image President's Message

Lobbying by national women's groups did it! After a long process begun last June, it was announced January 11, 1984 that funding for Women's Program of the Department of Secretary of State would be increased from $3.3 million annually to $15.3 by 1987-88. Targeted are operational funds for issues of national concern, projects which aim to improve the status of women in Canada, and the establishment of one Women's Studies Chair per year for the next five years at a Canadian university to promote scholarly research on women's issues. That means more money for more groups for more needs including research!

Representatives of the lobby group met again with the Honorable Serge Joyal, Secretary of State, and Honorable Judy Erola, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, January 17, 1984 to raise specific concerns related to the announcement. The Minister for the Status of Women re-assured us that the intent was not to ghettoize women's programs. Rather, the Minister has a strong mandate to actively coordinate with other federal departments which must report their plan of action and budget allocations for women's programs within their departments to the Minister who then reports to Cabinet.

With the growing recognition of women as a political force, it is important that we continually review our objectives and be clear about what needs we are addressing. At the same time, we must guard our autonomy by broadening our support base. Governments have their priorities and women have theirs. Women's groups must continue to meet together, as well as with government, to jointly identify priorities and to develop the mechanisms for consultation on specific issues.

C.C.L.O.W.'s participation in this consultation process has always focused on women's learning needs as the major component to the improvement of the status of Women in Canada. Although advances have been made in some areas over the last 15 years, there has been little improvement in the achievement of economic independence of women. In fact, the gap seems to be widening with increasing numbers of single mother families living below the poverty level... a problem world-wide.

If women are to participate in the economic life of society and maintain a decent standard of living for themselves and their children, all sectors must address the issue of jobless growth brought about by technological change. The role of education and its institutions must be broadened to provide lifelong learning, programs such as job-training, skills upgrading, work-study plans. And these must be supported by policies of affirmative action, contract compliance, and skills development leave. We must anticipate the future and plan for it by focusing attention the young as well as the adult woman.

Sincerely,
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