Messages

1

Activism / Tips on Preparing Submission re Bill 107

« on: November 21, 2006, 03:27:19 PM »

Thanks Toedancer!  

URGENT-- Join Our "Dial Dalton" Campaign!

Phone Dalton McGuinty's Office Today -- Tell His Office to Withdraw
Tonight's "Closure Motion" which Will Shut Down Public Hearings on the
Controversial Bill 107

November 21,2006

SUMMARY

We urgently need as many people as possible to phone Premier Dalton
McGuinty's office at 416-325-1941.

Ask to talk to the Premier.

Tell whoever answers that the Government must call off tonight's motion to shut down the public hearings on the controversial Bill 107.

Bill 107 is the McGuinty Government's widely criticized proposal to weaken
the Human Rights Commission. It would force discrimination victims to
investigate their own human rights cases.

Tell the Premier's office that it is utterly unfair to cancel public hearings for community groups and individuals who have waited for months for a chance to have their say on this controversial bill. The Government shouldn't use its majority in the Legislature to muzzle the many who have
concerns about this bill. Whether the bill is a good bill or a bad bill, people deserve the chance to have their say. This is especially so since the Government refused to hold an open, accessible public consultation on human rights reform before it brought forward this bill, despite the calls from many for such a consultation.

This closure motion is a breach of the Government's earlier commitments on affording hearings to everyone who wants to present. Even as late as last week, the Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy unanimously approved a report scheduling hearings through December, and asking the Legislature to permit hearings to continue into the winter. Some 200 people had signed up.

The Government is using tax dollars to advertise public hearings that the
McGuinty Government is now going to cancel. This is inconsistent with the
Government's commitments to bring democratic renewal to Ontario.

Please make your call to the Premier's office today. Get others to do so as
well. The closure motion is scheduled to be argued tonight. We expect it to
be voted on tomorrow. Every call helps.

More posted at http://dawn.thot.net/bill107.html

2

Feminist News / Women's Equality in Spain

« on: October 09, 2006, 02:36:11 PM »

In Spain, women are shaping a cultural revolution
Molly Moore, The Washington Post

MADRID - When Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega graduated from law school in the 1970s, Spanish law prohibited her -- and any other woman -- from becoming a judge, serving as a witness in court or opening a bank account.

Today, the angular, outspoken 57-year-old is Spain's first female vice president, helping orchestrate a cultural revolution in the boardrooms and living rooms of the country that coined the word machismo -- male chauvinism -- five centuries ago.

"We have a prime minister who not only says he's a feminist -- he acts like a feminist," Fernandez said in her cavernous office of polished wood floors and cream-colored sofas. "In 2 1/2 years, we have done more than has ever been done in such a short time in Spain."

Her Socialist government is requiring political parties to allot 40 percent of their candidate lists to women and is telling big companies to give women 40 percent of the seats on corporate boards. Half of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero's Cabinet members are women -- the highest proportion in any European government.

New divorce laws not only make it easier for couples to split, but stipulate that marital obligations require men to share the housework equally with their wives.

Read full article here  http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/15710011.htm

3

Activism / Action to Support Court Challenges Program (Oct 4 deadline)

« on: September 28, 2006, 10:32:27 PM »

Action to Support Court Challenges Program (Oct 2nd deadline)

Web version available at http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/

Below you will find links to a letter to the Prime Minister and several background documents regarding the Court Challenges Program. A Steering Committee representative of both language rights and equality rights communities has prepared these materials and is asking that you do the following:

* Inform CCD by noon of Monday, October 2nd if you or your organization are willing to be listed as either a supporting organization or individual on this letter, or both.

Send your confirmations of support to [email:2j27k8r3]april@ccdonline.ca[/email:2j27k8r3] along with your contact information.  Your endorsement should indicate the full name (not simply an acronym) of the organization in both English and French if you choose, as well as the full spelling of your name and title if you wish it included.

