Denise Savoie

CONSERVATIVES TAKE FIRST STEP TOWARDS DISMANTLING MINISTRY FOR THE STATUS OF WOMEN

OTTAWA – Denise Savoie, Member of Parliament for Victoria, joined her colleagues in the NDP women’s caucus today, in calling on the Conservative government to respond to groups that have applied for funding from the Status of Women Program.

“The Conservatives are always talking about accountability,” Savoie said. “They need to demonstrate some of that accountability to the women’s groups they’re throwing into crisis by not responding to their funding applications.”
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.

Women’s groups have complained that the Minister has not consulted them on the program review and will meet with them only after the Status of Women Canada mandate has expired on Sept. 26 this year.

“The Conservative Government is not committed to promoting women’s equality”, said Savoie. “They are abandoning women in this country.”

Mathyssen’s and Savoie’s voices were echoed by the entire NDP women’s caucus, as well as that of NDP president Anne McGrath, at a press conference earlier today. The NDP’s caucus has the highest representation of women, at 41 per cent.