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Looking forward to hearing from Monique Bégin and others on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the report from the Royal Commission on the Status of women.
https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/roycom-en.html
#WeveComeALongWayBaby #ThePersisterhood
https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/roycom-en.html
#WeveComeALongWayBaby #ThePersisterhood
Mme Bégin is the only living "influencer"of the original 3, which includes Laura Sabia, mother of our new DM of Finance, Michael Sabia.
Here's hoping their vibrant, unflinching spirit will infuse the work of our Finance Minister and her DM, propelling the next 50 yrs of equality.
Here's hoping their vibrant, unflinching spirit will infuse the work of our Finance Minister and her DM, propelling the next 50 yrs of equality.
The remarkable @LGLizDowdeswell is kicking things off, with her inimitable energy and wisdom, calling for us to attend to the "singular importance of creating a world in which equality thrives"
Moderated by @LisaLaFlammeCTV, this celebration, reminder, lifting up of a 50 year old document that "changed so many lives, for women, yes, but for men who recognized the moment that change had to happen"
"Dipping back in time to understand the groundwork that went into the advances we have made thus far in equality." @LisaLaFlammeCTV
"Just reinforces how much work and global cooperation we need" to ensure same rights, opportunities for women as for men.
Simple.
Still not there.
"Just reinforces how much work and global cooperation we need" to ensure same rights, opportunities for women as for men.
Simple.
Still not there.
Monique Bégin (first woman from Quebec to be elected in the House of Commons!) takes us back to 1967 with some table setting of what else was going on.
What a time!
"Nobody wants another Royal Commission"
bwahaha
What a time!
"Nobody wants another Royal Commission"
bwahaha
Bégin: A formidable woman from Hamilton, Ontario, Laura Sabia, had pulled together the women's associations in English Canada to work with Quebec to demand a Royal Commission on the Status of woman.
Bégin: It's the 1960s.
Judy LaMarsh is in the House of Commons, in Pearson's cabinet, but Pearson is a no go.
So Sabia promises, in the midst of the era of protests and demos, a protest in the streets of the like Pearson has never seen.
#WomensMovement
Judy LaMarsh is in the House of Commons, in Pearson's cabinet, but Pearson is a no go.
So Sabia promises, in the midst of the era of protests and demos, a protest in the streets of the like Pearson has never seen.
#WomensMovement
Bégin is interrupted by a phone call (land line).
She stops talking, walks over to the phone (on camera), picks up the receiver, and throws it on the table.
Comes back to continue.
#ThePersisterhood in action
Just #GetErDone
She stops talking, walks over to the phone (on camera), picks up the receiver, and throws it on the table.
Comes back to continue.
#ThePersisterhood in action
Just #GetErDone
Fifty years ago today, @LisaLaFlammeCTV notes a woman MP stood up in the House of Commons and asked: "Based on this report, will the government introduce legislation for childcare?"
Understanding: without legislation, the role of women in the workplace is blocked.
50 YEARS AGO
Understanding: without legislation, the role of women in the workplace is blocked.
50 YEARS AGO
Senator Lorna Marsdon Coalition for Equality in 1972: people are getting twitchy, from full spectrum of women's groups. Want action. Things done faster.
That was groundswell to create the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.
How did that happen?
That was groundswell to create the National Action Committee on the Status of Women.
How did that happen?
Marsden: very clearly written report ("thank you and congratulations Monique"), gave a clear, rationale agenda for action, based on international and domestic data; meetings held everywhere, close to where people lived, the commissioners continued to mentor people, urge action.
Marsden: "And of course, Monique went on to be so important"
"This is where the action came from from society, we had to learn how to make a brief to government, figure out issues like taxation, pensions, we had to learn about these complicated things."
"This is where the action came from from society, we had to learn how to make a brief to government, figure out issues like taxation, pensions, we had to learn about these complicated things."
Marsden: "Find people to tell us how the civil service worked, how insurance worked, form coalitions inside and outside government.
We learned the best people to talk to were women, and Ministers that had daughers."
#AddWomenChangePolitics
We learned the best people to talk to were women, and Ministers that had daughers."