* Circulate this letter to others that have not received it and encourage their support. There will be follow up letters to the Prime Minister. We are seeking as many names as possible by Monday but do not stop seeking endorsements of the letter, there will be other opportunities for organizations and individuals to support this work.

* Write your own letter as an individual or organization to the Prime Minister and forward a copy for our records to [email:2j27k8r3]april@ccdonline.ca[/email:2j27k8r3]

* Write your own Member of Parliament and send her or him a copy of the letter to the Prime Minister. We will circulate the final letter to the Prime Minister with endorsements to you on Monday afternoon.

Sign on to the Letter to the Prime Minister in Support of the Court Challenges Program
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp1.html

The Court Challenges Program: An Important Access to Justice Institution
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp2.html

The Court Challenges Program: An Effective and Accountable Institution
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp3.html

The History of the Court Challenges Program
http://dawn.thot.net/ccp/ccp4.html

Thanks!

4

News / Where's the media on NAU - North American Union???

« on: September 28, 2006, 04:30:50 PM »

.

Here's a series of articles on the North American Union collected over the last 5 months ...  check out the influential list of Canadian Participants at the secret meetings held in Banff in the summer. If that doesn't scare you, the topic should...


1. Bush sneaking North American superstate without oversight?
Mexico, Canada partnership underway with no authorization from Congress
by Jerome R. Corsi, WorldNetDaily, June 13, 2006

Despite having no authorization from Congress, the Bush administration has launched extensive working-group activity to implement a trilateral agreement with Mexico and Canada.

The membership of the working groups has not been published, nor has their work product been disclosed, despite two years of massive effort within the executive branches of the U.S., Mexico and Canada. >>

- - - - -

2. Tancredo confronts 'super-state' effort
Demands full disclosure of White House work with Mexico, Canada
WorldNetDaily, June 15, 2006

Responding to a WorldNetDaily report, Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., is demanding the Bush administration fully disclose the activities of an office implementing a trilateral agreement with Mexico and Canada that apparently could lead to a North American union, despite having no authorization from Congress.

As WND reported, the White House has established working groups, under the North American Free Trade Agreement office in the Department of Commerce, to implement the Security and Prosperity Partnership, or SPP, signed by President Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox and then-Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in Waco, Texas, March 23, 2005. >>

- - - - -

3. Kansas City customs port considered Mexican soil?
WND investigation finds new evidence U.S. facility to be on foreign territory
by Jerome R. Corsi, WorldNetDaily, July 5, 2006

A Mexican customs facility planned for Kansas City's inland port may have to be considered the sovereign soil of Mexico as part of an effort to lure officials in that country into cooperating with the Missouri development project.

Despite adamant denials by Kansas City Area Development Council officials, WND has obtained e-mails and other documents from top executives with the KCSmartPort project that suggest such a facility would by necessity be considered Mexican territory · despite its presence in the heartland of the U.S. >>

- - - - -

4. 'No EU in U.S.'
Tony Snow responds to warnings about North American superstate
by Les Kinsolving, WorldNetDaily, July 12, 2006

Presidential press secretary Tony Snow yesterday emphatically stated that there would be no "EU in the U.S." when asked about administration efforts to more closely integrate state relations between Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

As WorldNetDaily reported, some critics of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America have said the program, though supposedly beneficial to the U.S., will lead to a North American superstate similar to the European Union, open borders, loss of sovereignty and even a common currency.  >>

- - - - -

5. Feds stonewalling on 'superstate' plan?
Agency fails to respond to FOIA request on 'North American union'
WorldNetDaily, July 19, 2006

The U.S. Department of Commerce appears to be stonewalling a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain complete disclosure of a congressionally unauthorized plan to implement a trilateral agreement with Mexico and Canada that apparently could lead to a North American union.

