteed annual income idea seem "ridiculous", doing a "huge disservice" to the women interviewed, that I "trivialized the desperate needs of the poor", made a "nonsensical lament about how [low income women] can't buy organic", put feminism in disrepute and made the rest of Canada see us as "wigged-out West Coasters." I'm surprised she didn't call me a blood-drinking vampire as well, but then she wonders if I'm vegan. If she had contacted me, I would have told her: that's right, I only drink the blood of organic carrots. Read More

July 23, 2006
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A shameful silence on women's rights
Paul Sheehan asks why Western feminists are mute on the plight of their Islamic sisters
Excerpt: "... In this cultural clash, the treatment of women is the most hotly contested terrain. Not just the treatment of non-Muslim women by Muslim men, but the treatment of Muslim women within Western culture. Many Muslim women live under constraints that are unacceptable to wider society. For years, a symptom of this tension, which is largely submerged, has been the distraught young women turning up at the Australian embassy in Beirut to escape forced marriages.

In the midst of this cultural and moral struggle one element has been conspicuously missing - the feminists - the authors, academics and commentators who rose to prominence as advocates of women's rights. In Australia and Europe, their response to the growing levels of sexual intimidation, harassment or suppression of women by Muslim men has either been a deafening chorus of silence, or denial and blame-shifting. Read the Full Article

Peace in Lebanon Immediately
by Kamala Sarup
From the news, it seems that thousands of innocent people are targeted in Lebanon. More than 500,000 people, over a third of them children, had been touched in Lebanon by the conflict and more than 100,000 Lebanese were now in Syria, most of whom needed assistance. According to news, Israel's 12-day air offensive in Lebanon has left more than 350 Lebanese and 33 Israelis dead, while more than 100 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have died in Gaza.

I want immediate unilateral cease fire in Lebanon. I want equity and justice for Palestinians and Israelis, especially for those children. Most of the deaths in Middle East can be prevented by peace negotiations. Israeli and Palestinians must accept a political solutions. People from both countries want peace.

I see only one solution to solving major problems peace power can't be stopped if it's great and persistent enough. The solution is to serve the needs of all the people. Our history proves that when enough people act they get results. The greatest peace gains were gotten by people action. We need that now especially to end Middle East war. Read More

Vancouver Sun, columnist Daphne Bramham slams the Women's Economic Justice Report on Guaranteed Livable Income
In the July 22, 2006 Vancouver Sun, columnist Daphne Bramham slams the Women's Economic Justice Report on Guaranteed Livable Income. (page C4) See article here: http://tinyurl.com/fs3kj

July 20, 2006
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Open Letter/Petition to Mr. Harper demanding that the Gov't of Canada stop supporting Israeli violence
I hope you will add your names to this Open Letter/Petition to Harper: "Shame on You Mr Harper" demanding that the Gov't of Canada stop supporting Israeli violence. We would like to get as many signatures as possible. Please feel free to forward to all individuals that may be willing to support our cause and invite them to sign as well. Read More

R.E.A.L. Women file complaint against Ontario Chief Justice
The R.E.A.L. Women clan are at it again ... Now they've filed a formal complaint against Ontario Chief Justice Roy McMurtry with the Canadian Judicial Council, alleging judicial misconduct.

Excerpt:

Judge Who Gave Canada Homosexual "Marriage" Had Conflict of Interest Says Women's Rights Group

TORONTO, July 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The women’s rights organization, REAL Women of Canada, has filed a formal complaint against Ontario Chief Justice Roy McMurtry with the Canadian Judicial Council, alleging judicial misconduct. McMurtry was the judge who issued a ruling in 2003 on the Halpern case that effectively ended the traditional definition of marriage in Canada.

McMurtry’s son, James, revealed in a letter to the editor of a BC newspaper that his sister is a lesbian in a live-in relationship with another woman. This, says REAL Women, creates a serious concern that “McMurtry had a personal and familial interest” in the Halpern case, “which seriously impaired his objectivity and his ability to adjudicate the case.”

** sniped **

REAL Women’s letter alleges that McMurtry’s personal interest biased the entire process and violated the “fundamental judicial obligations of office.” REAL Women says that in addition, Justice McMurtry deliberately chose and selected judges sympathetic to same-sex "marriage" to hear the case. Read the Full Article

July 19, 2006
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Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Bill 107, The Proposed Ontario Human Rights Code Amendment Act
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance - Draft Only - July 15, 2006
Overview of this Brief's Contents: This brief is divided into two parts. In Part I (the shorter part), we summarize our position on Bill 107 and how it should be amended. For those interested in our position, but not wanting to get into all the background and detail, Part I provides all the information needed. It:

• summarizes what Bill 107 does.
• summarizes the key problems with Bill 107.
• explains the problems with the Government's process for developing Bill 107.
• summarizes how to improve Bill 107, and

for those interested in far more detailed information, Part II, the longer part, gives an extensive explanation of each of the 49 amendments we propose. Accompanying this brief are appendices with important background materials to support our proposals. These include:
1. A list of the AODA Alliance's 49 recommendations for amending Bill 107
2. The AODA Alliance's "Fact Check" on Official Statements about Bill 107
3. The AODA Alliances April 3, 2006 Discussion Paper on Options for Reforming the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Read More

Autistic Children Abandoned by McGuinty Autism Policies
Martel rallies with children, parents, and advocates in Toronto
July 12, 2006 - QUEEN'S PARK - Shelley Martel, MPP for Nickel Belt and the NDP Health and Long-Term Care Critic, is calling on Dalton McGuinty to immediately deliver on his two explicit election promises to Ontario's autistic children.

"The McGuinty Liberal government needs to honour their promises to autistic children and their parents during the 2003 election," said Martel. "In addition, significant funds need to be invested to ensure that all children who need IBI treatment receive it. That's clearly not happening because, as of March 31, 2006, 753 children were languishing on the wait list, waiting for IBI treatment to begin." Read More

NDP to Dalton McGuinty: Keep Your Promises to Autistic Children
July 7, 2006 - QUEEN'S PARK - Shelley Martel, MPP for Nickel Belt and the NDP Health and Long-Term Care Critic, is dismayed by today's Court of Appeal decision but emphasized that, for New Democrats, this issue has always been a political issue about what Dalton McGuinty promised during the 2003 election and what he has continually failed to do.

"Dalton McGuinty made an explicit promise to the parents of autistic children. He promised IBI treatment for every single child who needs it - regardless of age," Martel said.

"Mr. McGuinty should never have dragged parents and their vulnerable autistic children through the courts, at great expense to taxpayers and the families, just so he could break a promise. I am calling on the premier to do the right thing for autistic children and extend IBI treatment to all children who need it -- without delay." Read More

Martel Applauds Autism Rights Ruling
June 28, 2006 - QUEEN'S PARK - NDP Critic Shelley Martel says a recent ruling by Madame Justice DeGuire is a win for families of autistic children, who have long argued that the McGuinty government is violating their children's basic rights. Last week, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ruled that children with autism - whose provincially funded therapy is denied after age 6 - are now free to proceed with their argument that the McGuinty government is discriminating against them on the basis of age. Read More

Autism Announcement is a Drop in the Bucket
Martel skeptical about McGuinty's promises to autistic children
June 16, 2006 - QUEEN'S PARK - Shelley Martel, MPP for Nickel Belt and the NDP Health and Long-Term Care Critic, says that today's announcement by the McGuinty Liberal government to provide Intensive Behavioural Intervention treatment to 120 additional children is a drop in the bucket compared to what is actually needed to address the long wait lists. Read More

July 15, 2006
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Behind Batwoman's Gayness
Today's women are pigeonholed as either girly girls or lesbians
Op-Ed in today's LA Times
Excerpt ... Whatever the reason, it appears that there are only two ways to go about being female these days: You are either a midriff-bearing, gum-snapping, engagement ring-chasing girly girl or you are a probable lesbian.

We used to think of this dichotomy in terms of "separating the women from the girls." Perhaps you remember how this went. Teenagers and early twentysomethings wore nameplate necklaces and waited for the phone to ring, and adult women owned condos and knew how to unclog a toilet without losing their sex appeal.

But in a culture that's as allergic to subtlety as it is obsessed with youth, acceptable versions of womanhood seem to be melting away with the polar ice cap. You either get the Botox, the boob job, the bikini wax and baby doll dresses, or you take the radical step of looking and acting like a fully formed, grown-up female. Read More

July 14, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Quick Guide on How to Fix Bill 107
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance
What's Wrong with Bill 107
How to Improve Bill 107

July 13, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2006
Victims Rarely Report Abuse: StatsCan Report
Victimization surveys have shown that spousal violence frequently involves multiple incidents. However, a new study examining 10 years of police-reported data shows that most spousal violence is reported to police on only a single occasion.

The study, which analyzed spousal violence offenders and their contact with police using a 10-year data file for 1995 to 2004, was published today in the 2006 edition of Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile. It found that 8 out of every 10 spousal offenders were reported to police on only one occasion during the 10-year time frame. Persons accused of repeated spousal violence (those with two to four police-reported incidents of spousal violence) accounted for 18% of the total. Only 1% were considered chronic abusers, that is they were involved in five or more reported incidents.

These results may be partially explained by the 2004 General Social Survey (GSS) on victimization that found that only 28% of victims of spousal violence turned to police for help. Incidents that are reported tend to depend on the severity and frequency of the violence, and on whether children were witnesses. Other factors include whether the victim was female, young, Aboriginal or turned to others for support. Read More

July 12, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Lung Cancer Risk Higher in Women Smokers but Survival Better
* The risk of lung cancer is significantly greater for women than for men.
* Lung cancer now accounts for more deaths in women than any other cancer including breast cancer and colon cancer combined. Read the Review

Few Canadians hospitalized with a spinal cord injury go back to work shortly after rehabilitation
Spinal cord injury patients have among the longest stays in inpatient rehabilitation
New analysis released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) paints a picture of what life is like during and after inpatient rehabilitation following a traumatic spinal cord injury. Between 2000 and 2004, Canadians admitted to inpatient rehabilitation with a traumatic spinal cord injury stayed an average of 59 days, compared to 35 and 14 days for stroke and orthopaedic rehabilitation patients, respectively. Clients with complete quadriplegia stayed the longest, 101 days, compared to 49 days for patients with partial paraplegia. Read More

Kirby report (2) turns a blind eye to women
Despite the mounting evidence — as well as Canada's many commitments to using Gender-Based Analysis in policy and program development — federal health studies somehow remain gender-blind.
by Laila Malik, CWHN
Almost 20 years ago, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) issued an in-depth report calling for action to address mental health concerns facing women in Canada. Women and Mental Health in Canada: Strategies for Change warned of the dire mental health effects of the feminization of poverty and violence against women and drew attention to the disproportionate number of women assigned with the diagnostic categories of depression and anxiety. It outlined 25 recommendations for improvement, including the development of affordable, high quality child-care services, the establishment of pay equity policies, recognition of unpaid caregiving, and the creation of a national clearinghouse of research and programs on women's mental health. The report was promptly buried, its recommendations consigned to oblivion. Read More

July 10, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Right of Choice: It's In Our Hands: Stop Violence Against Women
Amnesty International Report 2006
From birth to death, in times of peace as well as war, women face discrimination and violence at the hands of the state, the community and the family. Female infanticide deprives countless women of life itself. Every year, millions of women are raped by partners, relatives, friends and strangers, by employers and colleagues, security officials and soldiers. Women, children and men suffer from violence inflicted in the home, but the overwhelming majority of victims are women and girls. During armed conflicts, violence against women is often used as a weapon of war, in order to dehumanize the women themselves, or to persecute the community to which they belong.

