Oda not welcome at provincial meeting on women's issues

[Catchme]

Hand together for the provinces for picking up Federal slack!

Federal minister not welcome at provincial meeting on women's issues

JOAN BRYDEN

OTTAWA (CP) - The Harper government has shown so little interest in women's issues that provinces have decided to meet on their own to plot a national strategy without bothering to invite federal Status of Women Minister Bev Oda.

The snub follows two recent federal-provincial meetings on women's issues at which Oda put in only brief appearances and displayed "a complete lack of interest," according to Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's minister responsible for women's issues

"Because we have ministers who travel literally from coast to coast to coast, a couple of them that take two days just to get there, they were really quite offended that she would come for an hour," Pupatello said in an interview Wednesday. Their frustration deepened on Dec. 15, when a federally organized teleconference, supposedly aimed at finishing up the agenda from the October meeting, was similarly cut short

Provinces to Take lead While Harper's Government Fails to Properly Govern!

[jdobbin]

Hand together for the provinces for picking up Federal slack!

Oda has a hard time answering any questions of her ministership. During the last session, it was not uncommon for someone to step up and speak for her. She is very quiet. It is possible that most of the policies in her portfolio are written at the PMO.

[White Doors]

WHAT "women's" issues?

[Catchme]

WHAT "women's" issues?

From the link:

Pupatello said provincial ministers were frustrated with what little Oda did say to them at the past two meetings.

She did not, for instance, give them any details about the federal government's decision to slice $5 million over two years from the $23-million annual budget for Status of Women Canada, a federal agency that promotes gender equality and funds women's groups across the country.

Oda told them the money would be "redirected" into other programs for women but Pupatello said she couldn't explain how or when that would occur or whether the money saved by closing some of the agency's regional offices would remain in those regions.

Pupatello said Oda also claimed the Harper government has already done a "tremendous amount" on justice issues for women, pointing to stiffer sentences for gun crimes.

"The women who are being murdered here, they're being strangled and beaten and burned," said Pupatello.

"So please don't pretend to me that gun bill somehow was introduced and tabled in the House with a mind to assisting violence against women. You know, please."

[mikedavid00]

WHAT "women's" issues?

Exactly. This is part of the problem. It's another 'minority group'.

Women in Canada vote more Liberal BTW.

And suprise suprise, the Liberals want to lower the voting age to 16!!

Gee, who do you think 16 year olds vote for??

God I hate Trudeau and the Liberals. We need political reform desperately.

[margrace]

How can we be a minority group when over 52% of the people in Canada are women?

[White Doors]

"The women who are being murdered here, they're being strangled and beaten and burned," said Pupatello.

"So please don't pretend to me that gun bill somehow was introduced and tabled in the House with a mind to assisting violence against women. You know, please."

Sorry, this is rhetoric. How is this a 'Woman's issue'?

Thanks!!

[Drea]

These are what I believe are Women's Issues:

childcare

shelters (for safety from nutbar husbands/boyfriends)

pregnancy/abortion support

Other than that I can't think of any other issues that apply to women over men.

[mikedavid00]

How can we be a minority group when over 52% of the people in Canada are women?

Exactly.

I'm a white male born in Canada. Can I please be included as a minority?

[White Doors]

These are what I believe are Women's Issues:

childcare

shelters (for safety from nutbar husbands/boyfriends)

pregnancy/abortion support

Other than that I can't think of any other issues that apply to women over men.

Childcaer? How is that only a Woman's issue?

[mikedavid00]

These are what I believe are Women's Issues:

childcare

shelters (for safety from nutbar husbands/boyfriends)

pregnancy/abortion support

Other than that I can't think of any other issues that apply to women over men.

Childcaer? How is that only a Woman's issue?

Because all men do is beat and abuse women and control them. Forget about the father. He's just the sperm donar.

We only need the father to pay child support. That's a all a father is good for.

[madmax]

[Gee, who do you think 16 year olds vote for??

NickleBack vs System of a Down, Playstation 3 vs WII.

Green Party, NDP, Conservatives and Liberal, if they bother to get a lift to the polls.

Personally I think that Unemployed people that waste valuable time trolling on the internet vs finding a job or going to school, shouldn't be allowed to vote or drive.

[Drea]

These are what I believe are Women's Issues:

childcare

shelters (for safety from nutbar husbands/boyfriends)

pregnancy/abortion support

Other than that I can't think of any other issues that apply to women over men.

Childcaer? How is that only a Woman's issue?

Because all men do is beat and abuse women and control them. Forget about the father. He's just the sperm donar.

We only need the father to pay child support. That's a all a father is good for.

How is childcare a "women's issue"?

Because 90% of the time it is the woman who has to deal with the daycare issue in her home. Even those homes with a mom and a dad, the mom still takes care of "where do we send junior".

Throughout my son's life it has been me who found the daycare, me who stayed home from work if there was no daycare. Hubby's work remained unaffected. This is the case in most families. Yes of course there are a few dads that stay home (my new coworker's hubby stays home with the 2 yo) and a few dads that arrange the daycare or take the day off when the child is ill. A few -- and 10% would be a large number doing it, probably more like 2% of all fathers deal with daycare or stay home.

No Mikedavid you are wrong, a father is a vital part of a child's development IMO.