The plan is being implemented through an office within the Department of Commerce as the "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America," under the direction of Geri Word, who is listed as working in the department's North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, office.  >>

- - - - -

6. Congressman presses on 'superstate' plan
Asks Bush administration to fully disclose its activities
WorldNetDaily, July 19, 2006

A congressman is pressing the Department of Commerce to fully disclose a congressionally unauthorized plan to implement a trilateral agreement with Mexico and Canada that critics say could lead to a North American union.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the Subcommittee on Management, Integration and Oversight of the House Committee on Homeland Security, wrote July 11 to Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez requesting detailed disclosure of working groups in the Security & Prosperity Partnership office within his department. >> >>

- - - - -

7. Senator ditches bill tied to 'superstate'
Makes decision after WND points out link to 'North American Union'
by Jerome R. Corsi, WorldNetDaily, July 25, 2006

Responding to information from WorldNetDaily, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has taken steps to ensure the Senate will not act on a bill that would further a plan to create a European Union-style alliance in North America.

Cornyn made the decision after WND pointed out Friday the legislation · the North American Investment Fund Act · would constitute an attempt to pass a key piece of American University Professor Robert Pastor's plan to create a "North American Union."  >>

- - - - -

8. Feds finally release info on 'superstate'
Asked to disclose details of plan that could form 'North American Union'
WorldNetDaily, July 26, 2006

After missing a deadline, the U.S. Department of Commerce finally has granted a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain complete disclosure of a congressionally unauthorized plan to implement a trilateral agreement with Mexico and Canada that critics say could lead to a EU-style alliance in North America.

The plan is being implemented through an office within the Department of Commerce called the "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America," under the direction of Geri Word, who is listed as working in the agency's North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, office.  >>

- - - - -

9. North American merger topic of secret confab
Meeting on integration of U.S., Mexico, Canada brings together top officials
WorldNetDaily, September 20, 2006

Raising more suspicions about plans for the future integration of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, a high-level, top-secret meeting of the North American Forum took place this month in Banff with topics ranging from "A Vision for North America," "Opportunities for Security Cooperation" and "Demographic and Social Dimensions of North American Integration."

While the conference took place a week ago, only now are documents about participants and agenda items leaking out.  >>

- - - - -

10. North American Forum agenda
Program of secretive high-level meeting in Canada
WorldNetDaily, September 21, 2006

Draft Detailed September 1, 2006 Agenda
Internal Document
North American Forum
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Banff, Alberta
September 12-14, 2006 >>

- - - - -

11. Attendance list North American forum
Donald Rumsfeld, George Schultz among U.S. officials on roster
WorldNetDaily, September 21, 2006

NORTH AMERICAN FORUM CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS
(Internal Document, Not for Public Release)
Report dated August 31, 2006

Forum Co-Chairs

Canadian Participants

American Participants

Mexican Participants

>>

- - - - -

12. North America confab 'undermines' democracy
Attendee of high-level meeting says officials wanted to hide it from public
by Jerome R. Corsi, WorldNetDaily, September 21, 2006

A closed-door meeting of high-level government and business leaders that discussed the merger of North America was designed to subvert the democratic process, charged an attendee of the confab in Banff, Canada.

Mel Hurtig, a noted Canadian author and publisher who was the elected leader of the National Party of Canada, provided WND the agenda and attendee list of the North American Forum at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Sept. 12-14.  >>

- - - - -

13. North American students trained for 'merger'
10 universities participate in 'model Parliament' in Mexico to simulate 'integration' of 3 nations
WorldNetDaily, September 25, 2006

In another example of the way the three nations of North America are being drawn into a federation, or "merger," students from 10 universities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada are participating annually in a simulated "model Parliament."

Under the sponsorship of the Canadian based North American Forum on Integration, students met in the Mexican Senate for five days in May in an event dubbed "Triumvirate," with organizers declaring "A North American Parliament is born."

A similar event took place in the Canadian Senate in 2005. >>
.

