Déjeuner-Causerie pour
la Journée de l’équité salariale
Pay Equity Day Breakfast
Venez déjeuner pour marquer la Journée de l’équité salariale!
Come to a breakfast marking Pay Equity Day!
Le 29 novembre 2008 / November 29th, 2008, 9 h / 9:00am
Don Cherry’s 160-200, rue Champlain St.Dieppe
Déjeuner à partir de 4.79$ / Breakfast from $4.79
RSVP par / by 27 nov.: 855-0002
- A service of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women
(Défilez vers le bas pour la version française)
SEX WORKERS ENTITLED TO PROTECTION OF THE LAW
Few issues are as challenging as prostitution when it comes to determining what stance to take. Sexism, moral and religious judgments and polarization of opinions make examination of the topic difficult, especially when intertwined with the problems associated with the underworld to which sex work is relegated in the current context. The goal is clear - improvement of the status of women – but the means to the end are difficult to discern…
Sex workers - whose work is currently legal under Canadian law – are entitled to the full protection of the law. The human dignity of sex workers requires that their rights be enforced, including their right to life, liberty and security of the person, the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to equality before and under the law, and to equal protection and benefit of the law. Women engage in sex work for a variety of reasons and… they deserve to be safe and to have access to the same rights and protections as other Canadians. Although prostitution is legal, it is next to impossible to engage in any related behaviour without breaking the law…There is need for reform of the Criminal Code, with consultation of sex workers and organizations working with them.
By themselves, laws that aim to push prostitution away from our view increase the risks associated with sex work and the violence experienced by the women. Their consequent marginalization leaves them vulnerable to abuse. This is made worse by the adversarial relationship established between police and sex workers; their experiences with police make them unwilling to seek help. This has also deprived sex workers of the protection of the law when they are victim of a crime while engaging in prostitution. Sex workers “have little expectation that the police will protect them from violence and every expectation that the police will arrest or fine them if given the chance” – and because this is known in the general population and by “johns”, sex workers are highly vulnerable to violence, robbery and other abuse. The Criminal Code should be enforced against people who threaten, harm or exploit sex workers…
- Excerpts, Sex Work And Women’s Rights, Position statement by the N.B. Advisory Council on the Status of Women, June 2008. www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Prostitution.pdf
******* NB Women’s News*******
EVENTS, NOTICES, RESOURCES
Public consultations on the development of a mental health strategy for NB, Nov. 12 to 26. Ask to meet with Judge Michael McKee, task force chairman: 453-8813 or stratmh.sm@gnb.ca. Registration appreciated. Nov. 12 afternn/evening, Goodie Shop Restaurant, Miramichi. Nov. 13 afternn/evening & Nov. 14 morning, Delta Fredericton. Nov. 17 afternn/evening, Chateau Edmundston. Nov. 18 afternn/evening, Regional Memorial Civic Centre, Campbellton. Nov. 19 afternn/evening, Atlantic Host Hotel, Bathurst. Nov. 20 morning/afternn, Centre récréatif d'Inkerman. Nov. 24 day & evening, Delta Saint John. Nov. 25 evening & Nov. 26 morning/afternn, Moncton Public Library. www.gnb.ca/0055/promo-e.asp.
Quality, Available, Affordable Child Care In N.B. - Are We Dreaming In Technicolor? Jody Dallaire, Chair of Child Care Advocacy Assoc. of Canada & exec. dir. Of Child Care Coalition of N.B. What has been the progress made and what are the missing pieces for a network of quality child care? What can parents do? 2 locations: 20 Nov 2008, noon to 2pm, Delta Beausejour, Moncton (in both languages). 1 Dec 2008, noon to 2pm, Saint John Free Public Library. Light lunch. FREE but pre-register: acswcccf@gnb.ca NO SCENTS
Updated List of Women MLAs ever elected in N.B., by N.B. Legislative Library www.gnb.ca/legis/leglibbib/Special_Projects/mlas_english.pdf
Native Awareness Days: Combating Convenient Untruths - Nov. 17-21, 2008, St Thomas U., Frederiction. By Native Student Council with St. Mary’s First Nation, Kingsclear First Nation, etc. nativestudentcouncil@gmail.com. Including: Mon Nov 17, 4pm, Holy Cross House, Mary Simon, Pres., Inuit Tapariit Kanatami; Canadian Ambassador to Denmark (1999-2001). Tues Nov 18, 7pm in M. McCain Auditorium, Ward Churchill, political activist and author. Wed Nov 19, 7pm, Holy Cross House, Isabelle Knockwood, Mi'kmaq, author of Out of the Depths: the Experiences of Mi'kmaw children at Indian Residential School at Shubenacadie.
Deadline for expressions of interest in serving on NB Advisory Council on Youth has been extended to Thurs. Nov. 27. www.gnb.ca/cnb/news/yc/2008e1508yc.htm.
Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women - an action-based research & equality-seeking organization - invites women with an interest in research and fund-raising to participate on committees. Fathiya Wais, Coord., fwais@criaw-icref.ca or info@criaw-icref.ca CRIAW has had cutbacks and needs to find new funding sources by end of fiscal year. www.criaw-icref.ca/
Use Your Shopping Power For Good! – “gifts that matter” compiled by Advisory Council www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Use%20Your%20Shopping%20Power%20For%20Good2008.pdf
******* NB Women’s News*******
IS IT BECAUSE WE DO OUR JOB QUIETLY?
After working more than 50 hours a week taking care of seniors and the disabled in their homes, Crystal Madsen says she has to go into debt just to keep her head above water and cannot give her two teenage daughters what they deserve. "We should be worth as much to the government as we are to our clients." Madsen is one of more than 3,000 home-support workers in N.B. who are calling for the provincial government to increase their wages… Workers are paid an average of $9 an hour in rural N.B. while the rural Canadian average is $11.73 an hour… "Your government is keeping me under the poverty line," Madsen wrote in a letter to Premier Shawn Graham and Social Development Minister Mary Schryer. "Why? Is it because we do our job quietly and discreetly? Or because of who our clients are? The frail, the elderly, the most vulnerable citizens in our province who are just getting through their day, having no idea where they could complain even if they wanted to. Is it because they can't speak up like others have a chance to?"
- Excerpts, Home-support worker says she is worth more, Mary-Ellen Saunders, 4 Nov, 2008, Telegraph-Journal.
******* NB Women’s News*******
8 MILLION MORE WOMEN THAN MEN VOTED FOR OBAMA
56% of women voted for Barack Obama compared with 49% of men. Nationwide, it is estimated that Senator Obama received 35,900,000 votes from women and 27,800,000 votes from men. "This 7-point gender gap combined with women's greater turnout was a major factor in the election's results"… While the percentage point gender difference in votes for the winner in 2004 equaled that seen in 2008, Barack Obama benefited from a larger share of women's votes than John Kerry or Al Gore… “Obama projected empathy for women's financial struggles and understands how hard it can be to keep a job today while caring for families." Obama emphasized his support for pay equity and work/life balance policies. He stressed McCain's votes against pay equity legislation and expanded health insurance for children. "More African American women voted in this presidential election than in any other."
- Excerpts, Women's Vote Clinches Election Victory: 8 Million More Women than Men Voted for Obama, Institute for Women's Policy Research. www.iwpr.org
******* NB Women’s News*******
GAP BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN STEADILY WORSE
Sentencing reforms enacted in 1996 to encourage alternatives to imprisonment and special consideration for Aboriginal offenders have had a decidedly gendered impact: The gap between Aboriginal women and men with respect to the use of imprisonment is growing. Although Aboriginal peoples represent only 3% of the Canadian adult population, in 1996 Aboriginal women comprised 20% of the federal female prisoner population. By 2001, that figure had risen to 29%.
The gender disparity has been increasing. Statistics Canada reported [in 2006] that 23% of the federal prisoner population was Aboriginal women, compared to 18% of that population who were Aboriginal men. The percentage of Aboriginal women held on remand increased from 14% in 1999, to 23% in 2004. Aboriginal men represented 11% of the remand population in 1999, 13% by 2004.
Aboriginal women were more coercively punished than any other group of offenders. In 2003 … the Canadian Human Rights Commission stated it was most disturbed by the overrepresentation of Aboriginal women in maximum security, noting that they represented 29% of the women incarcerated in federal prisons and accounted for 46% of women classified as maximum security.
- Excerpts, Falling Between the Cracks of Retributive and Restorative Justice: The Victimization and Punishment of Aboriginal Women”, Gillian Balfour in Feminist Criminology 2008; 3; 101.
******* NB Women’s News*******
SORTING OUT THIS MESS CALLED WOMANHOOD
Very little if anything is shared ahead of time - as with most of our “education”, we swap stories with our friends, trying to sort out this mess called womanhood. And then… the day - the day we see blood. We are indoctrinated into a new club, usually with very little celebration. And our modern ritual begins - pads vs tampons, Midol vs heating pad - we learn the tortures of “the curse.” We are bombarded with messages of fear - fear of someone knowing, fear of odor, of bloating, of leakage, of staining, of pain, fear, fear fear. We are told that we need protection - from what? Ourselves, our menstruating selves. The solution: deodorize, minimize and hide the fact that we are women. Though this “secret” is something that only women share as a rite of passage and though it may give us a certain sense of bonding …, ultimately, this is a shameful secret to be kept, even from other women, in public. …It is no wonder we don’t embrace and celebrate our femaleness; the messages that we should be ashamed are too strong.
- Excerpt, Fight Like a Girl - How to be a fearless feminist, Megan Seely.
******* NB Women’s News*******
LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT. LOOK TO YOUR LEFT.
"Gays have come out of the closet and women who've had abortions have gone back into the closet." … We don't always know that we know someone who's had an abortion. Has their invisibility made it easier to chip away at their rights?… It's easy to forget that one out of every 3 U.S. women has had an abortion by age 45 … that over half those women already have children... "Look to your right. Look to your left. One of you has had an abortion." Abortion was legalized on the grounds of the right to privacy. But the more private it is, the more we think it only happens to someone "unlike us", … and the less public support there is for the right. Abortion rights slip away as the woman slips out of sight. … Having an abortion is being more deeply stigmatized...
- Excerpts, Endangering Choice, Ellen Goodman, 16 Oct 2008, www.commondreams.org/view/2008/10/16-6
******* NB Women’s News*******
AS THEY SAY
Oh life is a glorious cycle of song. A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong; And I am Marie of Roumania.
- Dorothy Parker, U.S. writer and humourist.