Violence against women is not confined to any particular political or economic system, but is prevalent in every society in the world. It cuts across boundaries of wealth, race and culture. The power structures within society which perpetuate violence against women are deep-rooted and intransigent. The experience or threat of violence inhibits women everywhere from fully exercising and enjoying their human rights. Read More

July 8, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Ontario Court Ruling Strikes Down Lower Court's Ruling on Autism Therapy
Ontario Court of Appeal rules that the province's refusal to fund therapy for autistic children older than five does not constitute age discrimination

July 7, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Aboriginal Issues - Glossary of Terms
The following is a guide to various terms associated with First Nations people, issues and treaties. Please note that individual preferences may vary and should be respected when known. When unsure, it is polite and appropriate to ask how a person, band or council wishes to be addressed.

Uncertain Futures: Gaining access to publicly funded abortions is not easy in New Brunswick
by Chris Arsenault
[The only hospital in New Brunswick that was providing publicly funded abortions stopped performing the procedure at the end of June.] The decision to have an abortion is rarely easy, but after the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton stopped performing the procedure at the end of June, and with pro-life groups rallying to prevent Moncton's George Dumont Hospital from picking up the slack, many New Brunswickers are wondering about the procedure's future in the province. Read the Full Article here

Abortion: Ensuring Access
Sanda Rodgers and Jocelyn Downie, Guest Editorial in the CMAJ, July 4, 2006
Access to reproductive health care is essential to women's health, and for some women, abortion is a key component of that care. But not all women in Canada have adequate, or in some cases any, access to abortion.1 It is important for Canadian physicians to know the facts about access to abortion so that they can better protect and promote the health of their female patients.

Many of us assume that, in contrast to the United States, women's access to abortion in Canada is enshrined in law and guaranteed by our health care system. This is not always true. A brief review of history is needed here. Read the Full Article here

2006 Report Card on the Status of Women in New Brunswick
A Statistical Profile by the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women

Read the Factsheets:

• Aboriginal Women
  
• Health
• Income & Poverty
• Labour Force
• Positions of Influence
• Senior Women
• Violence
• Women with Disabilities
• Youth

Read the Full Report:
2006 Report Card on the Status of Women in New Brunswick: A Statistical Profile by the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women (PDF, 3.05 MB / 81p.)

July 6, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Remarks by Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa to High-Level Panel on U.N. Reform in Geneva
There is a crying need for an international agency for women. Every stitch of evidence we have, right across the entire spectrum of gender inequality suggests the urgent need for a multilateral agency. The great dreams of the international conferences in Vienna, Cairo and Beijing have never come to pass. It matters not the issue: whether it's levels of sexual violence, or HIV/AIDS, or maternal mortality, or armed conflict, or economic empowerment, or parliamentary representation, women are in terrible trouble. And things are getting no better. Read More

July 2, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Heather Mallick's CBC column: 'Attack on feminism hurts women here and overseas'
Heather Mallick has written a cbc.ca column on REAL Women's plans to gut funding for anything that has the fragrance of feminism.

Here it an excerpt:

REAL Women are on the warpath, as I guess I would be too if I were REAListic, Equal, Active, and for Life. Hey, I am all those things! Oh, they mean "not in your unREAL way." I think.

REALists have been quiet for a long time. But they see the Stephen Harper minority government as their chance to change Canada back to the way they
say it used to be. Whatever that was, I'm sure it was lovely. And frankly, their view of the future does verge on the dire.

"We are living in the best of material times. Yet, simultaneously, we are also living in a time of moral decadence: abortion on demand, the
legalization of same-sex relationships as marriages, the cultural and legal acceptance of homosexuality despite its destructive ramifications, both psychologically and medically, rampant sexual promiscuity and euthanasia, legalized drug use and legalized prostitution just around the corner."

But I'm for all these things. Not sure about rampant euthanasia (get it in writing, I say, and point out the drawbacks: "Yer dead") or prostitution, but perhaps they don't grasp that legal changes regarding prostitution are aimed (by good men and good women) at saving hundreds of sex workers and other women who have vanished into the thinnest of air in Canada. Some of them might have been fed to pigs.

Follow this link to read the rest of this column

Then, please consider writing to the CBC before all the misogynists get there first! Heather is one of the few remaining feminist voices left in MSM and could do with some support! Email: letters@cbc.ca

June 29, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Women's Economic Justice Report available online
In April, 2006 the Women's Economic Justice Report on Guaranteed Livable Income was released at a public meeting in Victoria BC. Follow this link to read Project background: http://pacificcoast.net/~swag/swcproject05.htm

Hard copies of the report (printed with 100% recycled newsprint with a colour cover) have been distributed to many groups and individuals in across Canada and a few to the US and overseas. Out of 1000 copies, we have only 200 hard copies left which we are reserving for those without easy access to the internet.

Note: This report is not just for women. All the women interviewed want a Guaranteed Livable Income for everyone; however, they also recognize that women face more poverty, stress, violence, unpaid and underpaid work, while also carrying primary responsibility and worry for the well-being of the world's children.

Read More

June 26, 2006
Additions to the site include:

A Direct Attack on Abortion Rights
by Joyce Arthur, Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
On June 21^st, Parliament saw first reading of a private member’s bill by Liberal MP Paul Steckle to re-criminalize abortion. Bill C-338, 'An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (procuring a miscarriage after 20 weeks of gestation), would restrict later abortions performed after twenty weeks.

The bill would allow exceptions to save the woman’s life and “to prevent severe pathological physical morbidity of the woman.”  It would impose a prison term of up to five years, and/or a fine of up to $100,000 on anyone who “uses any means or permits any means to be used” to perform an abortion past 20 weeks.

Read More:
Liberal MP Paul Steckle introduces bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks
The facts on later abortions in Canada
Key Links

June 24, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Legislature Gives Controversial Bill 107 Approval on Second Reading & Refers the Bill to the Standing Committee for Public Hearings
Put in your Request Now to Make a Presentation to Standing Committee Hearings

• What's New?
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill_107_june24-06.html#new
• What's Next?
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill_107_june24-06.html#next
• An Important Partial Victory
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill_107_june24-06.html#vic
• What Should You Do?
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill_107_june24-06.html#do
• Sample Request to Make a Presentation at the Standing Committee
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill_107_june24-06.html#samp

Help end the backlash. Boycott Bacardi!
Let Bacardi know what you think:
email webmaster@bacardi.com or phone 1-888-BACARDI

R.E.A.L. Women of Canada's lobby efforts to disband Status of Women & the Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) - Update
REAL Women of Canada has obtained an additional Access to Information request on feminist groups for 2004 - 2005 through Status of Women Canada. In their latest newsletter (May-June 2006), they've posted budgets to organizations such as LEAF, NAWL, & NAC on their website as a part of their Letter Writing Campaign to MPs.

Links to the specific articles in their online Newsletter:
Ongoing Discrimination of Status of Women:
http://www.realwomenca.com/newsletter/2006_may_jun/article_7.html

Professional Feminists Face Changing Times:
http://www.realwomenca.com/newsletter/2006_may_jun/article_9.html

For anyone who doesn't wish to visit the REAL Women website, DAWN Ontario has copied and pasted the text from the REAL Women letter to MPs dated April 4, 2006 at this pinpoint URL:
http://dawn.thot.net/real_women.html#rwl

Read More

en français : Le lobby R.E.A.L. Women of Canada tente de faire démanteler Condition féminine Canada et le Comité permanent de la condition féminine (CPCF)

Senate Committee on Autism
Funding for the Treatment of Autism referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for Study and Report
After all this hard work, by so many, it appears that we finally got funding for autism treatment on the agenda! It is on the radar screen. What happens now is not within our control obviously, but we can have an impact on the final report and its recommendations to the government if we all speak up. We need to speak up now more than ever. This committee must hear what each of us wants them to know. Please take some time to think of a submission that you would send to them. Read More

National Child Benefit / National Child Benefit Supplement - Rate increase July 2006
The provincial government stopped taking the 2% NCBS increases, as part of the Clawback, a couple of years ago. Thus, as of July, you get to keep 6% of the increases, which are included in the amounts above. If you receive income assistance in Ontario the provincial government reduces your assistance cheque by 84% of the NCBS you receive, regardless of whether or not you are working. Read More

Bill to End the Long-Gun Registry
The Conservative government has followed up on its one-year amnesty for long-gun owners by tabling a bill to end the Canadian long-gun registry. With the House of Commons about to close for the summer, nothing will happen on the bill until the fall, and even then it's not clear if the government can muster enough votes to get it passed. While the bill does away with the need to register rifles and shotguns, it keeps the requirements for registering restricted and prohibited firearms such as handguns. Some of the current requirements for long-gun owners would also remain in place, like all gun owners requiring a firearms license, the need for police safety checks, and safety training. Read More

Report: Are Wage Supplements the Answer to the Problems of the Working Poor? (PDF 184KB/13p.)
Andrew Jackson, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2006
The idea of addressing poverty through some kind of wage supplementation program has been around for some time, but has only recently moved to the centre stage of Canadian social policy. Unlike the more visionary concept of a Guaranteed Annual Income for all citizens, wage supplements are intended to promote and support employment in low-paid jobs. This paper examines different recommendations and finds wage supplements can play useful supporting roles in assisting the working poor, but should not be seen as the centerpiece of a new social architecture.

Read the report:
Are Wage Supplements the Answer to the Problems of the Working Poor? (PDF 184KB/13p.)

Where There Is No Doctor: Now Available Online
The Hesperian Foundation is proud to announce that their classic manual, Where There Is No Doctor, is now available online! Follow this link to access the 2006 edition on their website.

According to the World Health Organization, Where There Is No Doctor is perhaps the most widely used health care manual for health workers, clinicians, and others involved in primary health care delivery and health promotion programs around the world. The manual provides practical, easily understood information on how to diagnose, treat, and prevent many common illnesses. With over 90 translations and adaptations of the book available worldwide, and millions of copies in print, the book is an essential health resource for individuals and communities around the world.

Sexual Health for Lesbians: Risks and Realities
Canadian Health Network, 2006
Consistent, non-judgmental sexual health care for lesbian women that supports them to make informed decisions depends on partnership and good communication with their health care providers. Because this kind of communication is often lacking, many women who have sex with women are unaware of their individual risk factors for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Read More

June 20, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee Releases Annual Report
Dr. Barry McLellan, Chief Coroner of Ontario, announced today the release of the third annual report of the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee (DVDRC). The report contains an overview of domestic violence deaths occurring in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 that were reviewed by the committee, along with the statistical analysis of information collected. Recommendations arising from the review are also included in the report.

The DVDRC is an advisory committee and reports directly to the chief coroner. The committee was created in response to recommendations made by the juries in the coroner's inquests in the deaths of Arlene May and Randy Iles (1998), and Gillian and Ralph Hadley (2002), as well as the Joint Committee on Domestic Violence. The committee members are drawn from the health, justice, advocacy and social services sectors. Read More

Canadians Rejecting Harper Government Child Allowance, Poll Shows
The results of a poll released today show that Canadians are rejecting Stephen Harper's plan to distribute a $1,200 child allowance to parents with children under six years of age. The Environics poll asked more than 2,000 Canadians their views on child care and the response was clear - 76% of Canadians support a national affordable child care strategy such as the 2004 federal-provincial agreement that was cancelled by the Conservative government.