5

News / Cons eliminate Court Challenges Program & Cut $5M from S

« on: September 25, 2006, 10:59:38 PM »

Press Release from FAFIA - the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action

Ottawa: FAFIA, a pan-Canadian alliance of women’s and human rights organizations, is denouncing the $5 million cut to the federal department of Status of Women over two years. These cuts will be taken from its modest annual budget of $13 million. The grants and contributions arm ($11 million) of the department was not affected.

“These cuts will critically affect the federal government’s own commitment to live up to its equality commitments to women,” said Shelagh Day, Co-Chair of the Canadian Feminist Alliance (FAFIA).

FAFIA is also dismayed by the elimination of the Court Challenges Program. “This Program has provided Canadian women with their only access to the use of their constitutional equality rights,” said Shelagh Day. “Equality rights have no meaning in Canada if women, and other Canadians who face discrimination, cannot use them.”

“Constitutional cases are too expensive for women to mount on their own. Without this test case fund, women simply do not have access to the courts when their rights are violated.”

During the last federal election campaign, Stephen Harper promised to “take concrete and immediate measures…to ensure that Canada fully upholds its commitments to women.” These cuts are not consistent with Mr. Harper’s election promise,” said Day

Status of Women Canada is responsible for equipping the federal government to conduct gender based analysis of all policies and programs. It also provides internal expertise on specific policy initiatives. The department’s budget is one of the smallest of any department at the federal level.

An Expert Panel on accountability mechanisms for gender equality, that made its report just before the last federal election, concluded that Status of Women Canada needed to be significantly strengthened in order to better perform its function as a watchdog for women’s equality. The cut to SWC ignores those crucial recommendations.

6

News / Cons eliminate Court Challenges Program & Cut $5M from S

« on: September 25, 2006, 09:18:58 PM »

The overall budget at SWC is $24 million. The women's program absorbs almost $11 million (grants and contributions). That means the department functions on effectively $13 million, 5 million of which has just been cut over next 2 years.

The SWC department does the following: develops policy, champions and equips the government to do GBA, and has a research arm for which they provide $s for academics and organizations to do pertinent analysis. there is also an international function, as well as communications, and fed/provincial relations.  

The cut to SWC and the elimination of the Court Challenges Program, seriously undermine the Government's commitment to women's equality.

Here's the pinpoint URLs to Treasury Board site with info on the cuts in English and en français.

English: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2006/0925_e.asp

En français:  http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2006/0925_f.asp

7

News / Cons eliminate Court Challenges Program & Cut $5M from S

« on: September 25, 2006, 08:54:45 PM »

Cons eliminate Court Challenges Program & Cut $5M from SWC


Conservatives make their mark on government spending with tough choices
http://www.680news.com/news/national/ar ... t=n092597A
September 25, 2006 - 19:15
By: JENNIFER DITCHBURN

OTTAWA (CP) - The Conservatives put their mark on government spending Monday with the announcement of $1 billion in cuts to programs they did not consider priorities, from funding to Canadian museums to research on the use of medical marijuana.



Some of the cuts, over two years, included:

-$4.6 million in assistance to museums.

-$5 million from Status of Women Canada.

-Elimination of the $4-million medical marijuana research program that tested the impact of pot on ill Canadians.

-Elimination of Law Commission of Canada.

-Elimination of $9.7 million in support to Canadian Volunteerism Initiative.

-Elimination of $10.8 million First Nations/Inuit tobacco control strategy.

8

News / Cons eliminate Court Challenges Program & Cut $5M from S

« on: September 25, 2006, 08:52:29 PM »

Status of Women Canada Administrative
$5,000,000 CUT

Elimination of Court Challenges Program
$5,604,000 CUT

In English: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2006/0925_e.asp
En français:  http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2006/0925_f.asp

9

Feminist News / Bad choices lead t miserable lives: Edmonton Sun columnist

« on: September 25, 2006, 12:55:43 PM »

Well, that must show that they are simply ducking the issue. I know, from a discussion on a women's list, that at least one other woman had written to them, so if they have published no reactions at all, they are just ducking.

skdadl, clearly they're ducking!  