#AddWomenChangePolitics
Marsden: "The report is what has helped us keep going. We still don't have pay equity or childcare" but it's the agenda.
@LisaLaFlamme: "It's the template".
Thank You Monique Bégin, for bringing us together to discern the map, chart the course.
@LisaLaFlamme: "It's the template".
Thank You Monique Bégin, for bringing us together to discern the map, chart the course.
Roberta Jamieson: the report made people uncomfortable when it came out. And look at us now. We are mostly comfortable in asking for greater equality.
Mostly.
The report *was* groundbreaking, but it didn't have much impact on Indigenous and Métis women.
Mostly.
The report *was* groundbreaking, but it didn't have much impact on Indigenous and Métis women.
Jamieson: don't want to be cynical, report had huge importance on reproductive rights, and introduced important concepts like pay equity.
But mostly low-hanging fruit, and mostly for settler women.
But mostly low-hanging fruit, and mostly for settler women.
Jamieson: Not until the Charter of Rights extended rights to settler women that it extended rights to Indigenous women.
In words only.
Today: 4 times more likely to be murdered, 3 times more likely to go missing, differential access to health care for Indigenous women.
In words only.
Today: 4 times more likely to be murdered, 3 times more likely to go missing, differential access to health care for Indigenous women.
Jamieson: But things are changing.
Greatest improvements among Indigenous women.
Ironically the change has revealed how much more needs to be done.
Ending inequality will require heavy lifting and structural change.
Structural change: easier to say than do. Need NEW structures
Greatest improvements among Indigenous women.
Ironically the change has revealed how much more needs to be done.
Ending inequality will require heavy lifting and structural change.
Structural change: easier to say than do. Need NEW structures
After sufragettes, and second wave which the speakers formed, @LisaLaFlammeCTV, says. Not sure which wave we are in right now, but it is far more inclusive than previous waves, and that also is progress.
Jean Augustine - was pregnant in 1970, had wonderful job as an educator, getting less pay than the male teacher across the hall from me who was doing less. In 1970, as soon as you began to show your pregnancy, had to hand in your resignation.
#GoodOldDays
#GoodOldDays
Augustine: had trouble deciding next step, because of childcare and the ability to pay for care of a baby. Hard to get back into the workplace.
In 1970, there was 1 MP In the Parliament of Canada, where the decisions were being made. What was a woman's place was crystal clear.
In 1970, there was 1 MP In the Parliament of Canada, where the decisions were being made. What was a woman's place was crystal clear.
Augustine: if women had to push their way into the discussion, black women had to push even harder. Invisible. Especially those struggling to make ends meet.
Organized in churches, around pensions, around abortion, around racism/prejudice.
#SameAsItEverWas
Organized in churches, around pensions, around abortion, around racism/prejudice.
#SameAsItEverWas
Augustine: these groups saw the report as a blueprint, gave legitimacy to our lived experience, with facts and recommendations.
Issues of buying a house, sign a mortgage, as a woman, especially if you were head of a family, those things demanded a man's involvement/signature.
Issues of buying a house, sign a mortgage, as a woman, especially if you were head of a family, those things demanded a man's involvement/signature.
Augustine: pay equity, employment equity, equitable pensions, tax laws, representation in the judicial system, in the parliamentary system, report helped African Canadians wake up and start to become involved in the structures that were engaging in activism, demanding change.
Augustine: In 1969 the amendment to the Criminal Code to remove as an offence the dissemination of information related to birth control. 1971 Canada accepted equal numbers of males and females as immigrants. 1971 ended firing female civil servants upon marriage. CPP contributions
Augustine: 1981, the Charter of Rights, directly informed, shaped by the report on the status of women. This commission was a seminal process and product, opening up avenues for all groups of women in society.
BUT
We still have violence against women, still need childcare.
BUT
We still have violence against women, still need childcare.
Augustine: the pandemic has revealed the urgent differences between men and women. More women are in a state of crisis as a result of the pandemic. The first women's shelter back then. Now over 500 in this province and not enough shelter. Still struggling towards gender equality.