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___________________________________________________________
LA PROTECTION DES DROITS DES TRAVAILLEUSES SEXUELLES
La prostitution … présente, plus que toute autre, des défis quant à savoir comment intervenir. Le sexisme ambiant, les jugements moraux et religieux et la polarisation d'opinions rendent difficile un examen réfléchi de la question, auquel s’ajoutent les problèmes reliés au sous-monde auquel le travail du sexe est relégué dans le contexte actuel. Le but est clair – l’amélioration de la condition féminine – mais les meilleurs moyens pour y arriver sont difficilement cernés…
Les travailleuses sexuelles - dont le métier, nous le rappelons, est légal au Canada - doivent bénéficier de la pleine protection de leurs droits. Leurs droits humains doivent être respectés, dont le droit à la vie, la liberté et la sécurité de la personne, le droit d’être présumé innocentes tant qu’elles ne sont pas déclarées coupables ; le droit à la même protection et au même bénéfice de la loi. N’importe leurs motivations ou les circonstances qui les ont menées à ce travail, elles méritent d’être en sécurité et d’avoir accès aux même droits et à la même protection que d’autres Canadiennes. La « prostitution » comme telle est légale, mais il est pratiquement impossible de s’engager dans une activité reliée à la prostitution sans enfreindre la loi. Afin d’implanter des règles plus cohérentes ciblant l’exploitation et le proxénétisme, une réforme du Code criminel est nécessaire, avec consultation de travailleuses sexuelles et des organismes qui travaillent avec elles.
À elles seules, les lois visant à éloigner de notre vue la prostitution accroissent les dangers associés au travail du sexe et la violence vécue par ces femmes. Cette marginalisation des travailleuses les rend vulnérables aux abus, une situation rendue pire parce qu’elle ajoute à la relation de confrontation avec la police, ce qui fait qu’elles ne se tournent pas vers la police pour de l’aide lorsqu’elles sont victimes de crime en s’adonnant à leur travail. Les travailleuses sexuelles « ne s’attendent pas vraiment à ce que la police les protège contre la violence, mais plutôt à ce qu’elle les arrête ou leur impose des amendes dès qu’elle en a l’occasion » - et puisque cet état de choses est connu y compris par les clients, elles sont très vulnérables à la violence, le vol et à d’autres abus. Le Code criminel devrait servir à protéger les travailleuses sexuelles contre les personnes qui les menacent, les agressent ou les exploitent.
- Extraits, Le Travail sexuel et les droits des femmes, Énoncé de position par le Conseil consultatif sur la condition de la femme au N.-B., Juin 2008, www.acswcccf.nb.ca/french/documents/Prostitution%20FR.pdf
******* NouvELLES *******
AVIS, ÉVÉNEMENTS, RESSOURCES
Des services de garde d’enfants de qualité, plus faciles d’accès et abordables au N.-B. - Rêvons-nous en couleur? – Dîner causerie avec Jody Dallaire, prés. de l’Assoc. canadienne pour promotion des services de garde à l’enfance et dir. gén. de Coalition des services de garde à l’enfance du N.-B. Quels progrès ont été réalisés dans le domaine et qu’est-ce qui manque pour être en mesure d’établir un réseau de services de garde de qualité? Que peuvent faire les parents? 2 présentations : Jeudi le 20 nov 2008, midi à 14h, Delta Beauséjour, Moncton (en anglais et en français). Lundi le 1er déc 2008, midi à 14h, Saint John Free Public Library (en anglais). Léger repas. GRATUIT mais il faut s'inscrire : acswcccf@gnb.ca. SANS PARFUM.
Liste des députées au N.-B. Compilée par la Bibliothèque de l’Assemblée législative, www.gnb.ca/legis/leglibbib/FRENCH/-Special_Projects/mlas_francais.pdf
Des consultations publiques - stratégie de santé mentale pour la province - 12 au 26 novembre 2008. Toute personne intéressée à rencontrer le juge Michael McKee, président du groupe de travail chargé du processus d’élaboration d’une stratégie de santé mentale : 453-8813 ou stramh.sm@gnb.ca. L’inscription serait appréciée. www.gnb.ca/0055/promo-f.asp
12 nov - après-midi et soirée, Goodie Shop Restaurant, Miramichi. 13 nov - après-midi et soirée à l’hôtel Delta Fredericton. 14 nov - matinée à l’hôtel Delta Fredericton. 17 nov - après-midi et soirée à l’hôtel Château Edmundston. 18 nov - après-midi et soirée, Centre civique régional Memorial, Campbellton. 19 nov - après-midi et soirée, l’hôtel Atlantic Host, Bathurst. 20 nov - matinée et après-midi, Centre récréatif d’Inkerman. 24 nov - matinée, après-midi et soirée à l’hôtel Delta de Saint John. 25 nov - soirée à la bibliothèque publique de Moncton. 26 nov - matinée et après-midi à la bibliothèque publique de Moncton.
La date limite pour la présentation de déclarations d'intérêt en vue de faire partie du Conseil consultatif de la jeunesse du N.-B. a été reportée au 27 nov. www.gnb.ca/cnb/newsf/yc/2008f1508yc.htm.
Conférence régionale organisée par le Secrétariat pour les organismes communautaires sans but lucratif du N.-B., Edmundston, samedi 22 nov., 10h à 15h, Collège communautaire, campus d'Edmundston. S'inscrire avant le 19 nov : www.gnb.ca/0012/CNPO-OCSB/Conference/index-f.asp ou 1-866-295-4545.
L'Institut canadien de recherches sur les femmes - un institut de recherche qui offre des outils pour aider les organisations à agir afin de promouvoir la justice sociale et l’égalité pour toutes les femmes - invite des femmes qui s'intéressent à la recherche et à la collecte de fonds à participer aux comités de l'ICREF. Contactez Fathiya Wais, Coord., fwais@criaw-icref.ca ou info@criaw-icref.ca. L'Institut a souffert des coupures et doit trouver de nouvelles sources de financement avant la fin de l'année fiscale. www.criaw-icref.ca/
Des idées de cadeaux pour un monde meilleur, compilées par le Conseil consultatif, www.acswcccf.nb.ca/french/documents/Use%20Your%20Shopping%20Power%20For%20Good%202008FR.pdf
Voir tous les événements : www.acswcccf.nb.ca/french/calendar.html
******* NouvELLES *******
LES SERVICES DE GARDE ET LE PROBLÈME DÉMOGRAPHIQUE
Au Nouveau-Brunswick, les jeunes couples paient, dans la majorité des cas, plus cher qu'un paiement hypothécaire pour placer leurs enfants en garderie. Encore faut-il qu'ils aient accès à une garderie de qualité. Il faut une politique familiale afin que nos jeunes parents puissent avoir les moyens de faire des enfants.
Au Québec, les parents paient 35 $ par semaine, ce qui représente 1820 $ par année par enfant dans une garderie publique. Au N.-B., le coût moyen est de 140 $ par enfant par semaine, ce qui représente 7280 $ annuellement. Un couple qui a deux enfants paie donc environ 14 560 $ par année en frais de garderie. Il n'est pas étonnant que de jeunes couples décident de ne pas avoir d'enfants, ou d'en avoir qu'un seul, car ils n'ont pas les moyens financiers.
Je dois vous dire que mon coeur ne fait qu'un tour quand le gouvernement mentionne le problème démographique au N.-B. Nul besoin d'être un grand cerveau pour se rendre compte que si nos jeunes parents sont appuyés financièrement quant à la garde d'enfants, ils contribueront à la croissance de la population de notre province….
- Extraits de la lettre de Julie-Anne Thébeau-Robichaud, grand-maman, Richibouctou, L'Acadie Nouvelle, 14 oct 2008.
******* NouvELLES *******
UN DÉCROCHEUR COÛTE 500 000$ À LA SOCIÉTÉ
Le décrochage scolaire a un prix : un demi-million de dollars par décrocheur (un chiffre qui représente le coût à la fois pour l'individu et l'ensemble de la société). C'est la conclusion à laquelle est arrivée l'économiste Pierre Fortin… Le professeur de l'UQAM a basé ses calculs sur le revenu moyen d'un travailleur sans diplôme, évalué à 25 000 $ par année (avec les avantages sociaux). Avec un diplôme d'études secondaires ou professionnelles en poche (DES ou DEP), son revenu serait 15 % plus élevé et le taux d'emploi, supérieur de 10 %. Le revenu moyen ferait alors un bond de 6250 $ par année. Puisqu'un jeune qui arrive sur le marché du travail à 20 ans y restera probablement jusqu'à 65 ans, il suffit de multiplier ce chiffre par 45 pour en arriver à 420 000 $. De cette somme, 30 % reviendrait directement dans les coffres de l'État grâce à l'impôt sur le revenu. À cette rondelette somme, il faut ajouter 40 000 $, qui correspond aux coûts de santé et de services sociaux supplémentaires. Un Québécois sans diplôme coûtera en moyenne 500 $ de plus chaque année à l'État (comparé à 2000 $ en moyenne), une somme qui est «loin d'être exagérée», juge l'économiste…
- Extraits, Un décrocheur coûte 500 000$ à la société, Jean-Marie Villeneuve, Daphnée Dion-Viens, Le Soleil, 25 octobre 2008
******* NouvELLES *******
LA PAUVRETÉ EST CONSTRUITE
La fête de Noël approche et avec elle se multiplient les collectes d'argent en faveur des plus démunis. D'année en année, ces événements témoignent d'un élan de générosité, mais surtout de la persistance de la pauvreté chez nous.
Dans un pays prospère comme le nôtre, ce n'est rien de moins que scandaleux. La pauvreté n'est ni dans l'ordre naturel des choses, ni non plus une fatalité, ni encore de la faute des pauvres... La pauvreté est construite, elle résulte de décisions prises ou d'absence de décisions de la part de nos gouvernements, de nos entreprises, de nos institutions. En 1989, la Chambre des communes adoptait à l'unanimité une résolution stipulant que la pauvreté des enfants serait chose du passé en 2000. Et depuis 1991… sans interruption, une période de prospérité. Pourtant, encore aujourd'hui, un enfant sur 6 vit dans la pauvreté…
Le maintien du salaire minimum nettement en dessous d'un revenu décent, le refus d'ajuster les prestations d'aide sociale à un niveau équivalant au seuil de faible revenu ainsi que le refus d'indexer pleinement ces prestations font que des milliers de familles demeurent prisonnières de la pauvreté et de l'exclusion…
Face à l'irresponsabilité de nos gouvernements et leur absence de respect à l'égard des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels, des réseaux de solidarité tentent d'atténuer les effets de la pauvreté en sollicitant des actes de charité. En répondant à cette sollicitation, il faut être conscient que cette solution est stérile si elle n'est pas accompagnée de changements structurels pour véritablement éradiquer les violations de droits humains à l'origine de la pauvreté. Car la charité est souvent justifiée comme étant la seule réponse à une fatalité. Des mesures concrètes doivent être prises pour garantir l'exercice réel des droits tels que le droit à un niveau de vie suffisant pour soi-même et sa famille... Nous en appelons à nos concitoyens et à nos élus pour faire passer la pauvreté de l'univers de la charité, où on voudrait bien la cantonner, à celui de la justice qui la considère pour ce qu'elle est vraiment: le non-respect de droits reconnus.