Here's the link to today's Edmonton Sun's Letters section ...

They haven't published any of the 8 responses of which DAWN Ontario received copy notations, nor did they publish the letter copied to PAR-L by SL.

10

Feminist News / Bad choices lead t miserable lives: Edmonton Sun columnist

« on: September 24, 2006, 09:30:55 AM »

The part that disturbed me most in this article appearing in today's Edmonton Sun is in the first excerpt below...  Nothing quite like "Blaming the Victim" eh?

"Bad choices lead to miserable lives.  
 
If a woman studies hard and goes to law school, she will have far more financial autonomy than most men. Her decision to challenge herself is the key.  

A woman who gets pregnant, drops out of school and hangs out with losers has less opportunity in life. But that's not society's fault. "

E-mail Mindy Jacobs at [email:23rfymz9]mjacobs@edmsun.com[/email:23rfymz9].
Letters to the editor should be sent to [email:23rfymz9]mailbag@edmsun.com[/email:23rfymz9].

- - - - -


Despair over cuts to women's groups
By Mindelle Jacobs
Edmonton Sun, September 24, 2006

The way critics are wailing over possible cuts to women's programs, you'd think the Harper government was preparing to force females into burkas.

One group, the National Association of Women and the Law, closed down earlier this month because it didn't get federal funding.

The little-known Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action thought it was going to have to close last week. But its grant application was approved on Thursday, it announced on its website.

So much for those women-bashing Tories, eh?

Still, the movers and shakers in the women's movement are waiting with baited breath to see if Status of Women Canada, a federal agency that bankrolls women's groups and promotes gender equality, is on the chopping block.

If it gets the boot, will the rights of Canadian women be in danger? Will their life choices be curtailed? Hardly. Women in this country are better off than ever before.

This endless quest for gender equality is quite tiresome at a time when virtually all the significant barriers to women's accomplishment have been smashed.

Read full article

11

News / PM pick for bench draws fire (G&M)

« on: September 21, 2006, 09:02:02 AM »

PM's pick for bench draws fire
Social activists cite conservative views
Globe & Mail, Kirk Makin

The appointment of an Ontario judge who is seen as an opponent of pro-choice and gay rights has created a stir among social activists.

Spokesmen expressed concerns yesterday about the appointment of Mr. Justice David Brown, a Toronto lawyer who has represented Christian family-value positions in several cases, and has written papers dealing with legal developments involving the sanctity of life. ... He represented Focus on the Family (Canada) and REAL Women of Canada in a court intervention against the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.  

...

"What we are seeing is something we predicted: The Harper government intends to follow in the footsteps of the Bush government in the U.S. with measures like this," said Carolyn Egan, a spokeswoman for the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.

Read full article here

12

Feminist News / The Federal Gov't must Renew the Women's Program!

« on: September 14, 2006, 06:10:18 PM »

The Federal Government must Renew the Women's Program!

Intro
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#intro

The Women`s Program
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#1

Standing Committee on the Status of Women Recommendations to improve the Women's program
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#2

The Context : women's inequality remains deeply entrenched
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#3

A Lack of Political Will to Address the problem
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#4

And this was Brought to you by the Women's Movement
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#5

Past Federal Acknowledgment of the Important Role played by Women's Groups
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#6

International support for the funding of Women's Groups
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#7

Conclusion
http://dawn.thot.net/swc_womens_program.html#8

TAKE ACTION
Contact Bev Oda, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Canada

* Email: [email:2arscmob]Oda.B@parl.gc.ca[/email:2arscmob]
* Address: House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0A6
* Fax: 613.992.2794

13

Feminist News / (un) R.E.A.L. Women of Canada WATCH - recent updates

« on: September 14, 2006, 03:33:01 PM »

