Tories shut down Status of Women offices

Aristartle · Nov 30, 2006

"CBC" said:

The Conservative government is closing down most of its Status of Women Canada offices, saying they are not doing enough to serve women directly.

Twelve of the agency's 16 offices will close by April 1st, Heritage Minister Bev Oda said Wednesday.

"What these offices don't necessarily provide is the help directly to women. There was a lot of lobbying groups, there was a lot of advocacy," Oda said.

"We don't need to separate the men from the women in this country … This government as a whole is responsible to develop policies and programs that address the needs of both men and women."

Oda said the closures will save on unnecessary rent and utility bills. However, she said, even with $5 million in cuts, there will be $700,000 more for women's programs.

She also said women in regions will be able to get service from office of the Canadian Heritage Department.

Status of Women Canada works to advance women's economic equality and human rights, and eliminate violence against women.

Liberal MP Maria Minna called the move "reprehensible."

"Canadian women are still only earning 71 cents to every dollar earned by their male counterparts, more and more women are living in poverty, and we are still waiting for the government to create child-care spaces," she said.

"With the closure of these regional offices, the government is taking away one of the very few remaining resources for women."

Minna said the closures are a clear sign that Stephen Harper's Conservatives plan to completely dismantle Status of Women Canada.

But Oda insisted that women will be better served despite the budget cuts and the office closings.

"I'm very surprised that the opposition would say, 'Put money back into inefficiencies,' when you can find inefficiencies and streamline the operations."
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Tory activists, incidentally, have been railing against the SWC for no discernable reason - there is actually a theory that they were really angry about the National Council on the Status of Women, a feminist organization, and they just mixed them up and started attacking the Ministry of Heritage organization (the SWC) out of ignorance.

Looks like a little blatant stupidity can't prevent antifeminist astroturf groups like "REAL Women Canada" from getting their first divident from the Harper government.

"Not providing enough for women directly" is the worst possible excuse for a government that wants to subcontract social security and health care to civil society organizations. What, if NGOs don't preach abstinence they're all of a sudden "lobby groups"?

*kicks the Conservative Party in the dink*

goatsecks · Dec 3, 2006

well, that sort of policy is typical of right winged governements

cut back on social services to reduce the taxes

no worries, our boy Stephane Dion will prime minister at the next elections that will be kick started as soon as Layton and Dion make an alliance to oust them.

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Tories shut down Status of Women offices

Aristartle Snow Falling on Cedars Lifetime Supporter

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Tories shut down Status of Women offices

Aristartle Snow Falling on Cedars Lifetime Supporter

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