Books In Review

The Taking of 28: Women Challenge
the Constitution, by Penney Kome,
126 pages, Women's Press, $6, 95.

Reviewed by Pat Hacker

Perhaps not since the Persons Case has a single action taken by Canadian women been as distinct, as powerful and as visible as the efforts to include an equality clause in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Nor has any action been as impressive, effective and startling both to women and to the governments of Canada as the Ad Hoc Committee's successful lobby.

Back in September 1980 the lines were drawn. Provincial premiers and federal opposition parties squared off against Pierre Trudeau. The final struggle over the patriation of Canada's Constitution - with an entrenched Charter - was under way. While briefs were presented to the Special House-Senate Joint Committee on the Constitution by citizens groups across the land, and as the heroic efforts of native people of Canada flooded the press, another action taken by angry, determined women was proceeding impressively, though almost ignored by the press. It would not be long, however, before these women would have governments, both federal and provincial, wondering, worrying and taking another look at the collective fury of women scorned.

Hurray for Penney Kome who tells it like it was for women and the Canadian Constitution in her new book, The Taking of 28. Penney Kome provides us with a dynamic account of the events leading to the February 1981 conference and its aftermath to the twice won fight for the equality clause, Section 28. In this comprehensive outline we have been given a model of modern political action for future historians of the Women's Movement.

It was the Ad Hoc/Constitution issue which catapulted women into political prominence. Traditionally, women's sphere of political interest centered on status of women issues such as daycare, rape and battery. The patriation of the Constitution and the language of the Charter were considered the purview of men.

The feminist process which was to emerge, as well as the women's participation in the issue, was non- traditional. These elements combined to unnerve politicians. Women demonstrated successfully women's struggle to take a part in the creation of a Canadian Constitution. All issues were declared women's issues and women insisted on a voice in the decision-making process.

This message was shrugged off by Lloyd Axworthy, then Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, in his disastrous reading of a constituency he neither took seriously nor tried to understand. Women refused to take a blind leap of faith. As a result Axworthy lost his job as the political representative of women.

The story of 28 weaves through the provinces. It touches the unique political conditions and mood of Quebec especially the Yvette rallies which significantly contributed to defeating the "Sovereignty Association" referendum. It reveals the effective manner in which the Ad Hoc women across Canada dealt with the roles and attitudes taken by their provincial leaders. Through the AD HOC Committee the Women's Movement turned another corner in its efforts to be recognized as a credible political force. The Taking of 28 keeps track of the contentious statements, back-decors, back-aways and blunders of an array of provincial premiers who were trying to brush off and disregard the women of Canada.