- Extraits d’un texte signé par la Ligue des droits et libertés, Amnistie internationale de même qu'une 60aine d'organisations. www.amnistie.ca. Le Devoir, 8 déc 2007, Au-delà de la charité... la justice.
******* NouvELLES *******
TEL QUEL
A Hollywood, on traite les acteurs comme des meubles dont la valeur est calculée sur l'argent qu'ils rapportent aux autres. Pour moi, c'est la meilleure définition de la prostitution.
- Linda Fiorentino, Libération, 29 novembre 1995.
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Visitez notre site internet pour des nouvelles, des avis d'événements et des publications d'intérêt aux femmes au Nouveau-Brunswick! www.acswcccf.nb.ca
Rosella Melanson
Executive Director, New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Directrice générale, Conseil consultatif sur la condition de la femme au Nouveau-Brunswick
506 444-4101 ; 1-800-332-3087; fax 506 444-4318
236, rue King St., Fredericton, N.B. E3B 1E2
www.acswcccf.nb.ca ; rosella.melanson@gnb.ca
QUALITY, AVAILABLE, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE IN NEW BRUNSWICK
- ARE WE DREAMING IN TECHNICOLOR?
with
Jody Dallaire
Executive Director for Child Care Coalition of New Brunswick &
Chair of Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada
What are the chances of a child born today in New Brunswick benefiting from quality child care in her lifetime?
What has been the progress made and what are the missing pieces for a network of quality child care?
What can parents do?
Two locations:
Thursday, November 20, 2008, noon to 2:00 pm,
Delta Beausejour Hotel, Downtown Moncton, N.B.
This event will be presented in both languages.
Monday, December 1st, 2008, noon to 2:00 pm
Saint John Free Public Library, Saint John, N.B.
In English only
Light lunch provided.
FREE but you must pre-register: Email your name, phone & group/work affiliation to acswcccf@gnb.ca or call 1-800-332-3087
Please wear NO SCENTS
Sponsored by
New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women
*****
DES SERVICES DE GARDE D’ENFANTS DE QUALITÉ, PLUS FACILES D’ACCÈS ET ABORDABLES
AU NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK - RÊVONS-NOUS EN COULEUR?
avec
Jody Dallaire
Directrice générale de la Coalition des services de garde à l’enfance du Nouveau-Brunswick et présidente de l’Association canadienne pour promotion des services de garde à l’enfance
Quelles sont les chances pour une mère donnant naissance à un enfant aujourd'hui au Nouveau-Brunswick de pouvoir un jour avoir accès à des services de garde d'enfants de qualité?
Quels progrès ont été réalisés dans le domaine et qu’est-ce qui manque pour être en mesure d’établir un réseau de services de garde de qualité?
Que peuvent faire les parents?
Jeudi le 20 novembre 2008, midi à 14h
Delta Beauséjour, Moncton, N.-B.
En anglais et en français
Lundi le 1er décembre 2008, midi à 14h
Saint John Free Public Library, Saint Jean, N.-B.
En anglais seulement.
Un léger repas sera servi
GRATUIT mais il faut s'inscrire à l'avance. Soumettez nom, no de téléphone et groupe /affiliation à acswcccf@gnb.ca ou au 1-800-332-3087.
SANS PARFUM svp.
Une activité présentée par
le Conseil consultatif sur la condition de la femme du Nouveau-Brunswick.
Le français suit.
The Coalition for Pay Equity will be holding a free Pay Equity workshop on Saturday, November 29th, 2008. The workshop will provide information and tools to those who work in traditionally or predominantly female jobs. A female job is one where the majority of people employed are female, or one that is historically associated with women. These workshops will be held in English, at the MAGMA access centre at 1299A Mountain Road. To register or for more information, please call 855-0002.
La Coalition pour l’équité salariale du Nouveau-Brunswick offre des ateliers gratuits portant sur l’équité salariale. L’atelier aura lieu samedi le 29 novembre, 2008. Le but de cet atelier est de fournir de l’information ainsi que des outils aux personnes qui travaillent dans des emplois à prédominance féminine. Les emplois à prédominance féminines sont des emplois où la majorité des personnes qui occupent le poste sont des femmes. Les ateliers auront lieu en anglais, au centre d’accès de MAGMA, au 1299A, chemin Mountain. Pour vous inscrire ou pour plus d’information, téléphonez au 855-0002.
Melissa Babineau
Administrative Secretary/
Secrétaire Administrative
The NB Coalition for Pay Equity/La coalition pour l’équité salariale du N.-B.
51, rue Williams Street, Moncton, NB E1C 2G6
Tel/Tél. : 506.855.0002
Fax/Téléc. : 506.854.9728
coalition2@nb.aibn.com
www.equite-equity.com
The Events calendar can be seen at http://www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/calendar.html
IMPORTANT DATES
O 1st week February
Eating Disorders Awareness Week
O February 12
Canadian Sexual and Reproductive Health Day
O February
Black History Month
O Week of March 8
International Women's Week
O March 8
International Women's Day
O March 21
N.B. Youth Day
O March 21
International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (U.N.)
O March 21-28
Week of Solidarity withe the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination
O April
Volunteer Recognition
O April 4
Refugee Rights Day in Canada, the day in 1985 when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled ("Singh decision") that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right of refugee claimants in Canada to life, liberty and security of the person, and that claimants are entitled to an oral hearing. www.ccrweb.ca/RRDay.htm
O April 6
Unpaid Work Day (first Tuesday in April) (www.afeas.qc.ca)
O April 7
World Health Day
O April 15 World Social Work Day, International Federation of Social Workers.
O Mid-April
National Volunteer Week (Canada: April 17-23, 2005; April 23-29, 2006; April 15-21, 2007)
O April 17
Anniversary of N.B. women's right to vote (1919).The law was passed in the Legislature on April 15, 1919 and officially sanctioned April 17, 1919.
O April 17
Equality Day (anniversary of coming into force of article 15 of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1985)
O April 22
Earth Day
O 4th week April
Administrative Professionals Week
O April 28
National Day of Mourning for workers who died on job
O 1st Full Week May
Mental Health Week
O First week in May
North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
O May 3
World Press Freedom Day
O Week preceding Mother's Day National Elizabeth Fry Week, Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies. The majority of women who are criminalized and imprisoned are mothers. Most of them were the sole supporters of their families.
O May 5 International Midwives Day
O May 12
International Nurses'Day
O May 12
Canada Health Day
O May 15
International Family Day (see October for Canada)
O 3rd week in May
Aboriginal Awareness Week
O 2nd Sunday May
Mother's Day
O May 17
National Day Against Homophobia, marking the day in 1990 that the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses
O 1st week June
National Access Awareness Week
O 1st week June
Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Week
O June 20 World Refugee Day, (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)
O June 21
National Aboriginal Day
O June 27
Canadian Multiculturalism Day
O August 9th
International Day of the World's Indigenous People
O August 12
International Youth Day
O 1st Monday of September
Labour Day
O September 8
International Literacy Day
O September 9
Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day in New Brunswick
O September 10
World Suicide Prevention Day (International Association for Suicide Prevention and World Health Organization)
O September 15
New Brunswick Human Rights Day.
O September 21 International Day of Peace (since 2002, by United Nations Resolution), a day for global ceasefire and non-violence. www.internationaldayofpeace.org
O September 21 United Nations day of International Peace (UN)
O September 28 International Right to Know Day www.righttoknow.ca
O 3rd week of September
Take Back the Night
O October
Women's History Month - http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/whm/index_e.html
O October
Breast Health Month
O October Community Inclusion Month (New Brunswick Association for Community Living)
O October GLBT History Month, introduced in 1994 in US, celebrated world-wide, coordinated by Equality Forum. www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2008/about.cfm
O October 1
United Nations International Day of the Older Person
O 1st week October
National Family Week (Canada)
World Breastfeeding Week (Canada)
O October 2 United Nations day of Nonviolence (UN)
O October 5 First Nations Women's Day - Canada
O October 15 World Rural Women's Day, (U.N.)
O October 15 - 21
YWCA Week Without Violence (third week of October)
O October 18
Persons Day (1929)
O October 24
Take Back Your Time Day, a U.S./Canadian initiative against overwork,(the number of days between Oct. 24 and Dec. 31 is the number of extra days of work of Americans compared to Western Europeans) www.timeday.org/.
O November
National Community Safety and Crime Prevention Campaign
November is Family Violence Prevention Month in New Brunswick, an initiative of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Foundation. Visit the MMFF website for more information: www.mmff.ca
O Mid November Restorative Justice Week (Nov. 12 to 19 in 2006)
O November 16
International Day of Tolerance
O November 19
World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse, since 2000. An initiative of Women's World Summit Foundation www.woman.ch
O November 20
National Child Day (Canada)
O November 22 National Housing Day [Big City Mayor's Caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)]
O November 25
International Day to End Violence Against Women
O November 25 to December 10
16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence
O December 2
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
O December 3
United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons
O December 5
International Volunteer Day (United Nations)
O December 6
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
O December 10
Human Rights Day (U.N.)
O December 17
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers - Sex Workers Outreach Project USA
Last date updated - 24/10/2008
http://www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/calendar.html
NB Women's News - October 27, 2008
- A service of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women
To unsubscribe, reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in text.
(Défilez vers le bas pour la version française)
WITH CHARITY, THE POOR WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US
You have $100 dollars to give to projects that respond to hunger. How much would you spend on charity and how much on justice? Would you spend it all on soup because people are hungry now? How much would you spend on justice work to address why people are without food? It’s a question of band-aids or trees. … What action is easier to do? What actions help people in the long term? Why are band-aids important? Why is prevention important? … Both are necessary, but do different things. Charity helps people survive an immediate crisis. Justice work tackles the causes of the problem through education and advocacy. It’s true in developing countries and in New Brunswick. When we bring canned goods to the local food bank or write a cheque for a homeless shelter, we don’t kid ourselves that we are eliminating poverty. Neither should it be a substitute for asking why there is hunger nor for taking action to change what creates poverty.
- Opinion piece by Elsie Hambrook, Chairperson of the Advisory Council, October 2008 www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Poverty%20justice%20vs%20charity%202.pdf
******* NB Women’s News*******
EVENTS, NOTICES, RESOURCES
View upcoming events of interest to women: www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/calendar.html
First you research, then you make change – Lunch & Learn - 15 years of action by Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research. Lindsay Manuel, Chimo Helpline; Norma Dubé, Women’s Issues Branch & Rosella Melanson, NB Advisory Council. Mon. 3 Nov 2008, noon to 2 pm, Fredericton Public Library. Light lunch. Free but you must pre-register: acswcccf@gnb.ca.
