Status of Women's Parliamentary Update

[Oscar]

ASHTON: Status of Women's Parliamentary Update

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Niki Ashton - NDP Status of Women Critic
< niki.ashton@parl.gc.ca >
Date: 2014/1/15
Subject: Status of Women's Parliamentary Update
To: Kelly < kelly.carmichael@fairvote.ca >

Status of Women's Parliamentary Update

As we enter the new year, I would like to share some thoughts on a major highlight of 2013: Women’s Forum des Femmes (#wfdf13). This one day event was a tremendous success thanks to the help and hard work of many people. With over 200 attendees and many more people participating on-line, WFDF13 was a powerful day focused on 'Fighting the Inequality Agenda'.

This year, we were inspired by a series of young feminist activists who came from across the country, to share their struggle and how we can move forward.

The day was a powerful reminder of the ground we've lost as women, and the work that lies ahead for all of us. Throughout the day, it became clear that to move forward we must build solidarity. Many young women who are fighting for gender equality are doing it through movements for Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, labour, trans and disability rights. Equality is key to achieving justice.

The keynote speaker of the morning, Erin Konsmo, with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, spoke powerfully about the struggle to advance indigenous women’s reproductive justice. By connecting activism and art, Erin shared a history of exploitation and resistance among Indigenous women. You can listen to her keynote here: [ http://soundcloud.com/rabbleca/erin-mar ... o-beyond-a ]

Two incredible panels, “Canada’s Inequality Action Plan” (Audio for First Half, Audio for Second Half), and “The Politics of Advocacy” featured strong feminist women under 40. You can listen to the audio of these two panels by clicking on the links imbeded above. On the first panel we heard from women who shared their analysis of the Harper Government agenda on women. We heard how policies of austerity and privatization along with an unsustainable economy are marginalizing women here at home and around the world.

On the second panel we heard from women who are on the front lines advocating for equal access to health services. It is no secret that equal access to health services is a real challenge for women. We heard about how intersectionality means that women face greater barriers yet.

On both panels, the dynamic feminists that spoke shared powerful messages about their struggles, and called on us to be part of the fight ahead.

Two outstanding presentations by Jarrah Hodge (listen here!) and Catherine Voyer-Leger (listen here!) spoke of the misogyny women in the media face, and the sexism women media bloggers face in their endeavors.

You can read Jarrah’s impressions of the forum here on Gender Focus.
"Participating in Women's Forum was a unique experience. I was impressed by the quality of the participants, their commitment and mutual support of one another. These events are necessary for us to know each other as feminists better, but also to remember that we are not alone." - Catherine Voyer-Léger

We finished the day off with an inspiring and energizing set of Pecha Kucha talks from: The Native Women’s Association of Canada, Nach Balliye, Le centre d'encadrement pour jeunes femmes immigrantes (CEJFI), Les centres de femmes au Quebec, Canadian Federation of Students and a spoken word performance by Jenna Ten-Yuk. These women spoke about the work being done every day on the ground. From advocacy for young immigrant women, to feminist organizations in Quebec, to organizing against Men’s Rights Groups on campus - these energetic presentations gave a sense of the community based work that is making a difference.

I sincerely want to thank all those who presented, shared and participated. I also want to thank the Broadbent Institute, the NDP Women's Committee, Rabble.ca and Benjamin Dickerson for helping with the day's events.

As we look ahead to what 2014 holds, we're already thinking about the next Women's Forum des Femmes. We would love to hear ideas and thoughts from you, and we hope you will join us once again.

In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to work with you to fight for women's equality. More from WFDF2013 is posted on my website, and please continue to visit to view presenter notes, and slide shows from the Pecka Kucha presentations.

In solidarity,

Niki Ashton - Member of Parliament (Churchill)
NDP Status of Women Critic <niki.ashton@parl.gc.ca>

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Women's Forum 2013 - Fighting the Inequality Agenda

[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/niki-ashto ... 65064.html ]

October 28, 2013

Tuesday, October 29, feminists from coast to coast to coast will join together in Ottawa and online to make history.

Women's Forum 2013: Fighting the Inequality Agenda will see 22 feminist activists under 40, from across the country, share a message for social change. They will speak to the challenges that young women are facing, and most importantly how they are fighting back.

The day's discussions will touch on some of the most salient issues facing young women in Canada. From Indigenous resistance, to women's economic marginalization, to the fight for sexual and reproductive rights to the politics of advocacy and women in the media -- we will get a sense not only of what young women are up against, but of the incredible victories that are being gained through creative forms of organizing.

Women have made gains over time. But the last number of years have been grim for Canadian women. Successive governments have eroded women's capacity to organize, advocate, engage in research and provide services. In the last few years the very concept of true equality has been vilified. In many ways, young women are losing ground.

MORE:

[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/niki-ashto ... 65064.html ]

[Oscar]

The Best and Worst Place to be a Woman in Canada

[ https://www.policyalternatives.ca/best-worst ]

An Index of Gender Equality in Canada’s Twenty Largest Metropolitan Areas

Author(s): Kate McInturff April 23, 2014

Download:
[ https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites ... canada.pdf ]

717.19 KB58 pages

This study reveals the best and worst places to be a woman in Canada. It ranks Canada’s 20 largest metropolitan areas based on a comparison of how men and women are faring in five areas: economic security, leadership, health, personal security, and education. Among the study’s key findings is the fact that Canada’s big three cities fall in the middle as a group with Montreal in 4th place, Toronto in 6th place, and Vancouver in 13th place.

The study also includes a small sample of projects that are underway in Canadian cities to help close the gender gap, but warns that these organizations are disappearing at the federal and provincial levels as organizations that used to provide a venue for communities to share their experiences and learn from one another are disappearing.

Offices: National Office
Issue: Women's equality
Projects: Making Women Count

See more at:
[ https://www.policyalternatives.ca/best- ... cBewG.dpuf ]