Monica Lysack, Executive Director of the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC) says that Canadians are not buying into the Harper government's child-care strategy adding, "They see that this plan isn't going to help them find affordable, quality care for their children." The poll showed that only 35% of Canadians support the government's child allowance plan.

What's most crucial for the minority Conservative government is that many Canadians say that their opposition to the child allowance is strong enough that it is likely to influence their vote in the next federal election. This is even true for one third of Conservative voters, a fact Lysack cautions that Stephen Harper should be very concerned about. Read More

CNIB announces print clarity standards for all Canadians
Black and white contrast, Arial or Times Roman, and matte paper finish are among ten recommendations for improved clarity and readability
CNIB, Canada's primary provider of vision loss support programs and services, today launched Clear Print, the first formal print clarity standards for making printed materials more accessible to all Canadians, from fully sighted individuals to aging and low-vision readers. The standards were developed following an extensive international review of research into the variables that affect an individual's ability to easily consume print information. ...

Clear Print identifies 10 variables that affect print clarity, including contrast (black and white is always best), most readable fonts (Arial and Times Roman top the list), paper finish (many readers are highly sensitive to glare), and size of type (the bigger the better). Other recommendations cover type colour, type heaviness, letter spacing, margins and columns, and design and simplicity. Read More

McGuinty Government Improves Patient Access to Drugs
New Act Will Lead to Better Value for Taxpayer Dollars
TORONTO, June 19, 2006 - The McGuinty government is providing Ontario residents with better access to drugs while ensuring significant new savings with legislation that received third and final reading today, Health and Long Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced. "We're on the side of Ontarians who want and deserve better health care, especially those who will benefit from better access to medications," said Smitherman. "The Transparent Drug System for Patients Act will allow our government to deliver better value for money to the taxpayers of Ontario."...

"Bill 102 brings the most significant change to Ontario's public drug system," said Marc Kealey, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists' Association. Read More

June 19, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Monica Lansing
Monica Lansing was a terminally ill mother who had her three children taken away from her on the night she died
Monica Lansing’s entire life was centered around her three children. She worked very hard to support them and provide them with a safe and loving home. Monica and her ex-husband, had a joint custody agreement, in regards to their children, but Monica had primary guardianship of all three children and they lived with her full time.

4 years ago, she fled from her husband, who continued to harass her even though she had moved to another province. He employed members of his family, specifically a brother-in-law, to watch her house and enter into her home when she was at work. His brother-in-law is a former police officer and paramedic and is now the subject of a complaint filed with the Alberta College of Paramedics.

For three years Monica was granted day-to-day care and was the primary guardian of the children until she became sick. When Monica was diagnosed with Leukemia he took her children away from her and cut off his support payments. Contrary to what he told the courts and the newspapers, he uprooted the children from their schools and friends and relocated them to British Columbia without notification or her consent. Read More

June 15, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Outcry against Bill 107 grows: more than 50 organizations call on Premier for change
Former Human Rights Commissioner and member of 1992 Cornish Task Force Advisory Committee Tom Warner joined community leaders at a press conference this morning to release an open letter to Premier McGuinty. The letter was signed by more than 50 organizations representing racialized communities, seniors, gays and lesbians and people with disabilities.

It sets out growing concerns over Bill 107, the government's human rights reform legislation, and condemns the Premier's plan to hold public hearings on the legislation in the summer when people are less able to attend and boards are unable to meet to approve submissions. The groups are calling on the Premier to hold the hearings in the fall and be prepared to make the necessary changes. Read More

June 14, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Creating Job Opportunities for People on Social Assistance
Innovations Fund Encourages Ontario Businesses to Get Involved
TORONTO, June 14, 2006 - The McGuinty government is calling on the Ontario business community to help social assistance recipients get into the workforce and on the path to a brighter future, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services, announced today.

The government is launching a new Employment Innovations Fund to engage employers in expanding employment opportunities for people on social assistance, including people with disabilities. Organizations such as employer associations, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations are invited to submit proposals for new programs that will create sustainable job opportunities and help businesses tap into this pool of willing, job-ready people. Read More

OHRC Fact Sheet
In response to recent inquiries and to help provide additional information for the discussion on Bill 107 and how best to improve and rebalance Ontario’s Human Rights System, the Commission has prepared a Fact Sheet highlighting cases the Commission has been involved in over the years that have received decisions from higher courts. Please go to www.ohrc.on.ca/english/news/e_june-06-facts.shtml.

Fiche de renseignements du CODP
En réponse aux enquêtes que nous avons reçue et pour donner desrenseignements additionnels pour l’entretien sur le projet de loi 107 et le sujet des meilleurs moyens d’améliorer et de rééquilibrer le système des droits de la personne en Ontario, la Commission a mis au point une fiche de renseignements qui souligne des causes dont la Commission a participé qui ont reçu une décision d'une cour supérieure. Veuillez visiter www.ohrc.on.ca/french/news/f_june-06-facts.shtml.

Launch of 'Failing the Homeless' report on Barriers to ODSP Access: June 20th
Street Health - Release
Over the past year and a half Street Health, a community-based health care organization working with homeless and underhoused people in downtown Toronto, has been working on a research project exploring the barriers to accessing ODSP for our clients, while at the same time helping them to secure benefits.

The report, entitled: “Failing the Homeless: Barriers in the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) for Homeless People with Disabilities”, identifies key barriers and delays in the ODSP system for homeless people. It also makes recommendations for how to improve access to ODSP benefits for homeless people with disabilities. Read More

June 13, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Report: Count Us In!
Inclusion and Homeless Women in Downtown East Toronto - June 2006
Project Partners: Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse, Ontario Women's Health Network, Toronto Christian Resource Centre and Toronto Public Health
The purpose of this project was to investigate how health and social services in Toronto, and in the province of Ontario, can be made more inclusive, and in turn, promote the health and well-being of marginalized groups. Homeless and underhoused women who live in Downtown East Toronto led the research and were actively engaged in all stages of the project, from collecting and analysing the data to developing the final recommendations.

They facilitated 11 focus groups with 58 women who are homeless or underhoused.(4) The researchers collected feedback on the health and social services that women use as well as the participants’ ideas about how policies and services could be improved. Count Us In! aims to influence how governments and service providers plan, deliver and fund services for populations that are marginalized. As one participant said, this is an opportunity for the service providers to "step back and take a good look at what is needed."

This report summarizes what the women said. It describes many of the barriers they face, and then highlights their solutions for making services more inclusive. Read the key recommendations

Count Us In! highlights the importance of marginalized women being actively involved in every part of the process, to ensure that their voices are heard, that they are "at the table," and that the appropriate actions are taken to meet their needs. Read More

Download the Report (PDF, 381 kb, 33 pages)

June 12, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Support Falun Gong Peaceful 24-hour Appeal Site In front of the Vancouver Chinese Consulate
Add Your Voice to the Petition
On June 8, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan ordered local Falun Gong practitioners to dismantle the appeal site they've maintained outside the Chinese Consulate 24/7, rain or shine, for the past five years. Mayor Sullivan said the group's signs and booth erected by the consulate contravene a city bylaw.

The Falun Gong practitioners say they were initially given verbal permission to hold a constant vigil at the site in order to raise awareness of the persecution against Falun Gong in China, now in its seventh year. They say the site bears witness to the thousands of practitioners who have been tortured and killed as a result of the persecution, and believe they should be allowed to remain until the persecution comes to an end.

Please sign the online petition at www.globalrescue.net/van.htm.

It would also be very helpful and much appreciated if you would write an email or letter to Mayor Sullivan asking him to re-think his stance on the bylaw, as the site is not a safety hazard, and previous city councils were not averse to it. Letters should be sent by Friday, June 16 which is the date the site is to be dismantled.

Contact information:
Email: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca
Mailing address: 453 West 12th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. V59 1V4
Read More

Daily Bread’s Who’s Hungry Report Illustrates Depth of Hunger Crisis
Survey examines hunger in the GTA and Daily Bread advances solutions
TORONTO, June 6, 2006 - Food bank use across the GTA has risen a dramatic 79% since 1995, according to the report Who’s Hungry: 2006 Profile of Hunger in the GTA released today at BCE Place. The results of Daily Bread’s annual survey paint a picture that cannot be ignored of the struggles and financial plight of the diverse population relying on food banks. The 894,017 people who accessed emergency food services last year through GTA food banks, 38% of whom were children, would not go hungry if the issue of poverty were addressed. So, in conjunction with the report, Daily Bread advances the Blueprint to Fight Hunger. Read More

June 9, 2006
Additions to the site include:

STOP Ryerson from honouring homophobia
Please lend your support by forwarding this communication widely and signing the on-line petition at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/5087MCT/petition.html
Excerpt: Ryerson Students' Union, representing all full-time and graduate students at Ryerson and RyePRIDE, representing the queer and Trans voices of Ryerson, are extremely concerned about the University's decision to award MARGARET SOMERVILLE an honourary degree on June 19, 2006 at 9:30am, as part of Ryerson's convocation ceremonies. ...

... Although Ryerson claims to respect and celebrate diversity in all its forms and the right of individuals to live free of discrimination, their actions to uphold this decision speaks louder than these words. Homophobia is not honorary in any form and no individual should be rewarded for propagating hate and intolerance in our communities.

For those of you who do not know Margaret Somerville, she is a McGill University ethicist and is widely known for her controversial views on same-sex marriage. In both the public and academic spheres Somerville has argued that same-sex marriage, "compromises the right for all children to be raised by both genders and to know their biological parents". Read More

Toronto gets rolling! Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion to raise funds and awareness for people living with spinal cord injury
On Sunday, June 11, people from across Toronto will participate in the 4th annual Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion presented by Scotiabank. The national fundraising event aims to raise awareness and funds to help improve the quality of life of people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI), and to support research that will ultimately lead to a cure. People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to wheel, walk or run in support of SCI. Read More

June 8, 2006
Featured today:

Take Action: Support for Feminist Voices in Public Places
Read Heather Mallick's column, Protect all women while they're alive published June 2nd on CBC news viewpoint regarding the "fetal homicide" bill.

Heather Mallick is one of the very few feminist voices left in public places ... her CBC column generated a lot of negative responses (they appear below her column). Hence, we are calling for emails to: letters@cbc.ca in Heather's defence.

It must be incredibly frustrating for Heather Mallick to continue being one of the few feminist voices left in MSM ... Please write and show solidarity with Heather while countering the voices of the misogynist types who have responded to date.

When skepticism is needed, most media outlets let us down
Security sting of terror suspects seems a bit too pat and may well be
by Ish Theilheimer, Editorial June 6, 2006, Straight Goods
Excerpt: Last weekend, federal and Toronto authorities swooped down on and arrested 17 Canadian Muslim youth and young men for allegedly plotting to bomb landmarks and public buildings. It is alarming to think that "home-grown" acts of terror are likely or inevitable, as many reporters and sources are convinced. It is just as alarming when an ideologically-driven government uses an event to drive support for itself and a harsh agenda of pro-American foreign policy and repressive American-style policing and legislation at home.