[White Doors]

I think that is a sexist post.

What overt generalizations! The minority of males in this country must demand funding from the government to fight these sexist stereotypes. Equal rights depend upon it!

[Catchme]

These are what I believe are Women's Issues:

childcare

shelters (for safety from nutbar husbands/boyfriends)

pregnancy/abortion support

Other than that I can't think of any other issues that apply to women over men.

Equal wages for same job perfomed as their male counter parts, equal representation in parliament. The eradication of the patriarchial system.

However, at this point, what the ministers from the provinces are meeting for is funding losses to much needed shelters and women's work force re-entry programs

[White Doors]

equal representation in parliament.

Ahhh... So you don't believe in democracy?

[Canuck E Stan]

However, at this point, what the ministers from the provinces are meeting for is funding losses to much needed shelters and women's work force re-entry programs

How much of the funding going to women's groups actually makes it's way to these shelters and to the women who need the re-entry programs?

How much of the funds are used for "administrative" purposed that give an income to women who run these programs and spend the funds to "talk" about the problems?

[normanchateau]

"Women in Canada Mobilizing against Stephen Harper's Policies, Ottawa, ON, December 10, 2006"

OTTAWA, Dec. 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Media representatives are invited to a news conference to be followed by a rally in front of the Supreme Court of Canada and on Parliament Hill, to speak out against Stephen Harper's anti-women policies.

An ad hoc nation-wide coalition is demanding that the federal government reverse a series of political decisions that will have a negative impact on Canadian women, namely:

* The closure of more than half of the Status of Women Canada's regional offices;

* Changes to the funding criteria for women's groups and removing the word "equality" from the objectives of the women's program;

* Major cuts of 43% to the operating budget of Status of Women Canada;

* Cancellation of the Canadian Court Challenges Program;

* The refusal to adopt proactive pay equity legislation and,

* Cancellation of the funding for the Canada-wide child care program.

[geoffrey]

equal representation in parliament.

Ahhh... So you don't believe in democracy?

Exactly.

Women are a majority of the population, if they wanted more women, they'd either run or elect more. Setting quota's on certain races/genders/visible groups is a very dangerous road to go down.

[Catchme]

"Women in Canada Mobilizing against Stephen Harper's Policies, Ottawa, ON, December 10, 2006"

OTTAWA, Dec. 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Media representatives are invited to a news conference to be followed by a rally in front of the Supreme Court of Canada and on Parliament Hill, to speak out against Stephen Harper's anti-women policies.

An ad hoc nation-wide coalition is demanding that the federal government reverse a series of political decisions that will have a negative impact on Canadian women, namely:

* The closure of more than half of the Status of Women Canada's regional offices;

* Changes to the funding criteria for women's groups and removing the word "equality" from the objectives of the women's program;

* Major cuts of 43% to the operating budget of Status of Women Canada;

* Cancellation of the Canadian Court Challenges Program;

* The refusal to adopt proactive pay equity legislation and,

* Cancellation of the funding for the Canada-wide child care program.

Yes, norman and even the provinces realize the need, Thank God.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Yes, norman and even the provinces realize the need, Thank God.

So now news releases are a legitimate part of the debate? We get what these groups want, but try and add some value.

What group sent this out?

The Conservatives campaigned on their Choice in Childcare program. They won the election. Why ask for them to change their plan? Do these groups really have so little respect for democracy?

[Canuck E Stan]

Yes, norman and even the provinces realize the need, Thank God.

God doesn't vote. The thanks should go to politicians who know how to crunch numbers and how to use them to get votes.

[Canadian Blue]

* The closure of more than half of the Status of Women Canada's regional offices;

* Changes to the funding criteria for women's groups and removing the word "equality" from the objectives of the women's program;

* Major cuts of 43% to the operating budget of Status of Women Canada;

* Cancellation of the Canadian Court Challenges Program;

* The refusal to adopt proactive pay equity legislation and,

* Cancellation of the funding for the Canada-wide child care program.

All of which probably won't affect women all that much. The court challenges program is a waste of money, why should we fund NOW to organize court challenges against government.

Does the Status of Women Canada really help the average women, or is it simply their for feminist lobby groups. How do we know that all women have the exact same priorities. Aren't women individual's like the rest of us who can think on their own.

[normanchateau]

Does the Status of Women Canada really help the average women, or is it simply their for feminist lobby groups.

Are you saying that the average woman opposes feminism?

Feminists support social, political and economic equality for women. Do "average women" oppose that?

[Catchme]

The CPC did not win their minority government status because of campaign promises, they won because of people's anger with the Liberals.

But they will lose their minority government because of their actions, such as this and by their NOT creating the National Child Care program.

They have a minority government which means they have NO mandate to do the things they are doing. The Liberals let a lot slip through because of their leaderless state and not wanting an election. Those days are over.

Harpoer even knows, it, the NDP have quietly put through a private members bill for the National Childcare program, and it is going into it's 3rd reading. Supported by the CPC even. It would seem, Harper having to play to his base that elected him, on some things is going around the end on them with others.

Wonder how long it will be before he backtracks on his gutting of women and childrens programs as this move by the provinces put hims to great disadvantage, and renders the Feds irrelevant.