OTTAWA– Chair of the National Liberal Women’s Caucus Dr. Carolyn Bennett made the following statement today on the 45th anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women:
“Forty-five years ago today Liberal Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson officially established the Royal Commission on the Status of Women based on the notion of equal opportunity. Florence Bird served as Chair of the Commission and Monique Bégin as Executive Secretary.
Over the next 10 months, the Royal Commission heard from Canadians across the country and stimulated public consciousness of the real barriers to equality.
It also gave a platform for women’s voices to be heard and its groundbreaking recommendations on child care, pay equity and prohibiting gender and marital status as grounds for discrimination continue to be relevant today.”
Liberal Status of Women critic Judy Sgro, continued:
“As we reflect on this historic anniversary, we should remember that much work remains to be done to achieve full equality of opportunity.
Under the Conservative government, the right to equal pay for work of equal value has been eroded, access to affordable child care remains elusive, the gender gap has grown and the long-gun registry, which has reduced cases of violence against women, has been under sustained attack.
Even here in Parliament the advancement of women’s rights has been challenged by the shameful efforts of Conservative Members of Parliament to force the Status of Women Committee to work in secret. Since June, 38% of the committee’s meetings have been behind closed doors.
While this Conservative government is trying to sweep the many issues raised by the Royal Commission on the Status of Women under the rug, Liberals will continue to fight for them until such time as we achieve true equality.”