(un) R.E.A.L. Women of Canada WATCH -- recent updates

1.  Queer film fest under attack
Straight.com, dd Sept. 14, 2006
The Department of Canadian Heritage should cut $23,000 in funding to the
Vancouver Queer Film Festival because the films are "degenerate and
degrading to humanity", according to conservative lobby group REAL Women of Canada.
Read More at http://dawn.thot.net/rwoc_watch.html#qff


2.   Court Challenges Program Under Review
Today's Family News, Focus on the Family (FOTF) dd Sept. 13, 2006
Read More at http://dawn.thot.net/rwoc_watch.html#fotf


3.  Harper et les femmes
La Presse, Nathalie Collard, dd Sept. 12, 2006
Read More at http://dawn.thot.net/rwoc_watch.html#lpen
French version at http://dawn.thot.net/rwoc_watch.html#lpfr

14

Feminist News / What the Social Conservative Agenda Means to Women

« on: August 30, 2006, 04:01:55 PM »

Fighting the Blues - What the Social Conservative Agenda Means to Women
The CLC 13th National Women's Conference Paper (June 14, 2006)

REAL Women Canada is a key partner in the alliance of social conservative groups which strongly supports the Conservatives. In this statement, REAL Women acknowledges that the future they have planned for us is something that will alarm Canadians. What is their agenda? Should we be alarmed?

"Social Conservatives to Sell Tory Daycare Plan", read the headline of a
Globe and Mail story on April 19, 2006. The Globe and Mail reported what
many in Canada may have known intuitively. On April 3, the day Parliament re-opened - the Conservative government had met with far right-wing groups to strategize around how to convince the public that a taxable $1200/year/pre-school child was preferable to setting-up a public system of early childhood learning and care. Their ideological base of support is really the far right. The most vocal critics of public child care come from small, fundamentalist religious-based groups; the Conservatives are relying on them to counter the voices of working families and child care advocates.

And they now have a direct link to the Prime Minister's office.

Read more at http://dawn.thot.net/rwoc_watch.html#clc

You can download this Paper from the CLC Conference (PDF file, 281 kb, 26 pgs) at above link.

15

Feminist News / (un)R.E.A.L. Women of Canada WATCH

« on: August 30, 2006, 01:06:45 PM »

The latest news involving the (un)REAL Women and their scary clan folks from DAWN Ontario's REAL Women of Canada WATCH...

Alliance for Marriage & Family (AMF) seeks to protect family as ‘3-parents case’ seen as impacting definition of marriage

The AMF [composed of the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL), REAL Women of Canada, the Evangelical Fellowship (EFC), Focus on the Family, and the Christian Legal Fellowship] has filed a factum in the so-called “three parents case,” saying its member groups have a “common cause” to protect the “traditional family unit in Canadian society and law.”

- - - -

Alliance for Marriage and Family (AMF) seeks to protect family as ‘3-parents case’ seen as impacting definition of marriage
by Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
August 30, 2006

OTTAWA, Canada (CCN) – The Alliance for Marriage and Family (AMF) has filed a factum in the so-called “three parents case,” saying its member groups have a “common cause” to protect the “traditional family unit in Canadian society and law.”

The case, which comes before the Ontario Court of Appeal Sept. 25-26 in Toronto, involves a lesbian couple raising a child conceived by artificial insemination. Both women want to be considered the legal mother of the child. The biological father is also actively involved in the child’s life. If their case is successful, it will mark the first time a child would have three legally recognized parents.

The AMF, composed of the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL), REAL Women of Canada, the Evangelical Fellowship (EFC), Focus on the Family, and the Christian Legal Fellowship, opposes the change on the basis that the law has always recognized two parents for a child.

“This is effectively providing an impetus for affirmation of multiple or group parenting rights,” said CCRL president Phil Horgan in a telephone interview with Canadian Catholic News.

“It fundamentally changes our fundamental understanding of family,” said REAL Women’s national vice president Gwen Landolt in a telephone interview with CCN.

Not only does the notion of three parents undermine the traditional notion of a mother and a father, but also it will open up a “Pandora’s box of complications,” Landolt said.

Read the rest of the article here