Status of Women

NDP women's critic Irene Mathyssen is alarmed by changes to the pay equity system in the budget that make it almost impossible for women to appeal unfair pay.

OTTAWA – On the same day that President Obama passed a bill to protect pay equity in the United States, the Conservative and Liberal parties are set to vote down a budget amendment that would do the same for Canada.

“This is a sad day for our country,” said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “There are families out there who depend on mom’s income to put food on the table and buy school supplies for the kids. When she isn’t paid a fair wage, everybody suffers.”

“The budget didn’t mention women even once. New Democrats could never support a budget that ignores the needs of 52% of our population.”

OTTAWA – The Conservative budget is totally inadequate when it comes to funding for Status of Women and for issues that directly affect women. Women are not considered at all in this budget. There is not a single mention of women in the entire document.

Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, to commemorate the Montreal Massacre at the École polytechnique. On December 6, 1989, 14 women were shot and killed because they were women.

Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie Turcotte and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz were killed when Marc Lépine entered the École polytechnique and shot 28 people, killing 14 and injuring a further 14. He finished by shooting himself.

"We want women leaders today as never before. Leaders who are
not afraid to be called names and who are willing to go out and fight.
I think women can save civilization. Women are persons."

- Emily Murphy - 1931

Mrs. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the message from the official consultations on matrimonial real property was very clear. As the Native Women's Association stated:

There is nothing in the legislation that addresses the systemic issues of violence many women face that lead to the dissolution of marriages nor is there any money available for implementation. In the end, we end up with a more worthless piece of paper.

In June 2006, the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women heard from Bev Jacobs from the Native Women's Association.
She stated: ...legislative and non-legislative policies are required to alleviate the underlying issues of poverty and violence against women and children.

The government fails to see the real solutions. It refuses to sign on to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, even though this House endorsed the declaration and demanded the Government of Canada sign on.

Mrs. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, today only one in three unemployed women collects employment insurance benefits. This number is down from 70% of unemployed women who collected in 1990.

Changes to employment insurance in the early 1990s under the Mulroney government reduced EI access for part time, seasonal and low income workers. Women, who account for about seven in ten of all part time employees, were therefore disproportionately and most negatively affected by these changes.

In 1997 the then Liberal government introduced more changes to the EI system. Eligibility for EI used to depend on the number of weeks worked. When the Liberal government converted EI eligibility to depend on total hours worked, it made changes that were grossly unfair to many workers.

Mrs. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, one of the most disturbing outcomes of the discrimination and marginalization that aboriginal women in Canada suffer is the extreme violence they face. In recent weeks, the remains of two young aboriginal women, Amber Redman and Tashina General, have been found.

Along the Highway of Tears and in Vancouver's east side, over 80 women are missing or have been found murdered. The Native Women's Association of Canada estimates that well over 500 aboriginal women have disappeared or have been killed.

Why will Indian affairs not grant the money needed to stop the violence against aboriginal women?

M-470 — March 6, 2008 — Mrs. Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe) — That, in the opinion of the House, the government has failed to introduce policies which will diminish the inequality between men and women, in particular by its refusal to provide adequate resources and policies governing child care, legal assistance, long-term care, home care, health care, support for women's equality-seeking groups, support for seniors, support for Aboriginal and minority women, pay equity, reform of employment insurance, support for preventing violence against women, public housing and transportation and other services so vital to the hard working women of this country.