No country is immune from terrorism, but neither is any country safe from politically-motivated and heavy-handed police operations that are intended to scare the public as much as to protect them. We should wonder about the credibility of a sting operation and media circus headed up by Stockwell Day, whose penchant for hyperbole is well known. (His partner in ideology is Justice Minister Vic Toews). We should also wonder why the media is not more cautious. Read More

The New Bully on the Block: Cyber Bullying
Womyn's Voices
The Internet has created a whole new world of social communications for young people. They are using e-mail, Web sites, instant messaging, chat rooms and text messaging (STM) to stay in touch with friends and make new ones. While most of the interactions that these kids engage in are positive, increasingly kids are using these communication tools to antagonize and intimidate others. This has become known as cyber bullying.

The Internet has facilitated the creation of an interactive world that is away from adult knowledge and supervision. Because bullies tend to harass their victims away from the watchful eyes of adults, the Internet is the perfect tool for reaching others anonymously from any where at any time. This means that home, for children who are victims of bullying, is no longer a refuge from the cruel peer pressures of school. Read More

NOTHING NEW FOR CANADA... Terror & Religious Conflict Is Old Hat
Edward Pickersgill, Passing Times, Guelph, Ontario, 7 June 2006
Excerpt: Back in the dawn of the white man's creation known as Canada and many steps along the way we've had terror, violence, religious conflict and attempts at cultural genocide. Acknowledging this reality should not be taken as any indication I support any of that. It's just a simple statement of fact.

Today's conflicts between "Christians" and "Islam" is, for me, just more of the same old, same old. Having witnessed the history of conflict between Catholics and Protestants it is impossible to see the current conflicts as any worse. English and Irish combatants shed as much blood and blew up as many of each others things as anything happening today between ruffians and desperados carrying copies of the bible or qur'an. Both gangs purport to carry the direct word of God. Neither seem to carry much spirit of forgiveness or peace and both seem to have large sections of their books with the pages glued shut. Read More

June 7, 2006
Featured today:
None of Our Business - Canada's role in the world and the business press
by Dru Oja Jay
Hugo Chavez: makes the news when he affects the bottom line. Did you know that Royal Bank (RBC), Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), Alcan and SNC-Lavalin all share board members? Or that Yves Fortier, Canada’s former ambassador to the UN, sits on the boards of RBC and Alcan? Where does one go for the plain facts about Canada’s tiny, interconnected corporate and political elite? Read More

June 5, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Residential care facilities, 2002/2003 and 2003/2004
Women outnumbered men by a ratio of more than two to one in Canada's residential care facilities for seniors in 2003/2004. Data for all provinces and territories, except Quebec, show that nearly 103,500 women lived in homes for the aged, compared with just under 42,400 men.

Read the complete report: Residential Care Facilities, 2003/2004
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/83-237-XIE/83-237-XIE2006001.pdf (PDF file, 723k, 124 p)

June 2, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Soliciting Endorsements from Individuals & Organizations
Sign on to the Open Letter to Premier McGuinty re: Bill 107, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2006
Excerpt: As individuals and community organizations who believe Ontario needs a strong human rights system, we are writing to urge your government to take a balanced and genuinely open approach in reforming the human rights system.

Bill 107, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2006, sets out to reform the process for enforcing human rights in Ontario. We agree reform is long overdue, but Bill 107 is not the solution we are looking for.

We understand that, prior to the introduction of the Bill, the Attorney General's office has engaged in some private dialogues with select human rights and legal clinic lawyers, all of whom are very skilled, but are not the people who are in need of the assistance afforded by the human rights system. Many communities - including racialized, disabled, GLBT, aboriginal and women's communities - of which we are a part, were never consulted by this Government on what is truly needed to improve the system. Read More

Bill C-252 An Act to Amend the Divorce Act
to allow terminally ill patients the right to see their children before dying
Andrea's message
Sample email to MP (2 sentences)
Call for letters/emails to MPs to support Bill C-252
Links

Campaign to End Poverty in Canada
The NDP launched a national “End Poverty in Canada” campaign yesterday vowing to engage Canadians and their politicians to deciding what the fairest way forward is for all Canadians. The NDP Social Policy Caucus cited recent United Nations and Ontario-based reports documenting the crisis which found: Over half of Canadians receiving social assistance still need food banks to survive.

Working with their civil society allies, the NDP will engage Canadians in dialogue on the Canada Social Transfer which transfers billions of dollars to provinces and territories with no accountability nor monitoring of its adequacy. “We will travel to communities to hear from Canadians about what their principles of fairness, justice and equity say about what they want for themselves, their neighbours and all Canadians. It is time for a fair deal for all” said Tony Martin (MP Sault Ste Marie).

As part of the campaign, Martin introduced a motion in Parliament today to increase the federal minimum wage to $10 an hour for federal jurisdiction workers, and to implement recommendations from the Pay Equity Task Force Final Report.

Read More: NDP Launches Campaign to End Poverty in Canada
en français: Le NPD Lance Sa Campagne Visant À Mettre Fin À La Pauvreté Au Canada

June 1 , 2006
Additions to the site include:

Bill 107 will take away rights now entrenched in the code
Commentary by Mary Woo Sims, former chief of the B.C. Human Rights Commission
Excerpt: ... If you're having difficulty in understanding why these reforms are a big deal, let me draw this analogy. Many victims of crimes are unhappy with the justice system. Imagine if the government responded to these concerns by eliminating the police who investigate crime and Crown prosecutors who bring the matter before the courts. Imagine the government saying that, since investigating and prosecuting crime takes too long, you can now bring your charge directly to the courts. I can't imagine Canadians would agree that this is an effective fix for our problems with the criminal justice system. So why would we believe that this type of system would work for human- rights administration?

Ontario isn't the first province to move in this direction. British Columbia and Nunavut have also gone down this road, saying these reforms would improve human-rights delivery. Indeed, these reforms have been seductively referred to as “direct access.” But, as we've learned in B.C., “direct access” does not mean direct access to justice, nor does it mean direct access to a hearing on the merits or substance of a complaint. What it means, in practical terms, is only direct access to a tribunal. Read More

Ontario Gov't Invests in Services for Ontarians who are Deaf or Deafblind
Ministry of Community & Social Services Press Release dd June 1, 2006
The McGuinty government is investing in more services for Ontarians who need intervenors or sign language interpreters to assist them with daily activities. "For someone who is deafblind or has a hearing disability, communication barriers can seriously limit their access to things that most of us take for granted, such as going to the bank or visiting their doctor," said Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur. "By breaking down these communication barriers, we are building greater independence for people with disabilities."

The government's 2006 Budget includes nearly $11 million for interpreter and intervenor services, an increase of nearly 65 per cent over existing funding levels. The funding will help to provide more service to people who need it, improve the quality of services and improve wages to attract and keep people who provide interpreter and intervenor services. The government will also explore opportunities to increase the availability of French sign language interpreters and intervenors in the coming year. Read More

New report from YWCA: Violence against women is a national shame
Violence Against Women is a National Shame: Now it Must Become a National Priority
YWCA Canada releases a national study that indicates an alarmingly high percentage of women coming to shelters are at risk of being murdered. Of the 368 women interviewed at ten research sites across Canada, 77 percent were at extreme or severe risk of homicide.

"The general public has little understanding of the fear and degradation commonly experienced by women abused by their intimate partners", explains researcher Professor Leslie Tutty, "it is an ongoing secret terrorism for these women."

The women who seek shelter have made many attempts to stop the abuse, but they cannot control the abuser's actions. When they have exhausted their resources and are most vulnerable, shelters provide safety. The women in the study indicate that shelters are the most effective support available to them; but it is not enough. Read More

Nouveau rapport du YWCA : La violence contre les femmes : une honte nationale
La violence contre les femmes : Une honte nationale dont il faut faire une priorité nationale
YWCA Canada présente les résultats alarmants d'une étude nationale qui indiquent qu'un haut pourcentage des femmes qui cherchent refuge dans les maisons d'hébergement risquent d'être tuées. Des 368 femmes interviewées à dix sites de recherche dans l'ensemble du pays, 77 pour cent étaient en extrême ou grave danger de mort.

« Le public, en général, n'a pas idée de la peur et de la déchéance que vivent les femmes victimes des mauvais traitements de leur partenaire intime, explique la professeure Leslie Tutty, chargée de recherche. Il s' agit de terrorisme continuel pour ces femmes. »

Les femmes qui font appel aux refuges ont maintes fois tenté de faire cesser les violences à leur égard, mais elles n'ont aucun contrôle sur les actions de leur conjoint violent. Quand elles ont épuisé leurs ressources et sont à leur plus vulnérable, les refuges leur fournissent la sécurité. Les femmes de l'étude ont indiqué que les maisons d'hébergement étaient pour elles le moyen d'appui le plus efficace, mais cela ne suffit pas. Read More

New Toll free number connects children with disabilities
Launch of first integrated, coordinated care model for children with special needs bridges service gaps & shortens waitlists
For the first time, families of children with multiple disabilities in York Region and Simcoe County have a single point of contact to access an integrated plan of care. Today marks the official launch of Children's Treatment Network of Simcoe York's new toll-free number. By dialing 1-866-377-0286 parents of kids with special physical, developmental and communications needs connect to the first service delivery model that links regional healthcare, recreation, education, social and community resources from over 25 agencies and organizations.

The Network provides a single plan of care and coordinates services from many agencies through all stages of a child's development from birth through to age 19. There are over 4,500 children with multiple disabilities in Simcoe and York whose families are currently challenged with battling waitlists and navigating and coordinating services for their children as they mature. Read More

May 31, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Ontario Gov't Eliminates 4 Month Retroactive Payment Rule
Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) Press Release dd May 31, 2006
As part of its plan to restore integrity to Ontario's social assistance program, the government has eliminated the four month limit on retroactive ODSP payments. Now, an individual who is approved for ODSP after submitting an application will receive retroactive payments for the full amount of time that they have been waiting for approval. Under the previous rule, this person would only have been eligible for up to four months of retroactive support.

The announcement builds on previous initiatives to cut the amount of time it takes to process an application, including investments in new technology and the hiring of additional staff. It also responds to a major recommendation made by the provincial Ombudsman in his report released today. Read More

Ontario’s most vulnerable are losing out: says Ontario's Ombudsman André Marin
Ombudsman Ontario Press Release dd May 31, 2006
Ontario’s disabled have lost out on disability benefits to the tune of at least $6 million, as a result of delays in processing their applications for support by the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ Ontario Disability Support Program and the impact of a provincial regulation, which limited retroactive benefit payments to four months. “Thousands of Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens have become losers in a cruelly insensitive and intensely bureaucratic waiting game” Mr. Marin notes in his latest report titled “Losing the Waiting Game.”

The Ontario Disability Support Program provides income support, health and other benefits for people with disabilities who are in financial need. The Ombudsman’s investigation was launched after the office received 71 complaints of delays of up to 10 months at the Ontario Disability Support Program’s Disability Adjudication Unit, which is charged with determining whether or not an applicant for financial support meets the stringent definition of a “person with a disability” as set out in the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997. During the Ombudsman’s investigation, an additional 74 complainants came forward and upon reviewing Ministry statistics it was found that at least 4,630 individuals and probably many more, were affected during the period from April 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005 alone.

