March Mondiale des femmes 2000- Canada
World March of Women 2000- Canada
http://canada.marchofwomen.org/
"Canadian Feminist Movement Marks Important Anniversary"
http://canada.marchofwomen.org/en/press.html
« Le mouvement féministe canadien célèbre
un important anniversaire »
http://canada.marchofwomen.org/fr/communiques.html
June 4, 2000.
Toronto. The Canadian Women's March Committee (CWMC) of the World
March of Women 2000, an international action against women's poverty
and violence against women, celebrates with women across Canada the
commemoration of an historic event in the history of the Québec and
Canadian women's movement.
On this date in 1995, Québec women engaged in the "Bread and Roses
March Against Poverty," the largest mobilization of its kind in
Canadian history. Spearheaded by La Fédération des femmes du Québec,
the March saw the participation of thousands of women across the
province. The event sent a critical message to the Government of
Québec, and to politicians across Canada, demonstrating that women
are united, strong and organized. The momentous event was supported
by women across Canada, including Francophone women outside of Québec.
The March made an indelible mark on the feminist movement in this
country, serving as a powerful reminder of the strength in numbers
and achievements of Québecoise and Canadian women.
"Canadian women are fiercely proud of the achievements of their
Québecoise sisters," affirms Andrée Côté of the National Association
of Women and the Law, and CWMC member, "The 1995 Bread and Roses March
is a highlight in Canadian feminist history, bearing significant impact
not only on government policy and political discourse, but on the
women's movement as a whole."
In its document entitled "It's Time For Change,"
http://canada.marchofwomen.org/en/demands/intro.html
http://canada.marchofwomen.org/fr/revendications/intro.html
the CWMC calls on the Government of Canada to immediately
eradicate women's poverty and violence against women.
Some of the demands: to restore federal
funding to a de-Kleining health care system, to proactively enforce
the rules against privitization of the health care system, to
establish a national child-care program, to spend an additional
1% of the budget on social housing, and to use the E.I. Fund
surplus to increase benefits and improve maternity and family
benefits. The document calls for the banning of workfare,
the guarantee of the right to welfare to everyone in need,
the abolishment of a "head tax" on immigrants, and the establishment
of a national system of post-secondary education grants based
on need, not merit. Further, the government must implement
proactive pay equity legislation immediately.
The World March of Women in the Year 2000 is a global women's
solidarity event focused on the themes of poverty and violence
against women. Over 4000 organizations from more than 153 countries
are actively organizing around the goals of the March.
The next five months of action will culminate with a World
Rally at the U.N. Building in New York on October 17th, in
conjunction with solidarity events across the planet,
including a mass demonstration in Ottawa on October 15th.
The Canadian Women's March Committee (CWMC) is a coalition
of 24 national organizations.
For further information, please contact
Pam Kapoor, Canadian Organizer, at 416-482-4460
or march@web.net, or visit
http://www.canada.marchofwomen.org .