WE HAD SO MANY DESERVING ENTRIES …
… to our offer of free kits to promote physical activity by women 55 to 70 – from health policy analysts to belly dance instructors - that we are endeavouring to get some more to give to everyone who applied. For now, the winners of the 4 kits we have are:
Suzanne Watters, City of Miramichi Community Wellness & Recreation;
Janice Campbell, Primary Health Care Consultant, Health NB;
Anne-Marie Gammon, Assoc. acadienne & francophone des aînés du N.-B.;
Rachel Landry of St-Léolin who is organizing “theme walks” in her community.
Everyone else who applied: we should have more kits shortly.
******* NB Women’s News*******
WHAT CANADA TOLD UN COMMITTEE - RECORD ON WOMEN
Every few years, Canada must report to a United Nations Committee what it is doing to meet its obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Canadian women’s groups submit “alternative” reports. Last week, Canada was in Geneva facing UN experts with its report for the last few years. When asked by the UN experts about the abolition of a court challenges programme, the Canadian delegation said it was eliminated in the context of a budget review, and that “Canada continued to honour all its obligations for legal assistance... The Government worked with the provinces in transferring funds to the provinces in order to support them in matters of legal aid.”
An Expert asked how significant the Convention was with respect to Human Rights Commissions - that a right could not exist without remedy and asked what the legal aid scheme was in Canada since there seemed to be great differences between provinces. … The delegation replied that Canadian justice …was relatively new to complaints under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. There are currently 2 complaints pending.
An Expert inquired about contradictory information on funding of women’s human rights institutions. … She underlined that non governmental organizations were partners of the Government. Change was not automatic, it had to be pushed and this happened through such organizations. She expressed concern about reports that non governmental organizations had to close. The delegation replied that administrative costs that were cut had been reinvested in other areas… and that there were advocacy groups that were funded by the Government. (sic!)
- UN Geneva Office, Committee on Elimination of Discrimination vs Women considers Report of Canada, Oct. 22, 2008, www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/C216AED997D603C6C12574EA005CA1C9?OpenDocument
******* NB Women’s News*******
PROVINCE REVIEWING HOUSING STRATEGY
Social Development Minister Mary Schryer has ordered her staff to review the management of low-income housing after the group Voice of Real Poverty said more than 50 low-income units in Moncton have sat empty while hundreds of people wait to move in. New Brunswick currently has a waiting list of 4,200 people, with 500 in Moncton. "What I would like to see is a complete provincial review of all our social housing to make sure we are not exceeding timelines extraordinarily." Schryer said there is a problem with turnaround time that needs to be dealt with. She said it often takes 30 to 60 days to repair units and prepare them for new tenants. She asked her staff in August to determine the average turnaround time for the province's 4,000 low-income housing units. The one unit that has been vacant for a year had suffered water damage, while several of the other empty Moncton homes have electrical issues…
- Housing in disarray, Adam Huras, Telegraph-Journal, 21 Oct 2008.
******* NB Women’s News*******
U.S. ECONOMISTS ON MCCAIN, OBAMA & WOMEN’S ISSUES
McCain Obama
Overall Grade D B
Pay & Empl. Equity F B
Paid Time Off D B+
Child Care/Early Educ. D B
Poverty D B
Domestic Violence D A
Reproductive Rights F A
A network of over 30 U.S. economists looked at McCain and Obama’s voting records, statements and positions and published a report card grading them on 10 issues “vital to women”.
- www.epgwi.org.
******* NB Women’s News*******
HOMICIDE-SUICIDES IN CANADA, 1961 TO 2003
Three-quarters of all homicide-suicides in Canada between 1961 and 2003 involved family members. Of homicide-suicides involving family members, over half were committed by male spouses/ex-spouses and 97% of victims were female spouses (834 female victims). In 15% of cases of a male commiting spousal homicide-suicides, they killed not only the spouse but another person or persons. In addition to the 834 female spouses killed, there were 214 non-spousal victims involved in spousal homicide-suicides, mostly sons and daughters, the vast majority being the perpetrator's own child.
A quarter of victims of homicide cleared by suicide were children (517 children). 89% of these children were killed by a parent/step-parent. Of victims killed by a parent/step-parent, 69% were killed by their father, 3% by their step-father and 28% by their mother.
Firearms were the most common weapon used in homicide-suicides.
- StatCan, Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, 2005 www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/85-224-XIE/85-224-XIE2005000.pdf
31% of men who killed their spouse then committed suicide, compared to 3% of females accused of killing their spouse, between 1995 and 2004 in Canada. The likelihood that a homicide will result in the accused committing suicide is greater among spousal homicides (25%) than other family homicides (20%) and non-family related homicides (4%).
- Statistics Canada, Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2006, www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=85-224-X&CHROPG=1
CANADIANS MURDERED ON THE JOB IN 2007
Sex trade workers: 15 (average of 7/yr from 1997 to 2006).
Other occupations: 8, incl. 4 police officers (average of 3/yr from 1997 to 2006)
- Statistics Canada, Homicide in Canada, 2007, www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=85-002-X&CHROPG=1
******* NB Women’s News*******
CHILD & YOUTH ADVOCATE BERNARD RICHARD, ON CHILD CARE
… It is imperative to reform Early Learning and Child Care services because of a notable deficiency in N.B.: of the 99,000 children in the province under 12 yrs, only 14,170 have access to regulated child care spaces … Our Office has established 5 essential principles that we believe must be key in the ELCC long-term plan: high quality services, universal accessibility, not-for-profit and publicly funded, trained and adequately remunerated staff, and under provincial regulation...
We believe (the department) should consider mandatory training for all child care providers in licensed facilities, and not just for supervisors… The department should include funding for the creation of new child care spaces for minority language children… who require services in one of the official languages… The provincial government could further improve the quality of ELCC services by making a long term commitment to fund new initiatives and uphold the quality objective for the department’s current initiatives… The department should assist the creation of new spaces that reflect the unique cultural values, child-rearing practices, and language needs of Aboriginal and First Nations communities… to develop aboriginal-specific resources and strategies to increase the quality, affordability, and availability of child care for Aboriginal and First Nations children.
- Excerpts, Early Learning & Child Care, submission to Family & Community Services by Bernard Richard, Ombudsman & Child & Youth Advocate, June 2007. www.gnb.ca/0073/PDF/ELCCbrief-e.pdf
******* NB Women’s News*******
MINIMUM WAGE AND LOW-WAGE
“The number of workers earning minimum wage is small compared to the number of workers classified as low-wage workers. An estimated two million adult Canadian workers earn less than $10 an hour. Almost two thirds of low-wage earners are women. About one third are the only wage earner in their family. This would mean that about 667,000 workers, most of whom are women, are attempting to support their families on less than $10 an hour. These people likely live in extremely impoverished circumstances. (p. 21)
- Is Work Working? Work Laws that Do a Better Job, Law Commission of Canada, Dec 2004.
******* NB Women’s News*******
AS THEY SAY
Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.
- Paraphrased from Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519.
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Visit our internet site for news, events and documents on New Brunswick women: www.acswcccf.nb.ca.
___________________________________________________________
GRÂCE À LA CHARITÉ … IL Y AURA TOUJOURS DES PAUVRES
Vous voulez donner 100 $ à des projets de lutte contre la faim. Combien pour une œuvre caritative et combien pour assurer la justice? Dépenseriez-vous le tout pour de la soupe parce que les gens ont faim maintenant? Combien donneriez-vous à des projets de justice visant à explorer les raisons pour lesquelles les gens n’ont rien à manger? … Quelles sont les mesures les plus faciles à appliquer? Quelles mesures donnent des résultats à plus long terme? En fait, les deux types de mesures sont nécessaires, et ont des répercussions différentes. La charité aide les gens à surmonter une crise. Le travail de justice s’attaque aux racines du problème par l’éducation et la défense d’intérêts. C’est vrai dans les pays en voie de développement, et c’est vrai au N.-B.
En déposant nos boîtes de conserve à la banque alimentaire locale ou en envoyant un chèque au refuge pour sans-abri, on sait bien qu’on n’élimine pas la pauvreté. Il ne faut pas non plus que ces actions nous empêchent de nous demander pourquoi des gens ont faim et de poser des gestes visant à changer ce qui entraîne la pauvreté.
- Tiré d’une chronique par Elsie Hambrook, présidente du Conseil consultatif, octobre 2008. www.acswcccf.nb.ca/french/documents/Poverty%20justice%20vs%20charity%202FR.pdf
******* NouvELLES *******
AVIS, ÉVÉNEMENTS, RESSOURCES
Voir les événements à venir d’intérêt aux femmes du N.-B. : www.acswcccf.nb.ca/french/calendar.html
******* NouvELLES *******
NOUS AVONS REÇU TANT DE BONNES DEMANDES…
Pour les trousses portant sur l'activité physique chez les femmes de 55 à 70 ans, que nous tentons d’en obtenir assez pour tout le monde. Pour l’instant, les personnes qui se méritent une trousse sont :
Anne-Marie Gammon, Association acadienne & francophone des aînés du N.-B. ;
Rachel Landry de St-Léolin qui organise des marches à thème dans sa région ;
Suzanne Watters, du service de bien-être et recréation de la Ville de Miramichi ;
Janice Campbell, Soins de santé primaires, Santé NB.
Aux autres qui nous ont demandé une trousse : ça ne devrait pas tarder.
******* NouvELLES *******
CE QUE RACONTE LE CANADA AUX NATIONS UNIES
À tous les quelques années, le Canada doit rapporter à un comité des Nations Unies ce qu’il fait pour rencontrer ses obligations comme signataire de la Convention pour l'élimination de toute discrimination à l'égard des femmes. Les regroupements féministes soumettent également leur rapport « alternatif ». La semaine dernière, le Canada était à Génève racontant la situation des femmes ici devant le Comité :
Un membre du Comité a souligné l'écart entre les informations apportées par la délégation (canadienne) et celles des organisations non gouvernementales au sujet de la pauvreté. Sur les dispositions concernant l'assistance sociale: le gouvernement fédéral est responsable d'offrir un système social décent. Quels sont les critères d'un tel système social et comment les provinces assurent ce principe ? … La délégation canadienne a indiqué que le gouvernement fédéral transfère des fonds aux provinces pour qu'elles puissent disposer des aides nécessaires. Il existe un partenariat pour faire face aux coûts qui augmentent et des réunions régulières. … La délégation a indiqué qu'au Québec le taux d'activité des femmes a augmenté considérablement, plus que la moyenne nationale…
Un expert a déclaré avoir reçu des informations contradictoires et troublantes en particulier s'agissant du sous-financement de la protection des droits des femmes. Certaines organisations non gouvernementales ont dû fermer leur bureau par manque de financement… La délégation a indiqué que des modifications structurelles et de fond ont été apportées à Condition féminine Canada et que le Gouvernement a ajouté 5 millions de dollars supplémentaires par an pour le programme des femmes. Le financement est ainsi à son niveau le plus élevé. Le Gouvernement porte toute son attention aux nombreux groupes de femmes vulnérables. Au sujet du financement des organisations non gouvernementales, le Gouvernement s'est efforcé, dans la mesure du possible, de répondre aux besoins des organisations non gouvernementales, et que plusieurs d'entre elles ont reçu un financement…
L'expert a aussi soulevé le problème de la pauvreté concernant les femmes autochtones, les femmes détenues... La délégation a indiqué qu'au 31 mai 2008, 44 % des femmes détenues étaient des femmes autochtones. Des programmes de formation adaptés aux différences culturelles, qui abordent les problèmes des femmes autochtones et les problèmes de violence, sont offerts à tous les membres du personnel dans le cadre du processus d'orientation des Services correctionnels du Canada. En janvier 2008, le gouvernement du Canada a annoncé le début d'une initiative de recrutement pour les autochtones dans le but d'assurer une représentation autochtone au sein du personnel d'établissements carcéraux.