To add insult to injury, Mr. Marin found that once an applicant was deemed to be entitled to financial support, they were limited by regulation, to receiving four months of retroactive benefits, regardless of how long it may have taken for the Ministry to process their application and even though the delay was through no fault of their own. Read More

Help Support the Canadian Breast Cancer Network by Participating in their first Online Auction on June 1st
On June 1, 2006, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) launches its first-ever online auction to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Network! From June 1-30, 2006, more than 170 items will be up for auction; new items will be listed almost daily, so be sure to check back regularly - find theatre, dinner theatre, comedy club and sports tickets, get a great deal on hotel packages, buy some new tunes or reading materials. On Mondays and Thursdays, log on to see the newest selection of books and other items. Visit the auction website tomorrow at http://www.realauction.ca/cbcn/en/ and start surfing for items to bid on. Read More

Call to Action to End Women's Poverty - June 7, 2006
A Woman Stuck In Poverty... Is A Woman Stuck In Abuse
A coalition of women's advocates and anti-violence & income security groups have come together to create an avalanche of support to demand real change.

We are calling on all women to raise our collective feminist voices - TOO LOUD TO BE IGNORED AND TOO ANGRY TO BE APPEASED - until real changes are made.

On June 7th, plan on attending one of the simultaneous protests in Toronto and Ottawa and/or help spread the word! Read More

With the increased cost of living, women can not afford to pay rent & feed their children

As a result of cuts to the special diet supplement many families lost $250 /person/mth

Federal child benefits must not be clawed back, this funding is intended to support children

Most of those receiving social assistance are single mothers

Basic necessities can ensure women & children's health & safety

It is not a surprise that many women
decide to return to abusive relationships
in order to survive economically!

Child Welfare Workers call '1-800 number' idea "an Accident Waiting to Happen"
The union representing frontline workers in child welfare agencies across the province says a planned 1-800 number to replace on-call services is an accident waiting to happen. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says the Department of Community Services plans to use its own employees to answer calls about cases from across the province - and then have them make crucial decisions about cases that may be hundreds of kilometers away. Read More

ADHD & Medication
Practical Education for Canadian Healthcare Professionals
Due to a shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists more pediatricians and family doctors are being asked to diagnose and treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) creating a need for knowledge on current research and the latest information on ADHD medication. Recently Health Canada has up-dated the prescribing information for all drugs indicated for the treatment of ADHD in adults and children. The changes affect the Contraindications, Warnings and Precautions, Dosing recommendations, and Information for the Patient. Many parents as well as adult patients will be asking for clarification on this newly released information and will need reassurance that medication is still a safe choice. Read More

CEDAW - The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Questions & Answers
Get Informed
Take Action
Links

May 30, 2006
Additions to the site include:

What are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set a powerful agenda for a global partnership to fight poverty, offering a shared vision of a better world by the year 2015.

They aim to cut extreme poverty by half, ensure every child has the chance to go to school and live a long and healthy life, and bring discrimination against women to an end. The risks of dying as a result of childbirth are to be dramatically reduced, deadly diseases brought under control, the environment better managed, and the benefits of progress more equally shared by all the nations of the world. Together, the aspirations set out in the MDGs and their associated targets and indicators represent a powerful framework for action.

Goal 3 challenges discrimination against women, and seeks to ensure that girls as well as boys have the chance to go to school. Indicators linked to this goal aim to measure progress towards ensuring that more women become literate, have more voice and representation in public policy and decision making, and have improved job prospects. But the issue of gender equality is not limited to a single goal — it applies to all of them. Without progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women, none of the MDGs will be achieved.
Read More
Plain language guide to MDGs

Bill 107 needs to come with some assurances: Sandi Ellis
As someone who works for the Canadian Labour Congress and who has been a member of the Ontario Federation of Labour Human Rights committee for over a decade, I quite understand the positioning of Michael Bryant and the provincial government on changes to the Human Rights Commission and the Code under Bill 107.

The labour movement in Ontario has been lobbying for changes to the Human Rights Commission for many years. There is no question that the current system for resolving violations in Ontario is in need of reform, with two primary problems:

A delay in the process with some investigations taking over a year to be assigned.

The fact that some complaints are dismissed without ever being referred to the tribunal, when it is believed they do not need to be.

Bill 107, as it is presented, seemingly alters the process of resolving human rights complaints, stripping the commission of its responsibilities and transferring the entire system to the tribunal.

What Bill 107 takes away
What Bill 107 imposes
What should happen

Hundreds Rally for Child Care on Parliament Hill
Message to Harper: Grow up and build a real child care program!
Colourful paper dolls billowed in the warm spring breeze as hundreds rallied on Parliament Hill (May 25th) to push the Harper government to build a real child care program.

Child care advocates brought thousands of paper dolls and stuffed animals to symbolize the 7,000 Ottawa children who are stuck on child care waiting lists under misguided Conservative child care policies.

The rally attracted hundreds of Ottawa child care workers, parents and kids who were joined by hundreds more CUPE Ontario members in town for their annual convention. Speakers called for public, quality, not-for-profit early learning and child care programs across the country.

Read More
View photo gallery of Child Care Rally May 25th 2006 at Parliament Hill

May 29, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Jamaican Women Learn to Use CEDAW as a Tool for Change
Workshops Teach Women About Their Rights
Several local women's groups in Jamaica have come together to address women's rights through a series of five training workshops. While talking to the women being trained at the first of five workshops recently, independent gender issues consultant Dr. Glenda Simms said that many women do not know what their rights are, and the workshops are a good place to start.

"You have a role to play. Use your privilege to empower the less privileged," she told the organisers, which comprised the Women's Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC), the Coalition for Community Participation in Governance, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung organisation.

The workshops, designed to teach Jamaican women about the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN CEDAW), attracted 65 participants from all over the island. "CEDAW is a serious treaty document and the government should be held accountable for what it does or does not do for you," Dr. Simms said. Read More

What Have MPPs Said About the Controversial Bill 107 in the Legislature since April 26, 2006?
AODA Alliance update May 27, 2006
Since April 26, 2006, when the controversial bill 107 was introduced into the Legislature for First Reading, the issue of the Human Rights Commission has been debated in the Ontario Legislature on several days. Below we set out:

• April 26, 2006 (bill 107's First Reading)
  http://dawn.thot.net/aoda-may27-06.html#a
  
  
• April 27, 2006
  http://dawn.thot.net/aoda-may27-06.html#b
  
  
• May 8, 2006 (during Question Period before 2nd reading debate)
  http://dawn.thot.net/aoda-may27-06.html#c
  
  
• May 8, 2006 (During first day of 2nd Reading Debate on Bill 107)
  http://dawn.thot.net/aoda-may27-06.html#d
  
  
• May 11, 2006 (during Question Period)
  http://dawn.thot.net/aoda-may27-06.html#e

To read a "Fact Check" on statements made during these and other exchanges, visit: http://dawn.thot.net/bill107_fact_check.html

A Women’s Gathering In Honour of Lyallen Hayes
Hosted by Minwaashin Lodge, the Aboriginal Women’s Support Centre - August 4 - 6, 2006
Minwaashin Lodge, the Aboriginal Women’s Support Centre is hosting a Women’s Gathering in a country setting just 40 minutes from Ottawa. The gathering will begin on Friday, August 4th (evening), Saturday, August 5th and end on Sunday, August 6th, 2006.

All women (aged 16 and over) are invited to join us in a two-day healing weekend, featuring traditional Native teachings, as well as women’s teachings from around the world. We have chosen “Truth Survives” as our theme because the truth of women’s power as healers and keepers of our traditions will never be destroyed. This will be a camping weekend in the country not far from Ottawa. Come and share your gifts as a healer or learn from others. Read More

Researchers Open Door to Potential Treatments for Type 2 Diabetes Canadian Institutes of Health Research Press Release dd May 29, 2006
OTTAWA, May 29, 2006 - Researchers funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) have identified an unsuspected role of a protein named SHP-1 that could constitute a new therapeutic path against Type 2 Diabetes.

Under the direction of professor André Marette (Laval University), Nicole Beauchemin (McGill University), Martin Oliver (McGill University Health Centre) and Katherine Siminovitch (University of Toronto) were part of a Canadian and American team which published an article in the May issue of Nature Medicine that explains the role of SHP-1 in the control of blood glucose.

The researchers already knew that SHP-1 played a role in regulating the immune system. However, no one had previously taken the time to verify if this protein was involved in the regulation of metabolism. This is precisely what this team of Canadian and American researchers did, thanks to a series of mutant or genetically modified mice producing little or no SHP-1. Read More

Increased Support for Students With Disabilities at Ontario's Colleges and Universities Ontario Government Press Release dd May 29, 2006
TORONTO, May 29, 2006 - The McGuinty government has expanded support for students with disabilities to ensure they have the opportunity to study and succeed at postsecondary institutions, Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced today.

"We are on the side of hard working Ontario families who want their children to find opportunity through access to postsecondary education," Bentley said. "That's why our government is committed to ensuring that all Ontarians, including students with disabilities, have the opportunity to reach their full potential."

The government provided $28.2 million in 2005-06 to help universities and colleges provide services for students with disabilities to help them succeed. This funding is used to support a wide range of services provided through offices for students with disabilities. Read More

May 28, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Women's Economic Justice Report on Guaranteed Livable Income released
On April 29, 2006, the "Women's Economic Justice Report on Guaranteed Livable Income" was released. This 72-page report documents over 40 interviews held with women between September 2005 to April 2006 to examine these questions:

• What would the benefits of Guaranteed Livable Income be to women? To family and community? To children?
• How would it impact health, equality, spirituality, politics, peace and the environment?
• How do the benefits of GLI compare with the impacts of poverty?
• How does GLI compare with the goal of jobs as a solution to poverty?
• What are the barriers and strategies to achieving a GLI?
• What are the concerns about what could go wrong?
• What community initiatives would complement a GLI?

This report also contains the article The Strong Case for a Guaranteed Livable Income; data on women's income specially acquired for the project from Revenue Canada; and where to learn more or get involved. This project was funded by Status of Women Canada BC/Yukon Region. Read More

May 23, 2006
Additions to the site include:

McGuinty Government Human Rights Reform Fact Check
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance
This Fact Check is an attempt to help ensure that public discussion and debate on Bill 107 is based on accurate and complete facts. Read More

UN Committee Criticizes Canada for Persistent Poverty in the Midst of Wealth - Notes Discriminatory Impact on Women
FAFIA/NAWL Press Release - May 23, 2006
In Concluding Observations released yesterday in Geneva, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed great concern about persistently high rates of poverty among women, Aboriginal peoples, African Canadians, people with disabilities, youth and single mothers. The Committee reviewed Canada's 4th and 5th periodic reports on its compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights during its 36th session, which ended in Geneva on Friday.

"The Committee concluded that Canada is failing to fulfill the rights in the Covenant, including the right to an adequate standard of living, despite Canada's wealth and economic prosperity," said Shelagh Day, who was at the review to represent FAFIA, a broad alliance of women's and human rights groups, and the National Association of Women and the Law. Read More

CEDAW - Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
35th Session, May 15 - June 2, 2006

About CEDAW
Background
Status
Canada & CEDAW
FAFIA Factsheet: CEDAW Anniversary Campaign FACTSHEET: What is CEDAW?
Links

House of Commons - Standing Cttee on Status of Women - Gender Based Analysis
The Standing Committee on the Status of Women presents its SECOND REPORT
Read the Recommendations

May 22, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Bill C-291 -- the 'fetal homicide' bill
Bill C-291 is a private members' bill that would make it a separate offence to kill or injure a fetus while committing a violent crime against its mother. Introduced and given first reading May 17th by MP Leon Benoit, Bill C-291 would recognize two "persons" in crimes such as the murder last year of Liana White in Edmonton, or Lacey Peterson in California.

