REAL Women campaign... Please take action.(REAL Women's objectives can be viewed on: http://www.realwomenca.com/about.htm )
Dear Parleuses,
As you know, I have been posting the activities of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women on this list-serve. Today, I write not to report on the Committee, but to ask you to act.
Thanks to the tireless work of groups that are speaking out via this list-serve, you are all well aware of the conservative women's group REAL Women and their campaign to cut funding for Status of Women Canada. I have received correspondence from many of you with regards to REAL's campaign. Please be assured that I have raised your concerns both with Minister Oda in the House of Commons, as well as with my colleagues and the Members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
REAL Women is currently soliciting the support of their members to participate in a letter-writing campaign asking Prime Minster Harper and Minister Oda, the Minister of Heritage and Status of Women, to remove the Status of Women portfolio from Cabinet. They are also calling for the abolition of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. Additionally, they would like the Prime Minster to cut Status of Women Canada funding to over five hundred women's shelters across Canada. This is simply unacceptable.
I am asking you to move swiftly and let your voices be heard. Working together, we can counter this campaign and ensure that the Status of Women remains a priority in Cabinet. We cannot let the valuable work of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women on important issues such as pay equity, matrimonial property rights, and income security for senior women simply fall by the wayside.
It is incumbent upon us as a community to ensure that vital services, such as those provided by women's shelters, continue to operate and help women and families affected by domestic violence and other abuses.
The most important thing you can do is to make your voice heard. Writing to your Member of Parliament is an important first step to placing this issue on their radar, regardless of political affiliation. In addition, contacting Minister Oda and Prime Minister Harper, as well as the opposition critics, will guarantee that this issue receives the attention it deserves.
I know you share my concerns about this critically important issue. Please find the contact information for Prime Minister Harper, Minister Oda, and the opposition critics below.
Thank you for your continuing efforts.
Sincerely,
Hon. Maria Minna, P.C.,M.P .
Beaches- East York
Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block,
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
[email protected]
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Status of Women - [email protected]
Ms. Maria Minna, Critic, Status of Women, Liberal Party - [email protected]
Ms. Irene Mathyssen, Critic, Status of Women, New Democratic Party - [email protected]
Mme Maria Maurani, Critic, Status of Women, Bloc Quebecois - [email protected]
[ 03 August 2006: Message edited by: zizou ]
[ 03 August 2006: Message edited by: zizou ]