TIME TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS NOW

OTTAWA – December 6 is a day to remind the nation that we must end violence against women now, New Democrat Status of Women Critic Irene Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe) said this morning at a press conference organized by the Committee for the Status of Women.

“We are here to tell this government, and the Minister of State for the Status of Women, that women in Canada are angry,” said Mathyssen. “The government and the Minister are obligated to protect the interests of the women of Canada but across this country, women quite simply have had enough and they want their voices to finally be heard.”

On September 18, 2006, the federal government responded with a resounding “no” to the recommendation from the multi-year Task Force on Pay Equity that equal pay for work of equal value become government policy. The government refused to acknowledge that women, both through their labour in the workforce and in their homes, make a significant contribution to Canada’s economy.

On that same day, the Conservatives also rejected employment insurance maternity and parental leave recommendations by the Committee for the Status of Women and perpetuated the hardship women face. If women work part-time or are caregivers, or own their own business, they cannot collect employment insurance when they need it, despite paying into the system.

“This is a government that cancelled the court challenges programme and diminished legal aid, robbing women of justice,” continued Mathyssen. “This is the government that removed the word “equality” from the mandate of the Department for the Status of Women and closed 12 regional offices. And this is the government that refused to build safe, affordable housing, fund a national child care programme and devastated women’s organizations across Canada by taking away their funding. This is a government that turns its back to women.”

Mathyssen said this is the same government and Minister who pays lip service to ending violence against women.

“They talk about their crime bills but fail to mention that First Nations and immigrant women still live in poverty without access to education and training, that women have been robbed of their pensions because the government failed to act and that the Conservatives invested millions of dollars in false advertising and a misinformation campaign so it could get rid of the gun registry.

“Today is a day to speak out against violence against women. Women are angry, and we are here to give that anger a voice.”