Augustine: this is a great opportunity to celebrate, but as we reflect we need to open up to women in all their diversity so we can move forward with respect for one another and with the necessary support of everyone for each other.
Back to Bégin: when asked by @LisaLaFlammeCTV what was the most important thing that happened because of report's recommendations?
66% of the recommendations acted on within a few years of the report, but the biggest thing UNDONE: child care
CHILD CARE.
What are we waiting for?
66% of the recommendations acted on within a few years of the report, but the biggest thing UNDONE: child care
CHILD CARE.
What are we waiting for?
Bégin: "I'm pissed off, excuse the English, that's the way the guys talk in the House, I'm very frustrated that the Finance Minister Freeland in her November 30 statement said of childcare (now called ELCC) 'a topic to be studied in another year'. I don't accept that!"
Now about how badly the workers who shape the #FutureofWorkers get paid.
@LisaLaFlammeCTV mentions on average less than $25K.
Jean Augustine mentions most don't make a living wage.
For decades, a sad truism: those who care for our children get paid less than we pay zookeepers.
@LisaLaFlammeCTV mentions on average less than $25K.
Jean Augustine mentions most don't make a living wage.
For decades, a sad truism: those who care for our children get paid less than we pay zookeepers.
Needs to be said: many of the people that care for those too old, too young and too sick to work are cared for by people of colour.
This work is completely undervalued, though critical for the "rest of society" to go about their business.
This work is completely undervalued, though critical for the "rest of society" to go about their business.
Maureen O'Neill - government desire/will to act does not come from numbers, facts; it comes from realization that there is no option but to act.
Exhibit A: Royal Commission on Status of Women. And now childcare.
"ORGANIZATION. Nothing happens without it"
#LetsGetOrganized
Exhibit A: Royal Commission on Status of Women. And now childcare.
"ORGANIZATION. Nothing happens without it"
#LetsGetOrganized
Bégin points to need for movement.
Basic Income.
Rights for the elderly.
Neither is strong association.
Basic Income.
Rights for the elderly.
Neither is strong association.
Jamieson: the energy required to make change is enormous.
The pandemic has reminded us of our power.
Now we have to sustain that.
Can't let the promises for engagement, discussion evaporate, we need action.
The pandemic has reminded us of our power.
Now we have to sustain that.
Can't let the promises for engagement, discussion evaporate, we need action.
Advice to young women, asks @LisaLaFlammeCTV?
Augustine: Be Brave. Ensure you know your history. Be an activist.
Augustine: Be Brave. Ensure you know your history. Be an activist.
Jamieson: our greatest responsibility is to the seventh generation whose faces we can see coming towards us. Requires me to take my power my focus and take action for the future, act in their best interest.
Marsden: mobilize, activate.
Marsden: mobilize, activate.
O'Neill: organizing around things that matter is lots of fun. Things do happen when you organize and push. Keep your eyes open, enjoy the small steps that come along the way that lead to something big. Celebrate!
Bégin: Young women please run for office, be an MP. In the last election women were only 28.9% of candidates, 50 years after the Royal Commission report. We should be half the sky. Please be an MP as soon as possible and change this place.
#AddWomenChangePolitics
#AddWomenChangePolitics
This wraps up our conversation about the most important document of our time, a discussion not just about the report but the heavy lift to make the recommendations a reality. @LisaLaFlammeCTV Maybe we'll have childcare in 50 years.
This amazing woman, @LGLizDowdeswell: Who matters, what matters, these are the most fundamental questions of our times.
We must summon the energy for a response that fuelled the reason for the Royal Commission on the Status of Women 50 years ago, to create a new narrative.
We must summon the energy for a response that fuelled the reason for the Royal Commission on the Status of Women 50 years ago, to create a new narrative.
She even nails the main thing about childcare: the pandemic has revealed that childcare isn't a women's issue, it's an economic issue, it affects us all.
#Shecession #Shecovery
Her Honour @LGLizDowdeswell chokes up on the meaning and significance of this session. Have to
it
#Shecession #Shecovery
Her Honour @LGLizDowdeswell chokes up on the meaning and significance of this session. Have to
it