In both cases, the women killed were pregnant. California law allows for murder charges in the deaths of both the mother and her unborn child in such cases, but Canadian law does not. There is an article in the Toronto Star -- "MP unveils fetal homicide bill" that quotes Mary Eberts, co-founder of LEAF about the implications of Bill C-291 for the abortion debate. Read More

The Harper Government: Towards A New Social Order?
by Prof Ann Porter - May 22, 2006 - Socialist Project e-bulletin No, 21
The election of Stephen Harper's Conservative government on January 23, 2006 has significantly shifted the terms of the social policy debate in Canada. While in some respects the Harper government represents a continuation of the market-based neo-liberal trajectory that has been set over the last 20 some years, in other respects it represents a turn of a kind that we haven't seen before at the federal level in Canada. Many aspects of the Conservative agenda are likely to alter both the framework and nature of social policy discussions. This ranges from specific program proposals in areas such as childcare and healthcare, to the federal-provincial decentralization agenda; from proposals to enshrine property rights in the constitution, to changes in the process of Supreme Court judge selection that could have long run implications for court challenges and equality-based claims. Of particular concern, however, and permeating through specific policy proposals, is a reformulation of what the "social" itself means, both in terms of how we understand the role and nature of "social" policy, and more fundamentally, how we do or should constitute ourselves as social beings. Read More

May 19, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Bill 107 Action Kit - re proposed Human Rights Code Amendment Act
On April 26, 2006, the McGuinty Government introduced the seriously-flawed Bill 107, its proposed Human Rights Code Amendment Act, into the Legislature for First Reading. Bill 107 sets back human rights protection. It seriously weakens the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the public agency responsible to enforce your right not to suffer illegal discrimination. We appreciate both the opposition Conservative and New Democratic Parties voicing our concerns with Bill 107 in the Legislature.

We urge everyone to act now to help with our campaign to fix Bill 107 so it makes things better, not worse. This Kit:

• Suggests three easy ways you can help our campaign
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill-107-action-kit.html#1
  
  
• Summarizes what Bill 107 does
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill-107-action-kit.html#2
  
  
• Explains what's wrong with Bill 107
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill-107-action-kit.html#3
  
  
• Explains the three changes to Bill 107 we seek
  http://dawn.thot.net/bill-107-action-kit.html#4

AODA Alliance - Talking Points - Queen’s Park News Conference - May 19, 2006
Read what the AODA Alliance had to say today at their Queen's Park's news conference announcing our strong opposition to the McGuinty Government's Bill 107, the proposed Human Rights Code Amendment Act, now before the Legislature for Second Reading. Read More

The words that sank Harper's Mr. Clean - Toronto Star
Link to the Toronto Star article published May 17, 2006
Gwyn Morgan's views on ethnic Canadians virtually killed his chances of becoming the PM's federal watchdog

This is a speech [Getting Beyond the Symptoms to Root Causes: What Politicians are Afraid to Say] by Gwyn Morgan, president and CEO of EnCana Corp., made Dec. 7 last year to the Fraser Institute. Morgan's previous statements on immigration were cited as one of the reasons Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Québécois refused to confirm the Prime Minister's pick as head of public appointments on Tuesday. The theme of Morgan's speech was that political correctness was preventing politicians from solving some of Canada's problems. Read More

Progressive organisations lambast government for failure to heed copyright advice
This article discusses some emerging issues on copyright and big business' attempt to get control of information. Privacy advocates launch DRM information portal - EFF, CIPPIC lambast government for failure to heed copyright advice by Shane Schick, 5/18/2006

Canadian privacy advocates are pushing the federal government to back away from any moves to extend legal protection to digital rights management technology through copyright reform.

Excerpt:
"More than a dozen organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and the Canadian Association for Open Source signed a pair of open letters that were sent to Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Industry earlier this week. The letters were complemented with the launch of a Web site, Intellectualprivacy.ca, which provides more background and context to the privacy risks they claim are associated with digital rights management (DRM). Federal privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart, along with her Ontario and British Columbia counterparts Ann Cavoukian and David Loukidelis, endorsed the letter and sent letters of their own."

Also read this fact sheet on copyright

Bill 109: Residential Tenancies Act Hearings will be held Only in Toronto
Hearings on the new Residential Tenancies Act will be held only in Toronto on May 29, 31 and June 5th. Tenants in other Ontario cities will have to travel to Toronto or submit a written submission to the Committee. Hearings could wrap up by June 8th and the Bill can then proceed to Third and final reading.

Tenants who waited 2 ½ years for the new Act can only watch as the Bill is rammed through the legislature ...Bill 109 could become law before the Legislature rises for the Summer on June 22nd. Read More

May 18, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Call to Contact MPs to Support Bill C-304 - National Strategy for the Treatment of Autism Act
Significant developments on Autism front in both House of Commons and the Senate
Things are really picking up on Parliament Hill, with significant developments on the autism front in both the House of Commons and the Senate:

 Bill C-304 - National Strategy for the Treatment of Autism Act - First Reading May 17, 2006

Hansard * House of Commons - May 17, 2006 - National Strategy for the Treatment of Autism Act - Hon. Shawn Murphy (Charlottetown, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-304, An Act to provide for the development of a national strategy for the treatment of autism and to amend the Canada Health Act.

Debates of the Senate (Hansard) - May 17, 2006 - Funding for Treatment of Autism

Autism Motion Tabled - May 15, 2006 - House of Commons

Take Action: contact MPs to support Bill C-304

Supreme Court of Canada to Rule on Access Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) Press Release dd May 17, 2006
The leadership of Canada's disability community will be in the Supreme Court of Canada at 9:30 am on May 19th, where the community's access rights will be interpreted by the country's highest court for the first time. In October 2003 the Canadian Transportation Agency [CTA] ordered VIA Rail to make its recently purchased rail cars accessible to persons with mobility and vision disabilities. In March 2005 the Federal Court of Appeal overturned this decision, saying people with disabilities who can't use the new trains will have to find other means of transportation.

Before the trains were purchased, using 100% taxpayer money, former Liberal Transport Minister David Collenette promised the trains would meet the CTA's train accessibility standards. When told the trains were inaccessible Collenette washed his hands of the matter, suggesting VIA seek the CTA's guidance on the issue. VIA refused. Faced with Canada being the only developed country in the world where new inaccessible trains could be brought into service, and with the CTA unable to act on its own initiative, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), on behalf of it broad membership, applied to the CTA for a ruling on whether or not the trains were legal. Read More

May 17, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Bill 102 Transparent Drug System for Patients Act, 2006
Ontario Health Coalition - Urgent Update
The drug industry and the pharmacy chains are descending on Queen’s Park regarding a piece of legislation that will likely work to control the costs of drugs. The OHC has been calling on government to take action to control the cost of drugs for years. Now we need to act to support the initiatives in Bill 102 that will work to control drug costs.

We strongly encourage local coalitions, member groups and affiliated organizations and individuals to sign up for standing at the committee hearings on this Bill. Please note the deadline is next Tuesday, May 23rd, to email or call in to book a spot. Please call or email in to book your spot now.

A briefing note on the issues which you can use for the hearings is below. A full submission from the OHC will be sent out early next week for your use. Read More

Working families want withdrawal from Afghanistan
The Canadian Labour Congress calls for the withdrawal of Canada’s troops in Afghanistan and an increase of our commitment to the reconstruction and development of that country.

At its regular spring meeting earlier this week, the Executive Council of the Canadian Labour Congress commended the courage and bravery of all the men and women serving in Afghanistan. The Executive Council, government “has moved beyond the NATO mission of humanitarian relief and peacekeeping to an active combat role in support of the US military mission in Afghanistan. In so doing, our government has put Canadian troops in harm’s way in an unprecedented manner.”

The Executive Council of the Canadian Labour Congress does not “accept the argument that Canadian presence is intended to bring democracy to the people of Afghanistan. Nor do we accept the premise that our presence is intended to put Afghanistan on the road to sustainable development or improve women’s equality in that country.” Read More

Funding for Treatment of Autism
Autism in the Senate - Debates of the Senate (Hansard) May 16, 2006
Hon. Terry M. Mercer: Honourable senators, it is an honour for me to support my colleague, the Honourable Senator Munson, in his ongoing effort to raise awareness of a problem in Canada with regard to our children. I will, no doubt, echo many of the thoughts and feelings of those here today. I can only hope that we will do our best to continue to raise awareness of autism and solve the issues surrounding it.

The Autism Society Canada estimates the number of children with autism has grown by more than 150 per cent in the last six years. This statistic is startling. These sufferers, with compulsive behaviours and speech disorders, become alienated from their family and friends, those who care about them so deeply. According to most research, the disorder
affects approximately 190,000 Canadians. Three out of every 1,000 children are being diagnosed - up from four in every 10,000 in 1986. Read More

May 16, 2006
Additions to the site include:

AODA Alliance Calls on Attorney General to Ensure Forthcoming Public Hearings on Bill 107 Will Be Fair, Open and Accessible, and to Correct the AG's Inaccurate Statement About the AODA Alliance In Legislature
On May 8, 2006, the Attorney General incorrectly stated in the Legislature: "I know that at least one member of the Ontarians with disabilities committee has argued that we ought to put off debate over human rights reforms until 2025. That's the date on which the accessibility legislation is to be implemented in its entirety."

Neither the AODA Alliance (whom the Attorney General appears to have confused with its predecessor, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee), nor anyone speaking for it, has asked the Government to hold off debating reforms to the Human Rights Commission for twenty years. To the contrary, we have agreed that reform is needed and called for prompt, time-limited public consultations. However we have opposed the specific weakening of the Human Rights Commission that the Government announced on February 20, 2006 and enshrined in Bill 107. Read More

MCSS Transformation of Developmental Services - 'Opportunities and Action'
Just a heads up regarding the Transformation of Developmental Services initiative announced by the Ministry of Community and Social Services in their document quietly released last week entitled, “Opportunities and Action”. (Gov't press release)

DAWN Ontario has grave concerns about the direction this document suggests for people with developmental disabilities in Ontario and are in the process of contacting other stakeholders to see if we might be able to develop a common understanding on the issues and a common response to these plans.

The government is inviting public comments on Opportunities and Action -- note the deadline for feedback/comments is June 30, 2006.

Follow this link to access links to government material on this initiative.

Poverty: Enough is Enough
by Jacquie Chic, Toronto Star Opinion-Editorial, May 16, 2006
No matter the model, income security reform must reflect the actual cost of living in each community, says Jacquie Chic

Excerpt:
"The dire poverty in which social assistance recipients and minimum wage workers live is attributable to the inexcusable state of our income security system.

No amount of bickering about how to measure poverty and therefore how widespread it is changes the fact that it exists and that the gap between rich and poor is widening.