- Office des Nations Unies à Genève, Comité pour l'élimination de la discrimination à l'égard des femmes examine le rapport du Canada, 22 oct 2008, www.unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpNewsByYear_en)/C216AED997D603C6C12574EA005CA1C9?OpenDocument&cntxt=46D2A&cookielang=fr
******* NouvELLES *******
LES HOMICIDES-SUICIDES AU CANADA, 1961-2003
Les trois quarts des homicides-suicides qui sont survenus au Canada entre 1961 et 2003 mettaient en cause des membres de la famille.
Parmi les homicides-suicides mettant en cause des membres de famille, plus de la moitié ont été commis par un conjoint/ex-conjoint de sexe masculin. Parmi les homicides-suicides entre conjoints, 97% des victimes étaient des femmes (834 femmes victimes). Dans la vaste majorité des homicides-suicides commis par un conjoint homme, il n'a tué que sa conjointe avant de se suicider, mais dans 15% des cas, il y avait une autre ou d'autres victimes en plus de la conjointe. En plus des 834 épouses tuées lors de ces affaires, on a dénombré 214 victimes non conjugales, le plus souvent des fils et des filles, presque tous des enfants du tueur.
Plus du quart des victimes d'homicides classés par suicide étaient des enfants (517 enfants). La majorité de ces enfants (89%) ont été tués par un parent /beau-parent. Sur les victimes tuées par un parent/ beau-parent, 69% l'ont été par leur père, 3% par leur beau-père et 28% par leur mère.
Les homicides-suicides ont le plus souvent été commis à l'aide d'une arme à feu, quelle que soit la relation entre la victime et le suspect pouvant être inculpé.
- La violence familiale au Canada: un profil statistique 2005, Statistique Canada. www.statcan.ca/francais/freepub/85-224-XIF/85-224-XIF2005000.pdf
Entre 1995 et 2004 au Canada, 31% des hommes qui ont tué leur conjointe se sont ensuite suicidés, comparativement à 3% des femmes ayant tué leur conjoint. La probabilité qu'un homicide aboutisse au suicide de l'auteur présumé était plus forte pour les homicides entre conjoints (25%) que pour les homicides dans la famille (20%) et les homicides hors famille (4%).
- La violence familiale au Canada: un profil statistique 2006, Statistique Canada, www.statcan.ca/bsolc/francais/bsolc?catno=85-224-X&CHROPG=1
VICTIMES D’HOMICIDES AU TRAVAIL, CANADA, 2007
Travailleuses et travailleurs de sexe : 15 (moyenne annuelle de 7 homicides entre 1997 et 2006)
Autres emplois : 8, dont 4 policiers (moyenne annuelle de 3 policiers entre 1997 et 2006)
- Statistique Canada, Homicide au Canada, 2007, www.statcan.ca/bsolc/francais/bsolc?catno=85-002-X&CHROPG=1
******* NouvELLES *******
LE DÉFENSEUR DES ENFANTS ET LES SERVICES DE GARDE
Il est impératif de procéder à une réforme des services d’apprentissage et de garde à cause de lacunes notables au N.-B. : des 99 000 enfants ayant moins de 12 ans, seuls 14 170 ont accès à des places de garderie réglementées . … Notre bureau a établi 5 principes essentiels qui doivent être déterminants dans l’élaboration du plan à long terme : des services de qualité, accessibles à tous, sans but lucratif et financés par l’État, forts d’un personnel formé et rémunéré adéquatement, et assujettis à la réglementation provinciale. …
Nous croyons que (le ministère) devrait envisager de mettre en oeuvre une formation obligatoire pour tous les fournisseurs de services de garde dans les installations agréées et non seulement des surveillants … Le Ministère devrait inclure un financement pour la création de nouvelles places de garderie à l’intention des enfants de langue minoritaire… qui ont besoin de services dans l’une des langues officielles dans une collectivité où les services dans cette langue ne sont pas facilement accessibles… Le gouvernement provincial pourrait améliorer davantage la qualité des services d’apprentissage et de garde en prenant un engagement à long terme de financer de nouvelles initiatives et de continuer à rechercher la qualité dans le cas des initiatives actuelles du Ministère. … Le Ministère devrait aider à créer de nouvelles places qui tiennent compte des valeurs culturelles, des pratiques d’éducation des enfants et des besoins linguistiques uniques des collectivités Autochtones et des Premières nations… et élaborer des ressources et des stratégies propres aux Autochtones...
- Tiré du mémoire, Consultation sur l’apprentissage précoce et la garde des jeunes enfants, par Bernard Richard, ombudsman et défenseur des enfants et de la jeunesse, juin 2007
www.gnb.ca/0073/PDF/ELCCbrief-f.pdf
******* NouvELLES *******
LES TRAVAILLEURS AU SALAIRE UN-PEU-PLUS-QUE-MINIMUM
Le nombre de travailleurs qui gagnent le salaire minimum est faible comparé au nombre de travailleurs considérés à faible revenu. On estime à deux millions le nombre de travailleurs canadiens adultes qui gagnent moins de 10 $ l’heure . Près des deux tiers des travailleurs à faible revenu sont des femmes. Pour environ le tiers de ces personnes, leur salaire est le seul revenu de la famille, ce qui signifie qu’environ 667 000 travailleurs, dont une majorité de femmes, essaient de subvenir aux besoins de leur famille avec un salaire inférieur à 10 $ l’heure . Tout porte à croire que ces personnes vivent dans des conditions d’extrême pauvreté.
- Travailler, oui mais… Le droit du travail à retravailler : document de discussion, Commission du droit du Canada, Décembre 2004, No de catalogue : JL2-24/2004, ISBN : 0-662-68527-X
******* NouvELLES *******
TEL QUEL
La non-violence est une arme puissante et juste, qui tranche sans blesser et ennoblit l'homme qui la manie. C'est une épée qui guérit.
- Martin Luther King, extrait de Why we can’t wait.
Abonnez-vous à ce bulletin électronique en envoyant un courriel à acswcccf@gnb.ca avec "ABONNER NouvELLES" ou, sur www.acswcccf.nb.ca , cliquez Recevez des nouvelles par courriel.
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Visitez notre site internet pour des nouvelles, des avis d'événements et des publications d'intérêt aux femmes au Nouveau-Brunswick! www.acswcccf.nb.ca
Rosella Melanson
Executive Director, New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Directrice générale, Conseil consultatif sur la condition de la femme au Nouveau-Brunswick
506 444-4101 ; 1-800-332-3087; fax 506 444-4318
236, rue King St., Fredericton, N.B. E3B 1E2
www.acswcccf.nb.ca ; rosella.melanson@gnb.ca
Earlier this month, more than 500 young women attended the first pan-Canadian young feminist gathering, “Waves of Resistance/ Toujours RebELLEs, in Montreal. The adoption of a manifesto was the climax of the gathering.
Excerpts - Manifesto of the Pan-Canadian Young Feminist Gathering
We are the young RebELLEs who have answered a feminist call and we are proud to call ourselves feminists. We recognize that there are multiple interpretations of feminism and we celebrate and integrate this diversity. We are committed to the continual expansion of the plurality of our voices. We are committed to an ongoing process of critical self-reflection to inform and transform our movement. We acknowledge the historical exclusion of "Othered" women by the majority Western feminist movement. We strive to learn from the past, honour the struggles of our foremothers and continue to dream for the future. We value the allies of feminism who support us in our fight for equity and justice.
We are women of diverse abilities, ethnicities, origins, sexualities, identities, class backgrounds, ages and races. Among us are employed, underemployed and unemployed women, mothers, students, dropouts, artists, musicians and women in the sex trade. We state that transfolks, two-spirited and intersexed people are integral to our movement and recognize and respect gender fluidity and support the right to self-identify. Our women-only spaces include everyone who self-identifies and lives as a woman in society.
We are told that feminism is over and outdated. If this were true then we wouldn't need to denounce the fact that:
In reality, many of the demands of our feminist mothers and grandmothers remain unmet. Women continue to be the victims of sexual violence. Our communities are haunted by the silence that follows these assaults. Throughout Canada, in spite of our right to it, access to abortion services remains insufficient. Across Canada as well, colonized, marginalized, racialized and disabled women are coerced and/or forced to undergo unwanted or uninformed abortions, forced to use contraception and are subjected to forced sterilization. The hyper-sexualization of women in the media has taught us to view women as sexual objects rather than complete human beings. Getting off, lesbianism and being queer are taboo and a women's choice to seek sexual pleasure is seen as negative. Our identities are eroded as we are taught, from the time we are children, and through television and magazines, that how we should look, dress, and act is determined by our sex. Violence is normalized, sexual abuse eroticized. Our sexual health education is inadequate and our reproductive rights are disrespected. Our needs are not being met.
In reality, women still represent the majority of the underprivileged. Our government steals children from poor and Aboriginal women. Capitalism exploits working-class women and confines middle- and upper-class women to "consumer" roles. We are told that equality has been achieved, but still the wage gap persists. Immigrant women are denied acknowledgment of their academic credentials and are forced to endure intolerable work environments in order to stay on Canadian soil. We lack affordable and accessible childcare. Women remain underpaid, underappreciated, and undervalued in the work force. We have gained the right to vote, yet gender-based discrimination keeps women virtually unrepresented in political office.
In this globalized world, we must construct international feminist solidarity. The actions of Canadian political and economic elites harm women around the world, and in a way that is specifically gender-related. War, genocide and militarization are characterized by the use of rape as a war weapon, femicide, and the sexual exploitation of thousands of our sisters. Free trade contributes to women's increasing social, economic and cultural insecurity. In response to Canadian imperialism, we will globalize our feminist solidarity.