Recent immigrants, Indians, women and people living with disabilities are most likely to be poor. [please note: the text for this Op-Ed was submitted by Jacquie Chic as "Aboriginal people" and was edited by the Star to read "Indians"]

Governments don't make the choices they do because they are blind to the existence of poverty or its effects. On the contrary, choices that reduce or minimally increase low income are favoured despite the peril that causes for the poor because they create increased profit margins and allow CEO salaries to soar...."

Read the rest of Jacquie Chic's Op-Ed at: http://tinyurl.com/gopne

Action Alert: Equal Marriage Vote
Stephen Harper has confirmed he’ll hold a vote on re-opening equal marriage. So the only issue is when. How long will he delay that vote? Until he thinks he has the votes to win? Until after the next election? Although we’re ahead in the vote count, opponents of equal marriage are pressing for a delay so they can take advantage of what they call “a window of opportunity” to pressure MPs to vote for re-opening the divisive marriage debate. Equal marriage opponents are using this “window” to actively target MPs in Ottawa. They’re even hosting receptions for “supportive and persuadable” MPs!! One was hosted on Parliament Hill just a few weeks ago by Pat O’Brien’s group, Vote Marriage Canada.

It’s critical that MPs hear not only from equal marriage opponents, but from supporters as well. We know 2/3 of Canadians are against rolling back the clock on equality, but MPs may not believe that, if all they hear are calls to “restore traditional marriage.” Read More & Take Action

May 15, 2006
Additions to the site include:

'Time For A Fair Deal'
The Task Force to Modernize Income Security for Working-Age Adults Releases its Final Report May 2006

Press Release

Key recommendations to the federal government include

Key recommendations to the Ontario Government include

Complete Report

Appendix I

Links to more information about this initiative

Toronto Star article

Bill C-225 Pesticide Ban -- Sign Petition
Please add your support for this petition and forward to your friends, networks and family; to all ecologically minded citizens. There is a paid business lobbyist working for pesticide companies in London - The "grassroots" of Canada can certainly meet this challenge to the integrity of our children's health, not to mention the birds, bugs and squirrels that cannot read the warning signs either.

Irene Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe MP) and Bill Armstrong (Ward 4 London City Councillor) have created an online petition in support of Bill C-225. The bill would place a moratorium on the cosmetic use of pesticides until products are proven safe and approved by a committee of Parliament.

Full-text of the bill
Link to the Petition

Featuring the writing of Richard Marcus

Chronic Pain: the Illness that Doesn't Exist
Canadian Politics: Not An April Fools Post
Self Esteem
Giving Thanks
Illogical Logic

American Canadian Relations: The Carrot And The Stick
Cultural Archaeology: Finding Your Past

Words of Fear

Casualties of War

Satire: Partition - A New Solution for Iraq

Passover and Easter: Uneasy Neighbours

Satire: Hostage Rescues. (How To Handle Ingrates Canadian Style)
Satire: Canadian Politics: What's the U.N. Know Anyway?

May 14, 2006
Featured on the site today - CRIAW

Providing Tools for Social Justice & Equality for All Women
Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) Release May 11, 2006

CRIAW is a national non-profit research institute whose work centres on making the links between feminist research, action and social change. Its main objective is to advance social justice and equality for all women.

Rethinking Mainstream Approaches to Questions of Social and Economic Policy: Intersectional Feminist Frameworks (IFFs)
follow this link to CRIAW

Working to Integrate Marginalized Women's Voices
follow this link to CRIAW

Intersectional Feminist Frameworks (IFFs) Think Tank Report
follow this link to CRIAW

Intersectional Feminist Frameworks (IFFs) Critical Reflection Piece
follow this link to CRIAW Focus

Intersectional Feminist Frameworks: An emerging vision
CRIAW's critical reflection piece on Intersectional Feminist Frameworks (IFFs) is the result of over two years of conversations with community activists and academics on the intersectionality experienced by historically marginalized groups. IFFs examine how factors including socio-economic status, race, class, gender, sexualities, ability, geographic location, refugee and immigrant status combine with broader historical and current systems of discrimination such as colonialism and globalization to simultaneously determine inequalities among individuals and groups.

Disentangling the Web of Women’s Poverty and Exclusion!
This information tool reveals that the issues affecting women’s poverty and exclusion are deeply interconnected in creating a web of economic insecurity and marginalization. The lens of Intersectional feminist frameworks (IFFs) is crucial in disentangling this web and in bringing about social change. Disentangling the web is not enough. Solutions and strategies to achieve social and economic justice must be explored and implemented if we are to build stronger movements to strengthen civil society’s capacity to influence policy. This information tool is about making the voices of activists and advocates being at the forefront of the work for social change and women’s substantive equality.

Free copies: Phone: 613-563-0681 ext 221, Email: info@criaw-icref.ca
(There is a charge for posting and handling if you order 10 copies or more)

 

May 13, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Bill 208, the Protection of Fundamental Freedoms (Marriage) Statues Amendment Act
FOTF / IMFC Watch: Focus on the Family (FOTF) Canada / Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC) (Hold your nose ... as you read and get ready to mobilize around the issues facing us as a nation vis a vis the fundamentalist desire for political supremacy)

Bill 208, the Protection of Fundamental Freedoms (Marriage) Statues Amendment Act
Responses to Bill 208
Focus on the Family (FOTF) Canada
Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC)
A Better Message

Women’s Health Institute Project - Consultation Update
Bulletin 2, Spring 2006
The Women’s Health Institute Project Team has been busy meeting with individuals and groups from throughout the province. The feedback gathered from these sessions has been very useful and will inform the ongoing recommendations and reports made to the Minister of Health and Long Term Care over the coming year. Read More

Special Diet Allowance Update
The Ministry has issued two new bulletins and an instruction sheet for physicians and health professionals clarifying that in situations where recipients have been granted a special diet allowance to help them reach a healthy body weight, the allowance should be continued to help them maintain their weight. Read More

May 12, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Senate Debates of May 11, 2006 - Autism!
Hon. Jim Munson rose pursuant to notice of April 27, 2006:
That he will call the attention of the Senate to the issue of funding for the treatment of autism.
He said: Honourable senators, there is an urgent health issue in this country and that issue is autism. The Autism Society of Canada estimates that the number of children with autism has grown by more than 150 per cent in the last six years and now affects one in 200 children. Autism affects people in different ways, isolating its sufferers with compulsive behaviours and speech disorders that close people off from their family, friends, teachers, neighbours and society as a whole. Read More

Expose and Oppose P3s and Private Hospital
The OFL’s campaign to expose and oppose privatization and Public-Private Partnerships (P3c) has been traveling across the province in April and May conducting workshops for union members and engaging local media in the debate around the issue of building and rebuilding public services. Read more in the latest issue of FOCUS!

CTV poll: Should the Conservatives reopen the abortion debate
CTV is currently running a poll at http://www.ctv.ca on whether the Conservatives should reopen the abortion debate.
Total Votes cast (as at 8:45 pm): 15,950
Yes 4,853 votes (30 %)
No 11,097 votes (70 %)

May 11, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Senator Munson Launches an Inquiry into the Treatment of Autism - Senate Wakes Up!
OTTAWA, May 11, 2006 – The Honourable Jim Munson, Senator (Ottawa – Rideau Canal) rose in the Senate today to launch an inquiry on the plight faced by parents of children with autism. “It is heartbreaking to see what families with autistic children have to deal with,” said Senator Munson. “Where is the universality in health care that Canadians are so proud of? It’s not to be found if you have autism,” continued the senator from Ontario. “The Canada Health Act does not specify autism treatment as an Insured Health Service.”

“Autism knows no borders. It is time for the Government of Canada to show leadership – in the same way that we have shown leadership with Canada’s Drug Strategy or our Diabetes Strategy. We need a National Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategy.” Senator Munson hopes that with the support of his colleagues that this inquiry may become the focus of a study of a Standing Senate Committee. Read More & en français

New Human Rights Bill Hurts Those Who Need It Most
On April 26, the McGuinty Liberals introduced Bill 107, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Code. Unions, community groups and the NDP all condemned the Bill as a disaster for Human Rights in Ontario, and called on the government to hold public hearings to give a say to those who will be affected.

OFL Executive Vice-President Terry Downey said the legislation “will only make matters worse for the very people the Commission was set up to help. Under the guise of ‘direct access’ to a Human Rights Tribunal this legislation only allows access to a court – not justice,” said Downey. “It’s privatization of a publicly-funded human rights system. The amendments serve to Americanize the system.” .... Read More

Task Force for Income Security Launches Report and Recommendations
Media Advisory: Toronto City Summit Alliance - May 11, 2006
The Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working-Age Adults (MISWAA) will release its report addressing the urgent need to reform Canada's income security policies. The report will detail specific recommendations that will transform the country's income security system into a more effective one for working age adults. The proposals constitute a multi-faceted set of solutions aimed at the federal government, the provincial government, municipal governments, and other parts of civil society than can ultimately contribute to the solutions. Read More

Satire: Canadian Politics: What's The U.N. Know Anyway?
by Richard Marcus - a must read!
Excerpt:
... The government spokesperson at these hearings, Allan Kessel a legal advisor to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, pointed out to those do-gooders on this committee that most Canadians "have access to housing of acceptable size and quality at affordable prices." I mean goodness; it's only $800.00 a month for a one-room apartment in Toronto. Only a malcontent would make a fuss over the fact that a single person only receives $540.00 a month on welfare.

Look at all the geared-to-income housing units we have in the province of Ontario alone for these people on welfare and disability support payments. It's only on average a five-year wait for one of those apartments and after that you're set for life. A couple gets a 750 square foot one bedroom apartment in a low rise complex filled with other couples and families just like them. It's a regular community.

Mr. Kessel said Canada was "proud of its record of achievement in the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights." and has been at the forefront of promoting human rights both internationally and domestically. Just look at our new policy for day care as an example of economic and social rights. A couple with only one person working and whose income is over $175,000 a year can claim a $1200.00 tax credit at the end of the year. Of course the less money you make the less of a credit you get because you don't need to deduct as much from your taxable income now do you?

Of course we are proud of our record regarding human rights domestically. Just look at the wonderful work we are doing with our native populations. Twice in the last two months we have successfully airlifted whole communities off their reserves when the water systems have failed and they were threatened with e-coli infestations. They all got to have a nice trip out of town at government expense and nobody got sick.

Oh sure there has been some belly aching because the new government hasn't honoured the Kelowna Accord's commitments for funding housing, education, and employment, but they still got $1.5 million dollars this year. They didn't really think they would get the $8 million that all the provinces and the previous government agreed to, now did they? ... Read More

Call for a National Autism Strategy
To date no province has offered autism treatment under the Medicare umbrella. Those provinces that offer autism treatment programs under the Social Services departments are often plagued with unconscionable waiting lists or discriminatory age-based cut-offs.

It is time for the federal government to demonstrate leadership and develop a National Autism Strategy that would see fedeal budget surplus dollars transferred to the provinces specifically for autism treatment along with corresponding standards so that no child with autism will be left behind.

We are calling on all parents, family and friends of children with autism to write their MPs, Senators, and the Health Minister, to:

* Ask them for the corresponding study results in Canada and what are they doing about it.
* Ask them what they're doing about the lack of Federal funding for the treatment of autism.
* Call for the new Conservative government to develop a National Autism Strategy.