In this so-called post-feminist world, our roles in society are still defined by traditional views on gender. Religious and political forces aimed at maintaining the pillars of power in our society silence us from voicing our rights. We denounce the current rise of right-wing ideology in Canadian society and the steps backward in women's rights that this has caused. We are being stripped of rights for which those who came before us fought hard. Geography marginalizes women, with remote, northern and rural women lacking access to basic services. Showing solidarity with our sisters means trying to understand all of the issues we face - including race, class and gender - and standing together against oppression.
Finally, we denounce the dismissal of the feminist movement as redundant. Our struggle is not over. We will be post-feminists when we have post-patriarchy.
Feminists Unite!
...
RISE AGAINST the industries that cause us to hate our bodies and our sexuality
RISE AGAINST heterosexism that makes it seem that there is only one way of living, loving and being sexual
RISE AGAINST the socialization of children in gender binaries, race categories and colonial erasures
RISE AGAINST the education that reinforces the heteronormative nuclear family
RISE AGAINST the religious Right and its influence on State policy and legislation...
RISE AGAINST the objectification and control of women’s bodies...
RISE AGAINST the sexual division of labour...
RISE AGAINST sexual exploitation
RISE AGAINST PATRIARCHY
We will: Change our attitude: get pissed off, refuse, resist, walk out, speak up!
We will: Transform our daily lives and relationships: actions can take place in small interactions
We will: Encourage people to learn about, care for and love themselves and their bodies
We will: Support safe and accessible space for individuals to define and express themselves without fear of judgement
We will: Create alternatives, write poetry, articles, letters, make art
We will: Join with others, find common ground, build community, create feminist spaces and gatherings, raise awareness, educate, spread the word
We will: Believe that a better world is possible and work to achieve it
We will: Organize and struggle: build alliances with existing feminist groups and create new ones, fight together in solidarity, be seen and be heard, disrupt, trouble, destabilize established powers, become culture jammers
We will: Build solidarity based on the commonality of our diverse struggles and perspectives
We will: Value people rather than profits
We will: Demand massive State reinvestment in social programs and the end of privatization
We will: Organize pan-Canadian decentralized days of feminist action against the rise of the Right
We will: Protest and resist sexist bills and laws that threaten our reproductive rights, racist immigration laws, war, free trade, repression, the criminalization of political movements, corporate exploitation and plunder of the earth, and violence against women
We will: Champion safety, respect, justice, freedom, equality and SOLIDARITY!
It is a call to action!
Find out more, get involved! www.rebelles2008.org ; info@rebelles2008.org
********
Plus tôt ce mois ci, plus de 500 jeunes femmes de partout au Canada ont participé au Rassemblement pancanadien de jeunes féministes Toujours RebELLEs /Waves of Resistance, à Montréal. L’adoption d’un manifeste des jeunes féministes du Canada a été le point culminant.
Extraits - Manifeste du Rassemblement pancanadien des jeunes féministes
Nous sommes les jeunes RebELLEs qui ont répondu à un appel féministe et nous sommes fières de nous dire féministes. Nous reconnaissons qu'il existe de multiples interprétations du féminisme et nous célébrons et intégrons cette diversité. Nous sommes engagées à favoriser l'expansion continue de la pluralité de nos voix. Nous sommes engagées dans un processus constant de réflexion autocritique visant à alimenter et transformer notre mouvement. Nous reconnaissons qu’au cours de l’histoire, le mouvement féministe occidental majoritaire a exclu les femmes « altérisées » qui sont représentées comme « autres » ou extérieures à la norme blanche par l’idéologie colonialiste. Nous sommes déterminées à apprendre de notre passé, à honorer les luttes menées par nos prédécesseures et à nourrir nos rêves pour l'avenir. Nous apprécions le soutien de nos alliés qui appuient nos luttes féministes pour l’équité et la justice.
Nous sommes des femmes de diverses capacités, ethnicités, origines, sexualités, identités, classes, âges et « races ». Nous comptons parmi nous des femmes employées, sous-employées et sans-emploi, des mères, des étudiantes, des décrocheuses, des artistes, des musiciennes, et des femmes dans l’industrie du sexe. Nous pensons que les personnes trans, bispirituelles et intersexuées font partie intégrante de notre mouvement. Nous reconnaissons et respectons la fluidité des genres et appuyons le droit à l’auto-identification. Nos espaces non mixtes sont ouverts à toutes celles qui s’identifient et vivent socialement comme femmes.
On nous dit que le féminisme est dépassé. Si c’était vrai, nous n’aurions pas besoin de dénoncer le fait que :
Dans la réalité, bon nombre des revendications de nos mères et de nos grand-mères demeurent sans réponses. Les femmes continuent à être victimes de violence sexuelle. Nos communautés sont hantées par le silence qui entoure ces agressions. Dans tout le Canada, et bien que nous y ayons droit, les services d’avortement demeurent insuffisants. Partout au pays, des femmes colonisées, marginalisées, racisées et handicapées se voient forcées de subir des avortements non-désirés ou sans disposer des informations adéquates, sont obligées d’avoir recours à la contraception ou même sont stérilisées contre leur gré. L’hypersexualisation des femmes dans les médias nous a appris à voir les femmes comme des objets sexuels plutôt que comme des êtres humains à part entière. La jouissance, le lesbianisme ou le fait d’être queer sont tabous et le choix d’une femme de rechercher le plaisir sexuel est perçu négativement. Nos identités sont érodées dès notre plus tendre enfance, alors que notre éducation, la télévision et les magazines nous dictent que notre apparence, notre façon de nous habiller et notre façon d'agir sont déterminées par notre sexe. La violence est normalisée, les agressions sexuelles érotisées. Notre éducation à la santé sexuelle est inadéquate et nos droits reproductifs sont bafoués. Nos besoins sont loin d’être comblés.
Dans la réalité, les femmes représentent la majorité des personnes défavorisées. Notre gouvernement enlève les enfants de femmes pauvres et autochtones. Le capitalisme exploite les femmes de la classe ouvrière et confine les femmes des classes moyenne et supérieure à des rôles de « consommatrices ». On nous dit que l’égalité est acquise, mais l’écart salarial persiste. Les femmes immigrantes se voient refuser la reconnaissance de leurs diplômes et sont forcées d’endurer des conditions de travail intolérables pour pouvoir demeurer en sol canadien. Nous manquons de services de garde abordables et accessibles. Les femmes continuent d’être sous-payées, leurs contributions sont dépréciées et leur travail rémunéré est sous-valorisé. Nous avons gagné le droit de vote, mais la discrimination fondée sur le sexe perpétue la sous-représentation des femmes dans les institutions politiques.
Dans ce monde globalisé, notre solidarité féministe doit s’internationaliser. Les actions des élites politiques et économiques canadiennes causent préjudice aux femmes à travers le monde, et ce, de façon spécifique. Les guerres, les génocides et la militarisation entraînent notamment l’utilisation du viol comme arme de guerre, des féminicides et l’exploitation sexuelle de milliers de nos sœurs. Le libre-échange contribue à accroître l'insécurité sociale, économique et culturelle des femmes. En réponse à l’impérialisme canadien, nous construirons une solidarité féministe mondiale.
Dans ce monde soi-disant postféministe, nos rôles sociaux continuent d’être définis par une vision traditionnelle du genre. Les forces religieuses et politiques qui visent à maintenir les piliers du pouvoir dans notre société nous empêchent de faire valoir nos droits. Nous dénonçons l’actuelle montée de la droite conservatrice dans la société canadienne et les reculs que cela a entraîné pour l’avancement des droits des femmes. Nous sommes dépouillées de certains droits conquis de haute lutte par celles qui nous ont précédées. La géographie marginalise les femmes qui vivent dans des régions isolées, rurales et du Nord où elles n’ont pas accès à certains services de base. Manifester notre solidarité avec nos sœurs implique un effort pour comprendre tous les enjeux que nous devons affronter - y compris ceux liés à la « race », à la classe et au genre - et de nous tenir debout toutes ensemble contre les oppressions.
Enfin, nous dénonçons l'attitude qui disqualifie et évacue le mouvement féministe sous prétexte qu’il est redondant. Notre lutte n’est pas terminée. Nous serons postféministes quand nous vivrons dans un postpatriarcat.
Féministes, unissons-nous!
...
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE les industries qui nous poussent à haïr notre corps et notre sexualité
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE l’hétérosexisme qui nous fait croire qu’il n’y a qu’une façon d’être, d’aimer et de vivre notre sexualité
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE la socialisation des enfants basée sur des catégories raciales, des mensonges coloniaux et des conceptions binaires du genre
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE les systèmes d’éducation qui renforcent la famille nucléaire hétéronormative
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE la droite religieuse et son influence sur les politiques d’État et les lois...
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE l’objectification et le contrôle du corps des femmes...
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE la division sexuelle du travail...
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE l’exploitation sexuelle
RÉVOLTONS-NOUS CONTRE LE PATRIARCAT
...
Nous allons : Changer d’attitude: nous fâcher, refuser, résister, claquer la porte, riposter!
Nous allons : Transformer nos vies quotidiennes et nos relations: chaque petite interaction peut devenir un terrain d’action
Nous allons : Encourager chaque personne à se connaître, à s’aimer et à prendre soin d’elle-même et de son corps
Nous allons : Favoriser la création d’espaces sécuritaires et accessibles où les personnes pourront se définir et s’exprimer sans crainte d’être jugées
Nous allons : Créer des alternatives, écrire de la poésie, des articles, des lettres, faire de l’art
Nous allons : Nous unir avec d’autres, trouver des terrains communs, bâtir des communautés, créer des espaces et des rassemblements féministes, sensibiliser, éduquer, diffuser nos idées
Nous allons : Croire qu'un monde meilleur est possible et travailler à le construire
Nous allons : Nous organiser et lutter: bâtir des alliances avec les organisations féministes existantes et en créer de nouvelles, lutter ensemble et en solidarité, être vues et entendues, déranger, troubler, déstabiliser les pouvoirs établis, devenir des « saboteuses culturelles »
Nous allons : Construire des solidarités basées sur les points communs de nos diverses luttes et perspectives
Nous allons : Valoriser les gens plutôt que l'argent et les profits
Nous allons : Exiger un réinvestissement massif de l’État dans les programmes sociaux et la fin des privatisations
Nous allons : Organiser des journées pancanadiennes d’actions féministes décentralisées contre la montée de la droite
Nous allons : Dénoncer, résister et combattre les projets de loi et les lois sexistes qui menacent nos droits reproductifs, les lois d'immigration racistes, la guerre, le libre-échange, la criminalisation des mouvements sociaux et des militantEs, l’exploitation par les entreprises, le pillage de la terre et la violence envers les femmes
Nous allons : Défendre et promouvoir la sécurité, le respect, la justice, la liberté, l’égalité et la SOLIDARITÉ!
Informe-toi, implique-toi! www.rebelles2008.org ; info@rebelles2008.org
Rosella Melanson
Directrice générale, Conseil consultatif sur la condition de la femme au Nouveau-Brunswick
506 444-4101 ; 1 800 332-3087 ; télécopieur 506 444-4318
236, rue King, Fredericton (N.-B.) E3B 1E2
Executive Director, New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women
506 444-4101; 1-800-332-3087; fax 506 444-4318
236 King St. Fredericton, N.B. E3B 1E2
rosella.melanson@gnb.ca ; www.acswcccf.nb.ca
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Women’s List – Federal Election 2008
All women hold at least one decision-making position: as a voter.
Make your vote count for the kind of society you want. Research the party positions on your priority issue(s), ask questions of your candidates. Write letters to the editor. Get your group – women’s, service, church, union, etc - involved in this exercise. Tell others what you are doing.
We summarize some of the issues of importance to Canadian women’s equality, under the following 10 themes and provide some sources to obtain more detail if needed.
Deliver on the constitutional promise of equality
Ensure equal rights for Aboriginal women
Fund quality early childhood care & education
Ensure a livable income
Commit to affordable housing
Eliminate violence against women
Ensure access to justice
Improve maternity & parental benefits
Act for women’s health
Increase female political representation
1. DELIVER ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROMISE OF EQUALITY
Reinstate the Court Challenges Program of Canada, which funded equality-seeking groups to bring key cases to court to advance equality rights.
§ About the Court Challenges Program www.ccppcj.ca/e/rights/rights.shtml
§ House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s Report Women and the Court Challenges Program http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/392/fewo/reports/rp3274072/392_FEWO_Rpt02/392_FEWO_Rpt02-e.pdf
Make equality a priority in the federal budget, through consultations and gender budgeting projects. Implement the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s recommendations on gender budgeting.
§ Equity Analysis Guide www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/analysis.pdf
§ House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s Report Towards Gender Responsive Budgeting: Rising to the Challenge of Achieving Gender Equality http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/392/fewo/reports/rp3551119/feworp11/feworp11-e.pdf
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Culturally Relevant Gender Based Analysis. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/nwac.crgba.june1707.pdf
§ Janine Brodie & Isabella Bakker (for Status of Women Canada). Canada’s Social Policy Regime and Women: An Assessment of the Last Decade. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662450870/200703_9780662450870_e.pdf
§ Sixth and Seventh Reports of Canada regarding the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). www.pch.gc.ca/progs/pdp-hrp/docs/cedaw7/cedaw7_e.pdf
§ Pavla Selepova (for Status of Women Canada). Report on Status of Women Canada’s On-Line Consultation on Gender Equality (fall 2005). www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/resources/consultations/ges09-2005/finalreport_e.pdf
Reinstate research and advocacy as projects eligible for support through Status of Women Canada. Increase Status of Women Canada’s funding for equality-seeking work.
§ House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s Report The Impacts of Funding and Program Changes at Status of Women Canada http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/fewo/reports/rp2876038/feworp18/feworp18-e.pdf
§ Ginette Petitpas-Taylor. Federal Funding Changes Hobble Advocacy Efforts. www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/federal%20funding%20fallout.pdf
Ensure the safety and autonomy of immigrant and refugee women - review laws, policies and practices that increase the vulnerability and dependency of immigrant and refugee women, including the refugee determination process, sponsorship rules etc.
§ Catherine Dauvergne, Leonora C. Angeles & Agnes Huang (for Status of Women Canada). Gendering Canada’s Refugee Process. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662435621/200607_0662435621_e.pdf
§ Report from the First National Conference “Responding to Diversity in the Metropolis: Building an Inclusive Research Agenda”. Gendering Immigration/Integration: Policy Research Workshop Proceedings and A Selective Review of Policy Research Literature 1987-1996. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/gendering/gendering_e.pdf
2. ENSURE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ABORIGINAL WOMEN
Ensure that Aboriginal women’s rights keep pace with the rights of non-Aboriginal women, and that changes respond to the priorities specific to Aboriginal women.
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Aboriginal Women in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Aboriginal%20Women%20in%20New%20BrunswickEN%20May2008.pdf
§ Aboriginal Women’s Roundtable on Gender Equality. Roundtable Report. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/abwomenroundtable/010914_e.pdf
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Submission to the World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. Social Determinants of Health and Canada’s Aboriginal Women. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/NWAC_WHO-CSDH_Submission2007-06-04.pdf
Ensure matrimonial property rights protect Aboriginal women’s interests.
§ Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act. www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/wige/mrp/fam_e.html
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Matrimonial Real Property Consultations: An Information Kit. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/InformationKit.pdf
§ House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s Report Matrimonial Real Property Rights on Reserve. http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/fewo/reports/rp2311018/FEWO_Rpt07/FEWO_Rpt07-e.pdf
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Reclaiming Our Way of Being: Matrimonial Real Property Solutions Position Paper. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/NWACMRP.pdf
§ Wendy Grant John. Report of the Ministerial Representative on Matrimonial Real Property Issues on Reserves. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/rmr_e.pdf
§ Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Consultation Report on Matrimonial Real Property. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/CR_English.pdf
§ Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. After Marriage Breakdown: Information on the on-reserve matrimonial home. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/AfterMarriageBreakdown.pdf
Correct the sexism perpetuated by the Indian Act against Aboriginal women who “married out” in the past.
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Implementing Bill C-31: A Summary of the Issues. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/ImplementingBill-31_ASummaryofIssues.pdf
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Equality in the 21st Century: Report of the 2nd National Conference on Bill C-31. www.nwac-hq.org/documents/Equalityinthe21stCentury.pdf
§ Ginette Petitpas-Taylor. How Sharon MacIvor is Taking on the Indian Act. www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Indian%20women.pdf
Support Aboriginal women’s role in Aboriginal self-government.
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Aboriginal Women, Self-Government, & the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/AboriginalWomenSelfGovCndnChtrofRightsandFreedoms.pdf
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Aboriginal Women and Self-Determination. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/nwac.self-determination.jun1907.pdf
3. FUND QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE & EDUCATION
When three-quarters of Canadian women with children under 6 work outside the home, a national childcare system is critical, for children and the economy.
Invest in a nationwide system for early childhood care and education, built on principles of quality, universal access, affordability, and focus on children’s development.
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Childcare Services in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Child%20care%20in%20New%20BrunswickEN%20%20Feb2008.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Population & Families in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Population%20Families%20etc%20EN%20June2008%20.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Population of NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/1%20Population%20E%20Jan23.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Hours Spent on Housework, Child Care, and Care to Seniors (by Sex) www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Family%20Responsible%20Flyer%20E.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Women and Family Responsibilities in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/New%20Brunswick%20Women%20and%20Family%20ResponsibilitiesENG%20June2008.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Women and Family Responsibilities in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/5%20Family%20E%20Jan18.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Education in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Education%20Flyer%20E.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Education in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/2%20Education%20E%20Jan10.pdf
Recognize that the current Universal Child Care Benefit does not provide equitable access to childcare for families.
§ About the Universal Childcare Benefit. www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/goc/universal_child_care.shtml
§ Childcare Research and Resource Unit. Early Childhood Education and Care in the 2008 Federal Election: Updates. http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=121428&AA_EX_Session=64a2f3eced6b1e69d693ff9346c05024
§ Childcare Research and Resource Unit. Canadian early learning and child care and the
§ Convention on the Rights of the Child. www.childcarecanada.org/pubs/op22/op22.pdf
§ Taking Responsibility for Childcare www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/childcare.pdf
§ Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada. What Do We Mean By Universality and Accessibility? www.ccaac.ca/pdf/resources/factsheets/universality.pdf
4. LIVABLE INCOME
The most important social determinant of health is income; it is how communities will retain its young people, how families can support themselves and how support networks can be maintained.
Set a livable income.
§ Monica Townson (for Status of Women Canada). Background Paper: Poverty Issues for Canadian Women. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/resources/consultations/ges09-2005/poverty_e.pdf
§ Canadian Council on Social Development. The Dynamics of Women’s Poverty in Canada. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662281594/200003_0662281594_e.pdf
§ Canadian average earnings by province, job type, and gender. www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/labour_market/earnings/index.htm
§ Guide to 2008 Before- and After-Tax Low Income Cut-Offs (LICOs). www.ccsd.ca/factsheets/economic_security/poverty/lico_06.htm
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Labour Force in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/NB%20Women%20and%20Paid%20WorkEN%20June2008.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Labour Force in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/NB%20Women%20and%20Paid%20WorkEN%20June2008.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Income & Poverty in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Income%20and%20Poverty%20in%20NB%20EN%20June2008.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Income & Poverty in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/4%20Income%20E%20Jan29.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Total Incomes of Women & Men in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Income%20Poverty%20Flyer%20E.pdf
Adopt economic development that benefits both women and men.
§ Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women’s Report Women’s Economic Independence and Security: A Federal/Provincial/Territorial Strategic Framework. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/0662655427/200103_0662655427_e.pdf
§ House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s Report Improving the Economic Security of Women: Time to Act. http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/fewo/reports/rp3034875/feworp21/feworp21-e.pdf
§ Ginette Petitpas-Taylor. Shouldn’t We Have a Plan to Reduce Poverty? www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/poverty%202008.pdf
§ Adil Sayeed. The 1997 Canada Pension Plan Changes: Implications for Women and Men. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662324315/200208_0662324315_e.pdf
Enact pay equity legislation for the private sector regulated by the federal government.
§ Margot E. Young (for Status of Women Canada). “Pay Equity: A Fundamental Human Right” www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/0662327535/200209_0662327535_e.pdf
§ Abigail B. Bakan and Audrey Kobayashi. Employment Equity Policy in Canada: An Interprovincial Comparison. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662281608/200003_0662281608_e.pdf
§ The Gender Wage Gap in New Brunswick www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/GENDER_WAGE_GAP_NB_FINAL_REPORT_EN.pdf
§ Samples Demonstration on the Value of Occupational Equivalents. www.genderwork.ca/cms/displayarticle.php?sid=18&aid=56&partid=1037
Recognize the diversity of work that contributes to society, including women’s non-paid work.
§ Conceptual Guide to Unpaid Work. www.genderwork.ca/cms/displayarticle.php?sid=18&aid=56
§ Women and Unpaid Work. http://unpac.ca/economy/unpaidwork.html
§ Valuing Unpaid Work. http://unpac.ca/economy/valuingunpaidwork.html
§ Alternative Economic Measures. http://unpac.ca/economy/altmeasures.html
§ Isabella Bakker. Unpaid Work and Macroeconomics: New Discussions, New Tools for Action. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662636074/199808_0662636074_e.pdf
§ Statistics Canada. The 1996 Census Unpaid Work Data Evaluation Study. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662280180/200003_0662280180_e.pdf
§ Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW). The Changing Nature of Home Care and Its Impact on Women's Vulnerability to Poverty.