Contact info for MPs, follow this link

Contact info for Senators, follow this link

Contact info for The Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Health:

Parliamentary Address
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 944-7740
Fax: (613) 992-5092
E-Mail: Clement.T@parl.gc.ca

Women's Call to ACTION - June 7, 2006
A Woman Stuck In Poverty... Is A Woman Stuck In Abuse

With the increased cost of living, women can not afford to pay rent & feed their children

As a result of cuts to the special diet supplement many families lost $250 /person/mth

Federal child benefits must not be clawed back, this funding is intended to support children

Most of those receiving social assistance are single mothers

Basic necessities can ensure women & children's health & safety

It is not a surprise that many women
decide to return to abusive relationships
in order to survive economically!

Mr. Harper, on Mothers Day, women want more that just flowers: we want real equality now!
The National Association of Women and the Law released a Mother's Day Statement that has been endorsed by over 100 local, provincial and national organizations across the country. While more fathers have been getting involved, women still do the lion's share of the work of caring for children and the home. Most mothers do a double day's work and pay a steep economic price for raising young children. Motherhood often leads to impoverishment for women, to overwork, exhaustion and guilt. The Mothers Day Statement calls on the Harper government to take concrete measures toward the social and economic equality of mothers. Read More

Where are the women? Kirby Report is hit and miss, advocates for women's mental health say
Working Group Releases Background Overview of Women, Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction in Canada
Women’s mental health, mental illness and addictions experts and advocates from across Canada applauded the call for a Mental Health Transition Fund by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, but expressed deep concern over the absence of any gender analysis in the Committee’s final report on mental health, mental illness and addiction in Canada, released yesterday. Read More

Globally, the media shows little interest in women's issues
by Kamala Sarup, May 10, 2006, LA Chronicle
reprinted with permission of the author
Excerpt: The International Federation of Journalists, the world's largest journalists' group, says that stereotyping of women in media and the restricted entry of women into the charmed circle and largely male world of management in journalism are key obstacles to gender equality in the media industry.
"Around the world the struggle for equality in media is a constant battle for recognition of women's rights. The issue is always there whether it is in discrimination over jobs and pay or in the diet of sexist and titillating journalism that still contributes to the difficulties faced by women in all sections of society," the IFJ said. Read the full article

FAFIA - Update & Invitation: May 17 - CEDAW 25th Anniversary Event
... FAFIA is hosting an event on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, May 17th between 5:15 and 6:30 p.m. entitled “25 Years: Ready or Not?”. This gathering is intended to give Parliamentarians more information regarding Canada’s obligations under CEDAW. It also offers FAFIA members an opportunity to talk with Parliamentarians regarding our efforts to ensure Canada’s full accountability for its human rights commitments to women.

Our primary objective for the event is to convey our confidence that with the right approach, the current session of Parliament can potentially be a positive and productive one for the advancement of women’s rights in Canada. We also intend to demonstrate FAFIA’s commitment to working with all Parliamentarians and parties willing to go the distance on the UN recommendations. Read More

May 8, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Announcing National Elizabeth Fry Week /
Annoncé la semain e nationale elizabeth fry
National Elizabeth Fry Week: May 8 - 14, 2006
Theme: Women in Community
Purpose of National Elizabeth Fry Week:
The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) celebrates National Elizabeth Fry Week annually. Elizabeth Fry societies across the country organize public events in their communities throughout the week.

Our goal is to enhance public awareness and education regarding the circumstances of women involved in the criminal justice system, especially those who are criminalized. We hope to challenge and gradually break down the negative stereotypes that exist about women who are victimized and criminalized.

National Elizabeth Fry Week is always the week preceding Mother's Day. The majority of women in prison are mothers. Most of them were the sole supporters of their families at the time they were incarcerated. When mothers are sentenced to prison, they and their children are also sentenced to separation. Many women find this the most severe punishment. We try to draw attention to this reality by ending Elizabeth Fry Week on Mother's Day each year. Read More en français

AODA Alliance Releases Preliminary Response to the McGuinty Government's Human Rights Bill
Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act (AODA) Alliance Update dd May 8, 2006
Summary: On Wed., April 26, 2006, the McGuinty Government introduced into the Legislature for First Reading Bill 107, the proposed "Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2006." That bill is aimed at reforming the process for enforcing human rights in Ontario.

By introducing this bill at that time, the Government rejected the widespread claims from the AODA Alliance and many others, that it should not introduce a bill on this topic until it held a proper, open accessible public consultation on how to reform the Human Rights Code.

The bill itself is a substantial rejection of major concerns about the Government's plans that have been raised by so many voices in the disability community such as the AODA Alliance, racialized communities and by other sectors of our community.

Shortly we will make available the important documents from the Government concerning this bill. However, today as quickly as it can, the AODA Alliance is releasing its preliminary response to Bill 107.

We have to act as quickly as we can, because unfortunately the McGuinty Government is rushing to proceed with this bill in the Ontario Legislature. We learned late last week, though not from the Government itself, that the Government is bringing Bill 107 forward for the first day of Second Reading Debates in the Legislature this evening from around 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. By rushing this bill forward to Second Reading debates just 12 days after the bill got First Reading on April 26, 2006, the Government is giving the public far too little time to digest all the bill's complicated provisions. It also is eliminating the possibility of sending the bill out for public hearings before the bill reaches Second Reading. Had this Government sent the bill out for hearings over the summer before Second Reading, we would have had a broader opportunity to have input into the bill before the Legislature voted on it at Second Reading. At Second Reading the Legislature votes whether to give the bill "approval in principle." Read More

UN Experts question Canada’s inaction on poverty, housing, aboriginal rights
GENEVA - “Many of the issues our committee raised in 1993 and 1998 are unfortunately still live issues today,” said Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay, a member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights during the committee’s review of Canada’s performance. “Years later, the situation appears to be unchanged, and in some respects worse. There is continuing homelessness and reliance on food banks, security of tenure is not still not enjoyed by tenants, child tax benefits are still clawed back, (...) the situation of aboriginal peoples, migrants and people with disabilities doesn’t seem to be improving.” ...

Several committee members were disturbed by the lack of investment in social programs and by continuing high poverty rates of the most marginalized (women, aboriginal peoples, people of colour and immigrants) [editor's comment: What about people with disability???] and wondered why this has happened when the government is enjoying budget surpluses year after year. Read More

Interview with Circle of Women with Disabilities (CIMUDIS) in the Dominican Republic
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) kindly provided this transcript (Rochelle Jones) of the recent interview they conducted with Cristina Francisco from Circle of Women with Disabilities (CIMUDIS) in the Dominican Republic about the intersection of feminism, discrimination and disability. Read More

May 7, 2006
Additions to the site include:

Take Back Mother's Day March & Protest
May 14, 2006 at 2:00 pm - 15 Huntley Street (Sherbourne & Bloor) - Toronto
For most Canadians, Mother’s Day is a time when families honour their mother’s hard work. But for many of low income families find that on Mother’s Day, peace and joy is in very short supply, especially now that more than 30,000 of their youngsters languish in foster homes.

We did not lose our children because of abuse, rather we lost our children because of poverty, lack of affordable adequate housing, being single, being young, having a child with special needs, being in recovery from substance abuse issues, having survived an abusive partner, or having worked in the Adult Entertainment Industry.

Silenced for decades by shame and guilt, we suffered alone with our grief, believing that we were the only ones. Now we find that we are not alone. Mother’s Day began as a day to honor the public activism of mothers. It began in 1870 because mother’s declared that they would not lose their children as casualties of war.

On Sunday May 14th 2006, let's “Take Back Mother’s Day" by joining with Mothers across Toronto as we rally in front of the Children’s Aid Society at 15 Huntley Street at 2:00pm to demand... Read More

May 6, 2006
Featured article:

Express Line to Injustice
Ontarians want a strong and effective Commission, one that is both comprehensive and flexible; not one that merely achieves a case management efficiency by the slashing and burning of human rights.
by Lorne Foster, May 5, 2006 - from rabble news
The Ontario Liberals recently announced in the Legislative Assembly a proposal to create a new human rights system. Bill 107 effectively guts the Ontario Human Rights Commission, eliminating the entire enforcement provision. By voiding the investigation and compliance functions of the Commission, complainants will be expected to navigate the process on their own or hire a lawyer. Read the full article on rabble news

May 5, 2006
Additions to the site include:

AUTISM: the Latest Prevalence Rates in USA - Now 1 in 175
Below is the latest bombshell in the USA about the prevalence rates for autism. Clearly, this is getting media attention in the USA. We need to capitalize on this and send this information to all MPs and Senators, especially Tony Clement, the Minister of Health, and ask them for the corresponding study results in Canada and what are they doing about it?

Clearly, this would support our case that the government needs to mandate the Public Health Agency with monitoring what the heck is going on and using this data to feed into policy development.

Contact info for MPs, follow this link
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/mpscur.asp?Language=E

Contact info for Senators, follow this link
http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/isenator.asp?Language=E

• A quick background summary of the current issue surrounding the Government's plans to privatize the enforcement of human rights in Ontario by weakening the Ontario Human Rights Commission, for those who want more or who haven't been following the issue.
  
  
• On April 5, 2006 in Toronto there will be an important public forum about the Government's plans to weaken the Human Rights Commission. See the invitation below. Come to it. Bring friends and family. ASL is provided.
  
  
• A letter to the editor in today's London Free Press from unstoppable disability rights advocate Cathy Vincent Linderoos, urging Premier McGuinty not to introduce his plans to weaken the Human Rights Commission. Please write letters to your local newspaper with this same message.
  
  
• Four more prominent organizations have joined the swelling list of those opposing the Government's plan to privatize enforcement of human rights on the backs of discrimination victims like persons with disabilities. See the letters below from
  * the MS Society,
  * the Canadian Association of Retired Persons,
  * the Ontario Coalition of Accessibility Advisory Committees, and
  * the Peterborough Council for Persons with Disabilities.
  

• Health Care
• Education
• Energy
• New Deal for Cities
• Jobs
• Help for the Vulnerable

• Media Release: Budget short changes poor people
  
• Media Release: Dalton's leaky budget - missed opportunities for people
• Media Release: Dalton McGuinty's Pay More Get Less Budget - Tory says
  McGuinty should have focused on balanced budget, not reckless spending
• Media Release: Provincial Budget Won't Stem the Hunger Crisis
• Media Release: Community Living Toronto Sees Budget as a Positive Investment in Developmental Services
• Media Release: Government Will Hear from Disappointed Family Members of LTC Residents
• Media Release: McGuinty fails to deliver on quality education, public services
• Media Release: Ontario nurses give McGuinty's budget thumbs up for health promotion measures but thumbs down for inadequate increase in social assistance
• Media Release: Students say McGuinty is sitting on nearly $7 billion in new federal transfers for social programmes - Money could be used to reduce tuition fees and hire faculty

• Social assistance payments rise again, but it's not enough, advocate says

Equality Rights Issues & Organizing Info

Organizing Information & Resources for Social Justice Activists

Womyn's Voices
FemmeVox - Engaging women to advance equality through technology

FemmeVox - Vol. 11 Sept 11, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 10 Jun 27, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 9 Jun 08, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 8 May 23, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 7 May 04, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 6 Apr 25, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 5 Apr 11, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 4 Mar 23, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 3 Mar 07, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 2 Feb 23, 2006
FemmeVox - Vol. 1 Feb 06, 2006

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