§ Pt. 1: www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662280857/199911_0662280857_1_e.pdf
§ Pt. 2 (Survey & Findings): www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662280857/199911_0662280857_2_e.pdf
§ Pt. 3 (Conclusion & Recommendations): www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662280857/199911_0662280857_3_e.pdf
Set and fund national standards for social programs.
§ Scott Gilbreath. Low Income Cut-Offs Versus Poverty Measures. www.irpp.org/po/archive/nov97/gilbreat.pdf
§ Ginette Petitpas-Taylor. Costly Welfare Policy is Counterproductive. www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/economic%20unit%20Jan%2010%202008.pdf
§ Christa Freiler and Judy Cerny (for the Child Poverty Action Group). Benefiting Canada’s Children: Perspectives on Gender and Social Responsibility. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662634691/199803_0662634691_e.pdf
§ Tanis Doe and Sally Kimpson. Enabling Income: CPP Disability Benefits and Women with Disabilities. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662279247/199910_0662279247_e.pdf
§ Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW). Women’s Experiences of Social Programs for People with Low Incomes – Fact Sheet. www.criaw-icref.ca/indexFrame_e.htm
§ Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW). Integrating the Voices of Low-Income Women Into Policy Discussions on the Canada Social Transfer. www.criaw-icref.ca/CST_FINAL_REPORT.pdf
5. COMMIT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Meet basic housing needs by extending affordable housing programs and anti-homelessness programs.
Implement a comprehensive national housing strategy, coordinated across all provinces and territories, with goals to build universally accessible social housing units, increase housing subsidies, and meet Aboriginal people’s needs both on- and off-reserve.
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Income & Poverty in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Income%20and%20Poverty%20in%20NB%20EN%20June2008.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Income & Poverty in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/4%20Income%20E%20Jan29.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Population, Families, and Living Arrangements in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Population%20Families%20etc%20EN%20June2008%20.pdf
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada. Background Document on Aboriginal Women and Housing for the Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable Sectoral Follow-Up Session on Housing. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/NWAC_BgPaper_e.pdf
Acknowledge women's specific, gendered housing needs, especially in cases where violence and abuse have compromised the safety of their homes.
§ Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. On Her Own: Young Women and Homelessness in Canada. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662318986/200303_0662318986_e.pdf
§ Marge Reitsma-Street, Josie Schofield, Brishkai Lund, & Colleen Kasting. Housing Policy Options for Women Living in Urban Poverty: An Action Research Project in Three Canadian Cities. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0660613417/200102_0660613417_e.pdf
§ Darlene Rude & Kathleen Thompson. Left in the Cold: Women, Health, and the Demise of Social Housing Polices. www.pwhce.ca/pdf/leftInTheCold.pdf
§ Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. Building Capacity: Enhancing Women’s Economic Participation Through Housing. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662286154/200009_0662286154_e.pdf
Integrate housing policy with other social policy.
6. ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Recognize the link between violence and the inequality of women and girls.
Invest in violence prevention.
Include in decision-making workers, and especially front-line workers, in women’s centres, shelters, and transition houses. Support funding increases for the equality-seeking organizations that are experts in eliminating violence in our communities.
§ Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women. Assessing Violence Against Women: A Statistical Profile. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/0662331664/200212_0662331664_e.pdf
§ Public Health Agency of Canada. The Family Violence Initiative Performance Report 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/pdfs/2004-Family-Violence-Initiative_E.pdf
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Violence Against Women in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Violence%20Against%20Women%20in%20New%20BrunswickEN%20August2008%20.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Violence Against Women in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/9%20Violence%20Jan22.pdf
§ Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Protection%20against%20violence%20legislation%20April%202004.pdf
§ Ginette Petitpas-Taylor. Violence by the Numbers. www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Violence%202008%20RC%20FINAL.pdf
§ Maria Rosa Pinedo & Ana Maria Santinoli. Immigrant Women and Wife Assault. www.womanabuseprevention.com/html/immigrant_women.html
7. ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Criminal law legal aid, accessed mostly by men, is cost-shared by federal and provincial governments, but not civil legal aid.
Fund access to civil legal aid.
Hold provinces and territories to national standards of access to legal aid and courts.
§ Civil Legal Aid and Women www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/LEGAL%20AID%20FINAL.pdf
§ Lisa Addario. Getting a Foot in the Door: Women, Civil Legal Aid and Access to Justice. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/footinthedoor/footinthedoor_e.pdf
8. IMPROVE MATERNITY & PARENTAL BENEFITS
Improve the current Employment Insurance–based system for maternity and parental benefits by increasing access to benefits for parents who are self-employed or in non-standard work arrangements.
§ Service Canada Online Maternity and Parental Benefits Page. www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/ei/types/special.shtml
§ Improving Maternity and Parental Benefits for Canadians, Women’s Network PEI, www.wnpei.org/improvingparben.html
§ Rachel Cox, with Ruth Rose, Improving Maternity and Parental Benefits for Women outside of Québec: Proposals for Law Reform, August 2007. www.nawl.ca/ns/en/publications.html#research
§ Christa Freiler, Felicite Stairs and Brigitte Kitchen, with Judy Cerny. Mothers as Earners, Mothers as Carers: Responsibility for Children, Social Policy and the Tax System. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662655206/200103_0662655206_e.pdf
§ Tanis Doe & Doris Rajan. Re/Working Benefits: Continuation of Non-Cash Benefits and Support for Single Mothers and Disabled Women. www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/pubs/pubspr/0662670515/200302_0662670515_e.pdf
Improve the value and duration of benefits for families that give birth to or adopt a child.
Implement the recommendations on parental benefits of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
§ House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women. Interim Report on the Maternity and Parental Benefits Under Employment Insurance: The Exclusion of Self-Employed Workers. http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/381/fewo/reports/rp2148183/FEWO_Rpt05/FEWO_Rpt05-e.pdf
9. ACT FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
Ensure that women in all regions of Canada have access to medical care, as promised in the Canada Health Act. That includes providing access to abortions.
§ Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Submission to the World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. Social Determinants of Health and Canada’s Aboriginal Women. www.nwac-hq.org/en/documents/NWAC_WHO-CSDH_Submission2007-06-04.pdf
§ Women and Charter of Health Rights & Responsibilities www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Health_Charter_2005ENG.pdf
§ Women and the Future of Health Care in Canada www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/healthcareenglish.pdf
§ Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence. Living Well: Aboriginal Women, Cultural Identity and Wellness. www.pwhce.ca/pdf/livingWell.pdf
§ Jan Roberts & Marcelle Falk. Women and Health: Experiences in Rural Regional Health Authority. www.pwhce.ca/pdf/rha.pdf
§ Abortion Access in Canada – Abortion Coverage by Region. www.prochoice.org/canada/regional.html
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – New Brunswick Women and Health www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/New%20Brunswick%20Women%20and%20HealthENJune%202008.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Health in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/3%20Health%20E%20Jan29.pdf
Require gender analysis in government’s planning for the healthcare system.
§ The CIHR Institute of Gender and Health. What’s Sex and Gender Got to Do With It? Integrating Sex and Gender into Health Research. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/pdf_25530.htm
§ Lorraine Greaves (for the Canadian Institute of Health Research). CIHR 2000: Sex, Gender and Women’s Health. www.bccewh.bc.ca/publications-resources/documents/cihrreport.pdf
§ Colleen Reid (for the BC Center of Excellence for Women’s Health). A Full Measure: Towards a Comprehensive Model for the Measurement of Women’s Health. www.bccewh.bc.ca/publications-resources/documents/afullmeasure.pdf
§ The National Coordinating Group on Health Care Reform and Women. Reading Romanow: The Implications of the Final Report of The Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada for Women. www.womenandhealthcarereform.ca/publications/reading-romanow.pdf
§ Just the facts, ma’am… A Women’s Guide for Understanding Evidence about Health and Health Care. www.womenandhealthcarereform.ca/publications/evidenceen.pdf
§ Kay Wilson & Beth Jackson (for the National Coordinating Group on Health Care Reform and Women). Bringing Women and Gender Into “Healthy Canadians: A Federal Report on Comprehensive Health Indicators 2004”. www.womenandhealthcarereform.ca/publications/womengenderhealthindicators.pdf
10. INCREASE FEMALE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Take measures to support women to run for and serve in elected office.
§ Women in Canadian Federal Politics – Fast Facts. www.equalvoice.ca/uploads/392_479c9e5aab17b.pdf
§ International Database of Women’s Representation in National Governments. www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm
§ Report Card Fact Sheet (2008) – Women and Positions of Influence in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/Women%20and%20Positions%20of%20Influence%20in%20New%20BrunswickEN%20June2008.pdf
§ Report Card Chapter (2008) – Women and Positions of Influence in NB www.acswcccf.nb.ca/english/documents/7%20Influence%20E%20Jan18B.pdf
Take measures to ensure political parties are making progress towards a fair representation of women among its candidates. Ensure women are fairly represented in the most influential Cabinet portfolios.
§ The Canada Challenge – Tracking 2008 Federal Nominations by Gender www.equalvoice.ca/uploads/390_479a3973d1cf1.pdf
§ Julie Cool (for the Library of Parliament, Political & Social Affairs Division). Women in Parliament. www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0562-e.pdf
§ Ann Wicks and Raylene Lang-Dion. Women in Politics: Still Searching for an Equal Voice. www.parl.gc.ca/Infoparl/31/1/31n1_08e_Wicks-Lang-Dion.pdf
§ Ann Wicks and Raylene Lang-Dion. Equal Voice: Electing More Women in Canada. www.parl.gc.ca/Infoparl/30/1/30n1_07e_Wicks-Lang-Dion.pdf
Examine democratic and legislative processes to eliminate barriers to women. Undertake electoral and democratic reform.
§ Fair Vote Canada. Voting Systems: We Have Choices! www.fairvotecanada.org/files/Make%20Every%20Vote%20Count%20-%20Pt%202%20-%20jan%2005_0.pdf
§ Michael Pal and Sujit Choudhry. Is Every Ballot Equal? Visible-Minority Vote Dilution in Canada. www.fireweeddemocracyproject.ca/media/IsEveryBallotEqual.pdf
§ Law Commission of Canada. Voting Counts: Electoral Reform for Canada. www.fireweeddemocracyproject.ca/media/Voting%20Counts.pdf
§ Thérèse Arseneau. The Representation of Women and Aboriginal Peoples Under PR. www.irpp.org/po/archive/nov97/arseneau.pdf
