HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

Today, on the 99th anniversary of the first International Women’s Day, there is so much to celebrate, and so much still to accomplish. It is a day to stand up in solidarity with other women.

This Sunday, March 14, I will host my fourth annual celebration of International Women’s Day in Victoria from 2pm to 4pm at the Ambrosia Event and Conference Centre, and this morning I attended the annual International Women’s Day breakfast in Ottawa hosted by New Democrat women’s advocate Irene Mathyssen. We were reminded that there is much more work to do given the direction of the Conservative government. Afterwards, from the Speaker’s Chair in the House of Commons, in my role as deputy speaker, I was privileged to be able to wish all Canadian women an excellent International Women’s Day.

I received an email message this morning from a constituent who wrote that she was shocked, while listening to CBC Radio’s coverage of International Women’s Day, to learn the high figures of infant and child mortality and of women who die in childbirth or from complications of pregnancy – not just in developing countries, but also in Canada. The numbers are not acceptable, and are a reflection of our misplaced priorities.

My New Democrat colleagues and I continue to champion women’s rights in Parliament. Canadian women are entitled to fairness, economic security and opportunity, equal pay for work of equal value, a decent standard of living, and the freedom to live without fear.

In recent years women in Canada have experienced a steady decline in their rights and an increase in gender inequality. This government closed 12 of 16 Status of Women offices. It has failed to address inequality in its own departments and agencies, brought in regressive pay equity legislation, abandoned the plan for a national child-care strategy and ignored the special challenges of women who face disadvantages in our society.

Last month, the Canadian Labour Congress sent the United Nations a detailed report on the statistical decline in institutional and political support by the Government of Canada for the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls during the period 2004 - 2009.

We know that the poverty rate for senior women in Canada is almost double that of men. The largest group of poor seniors is single, widowed or divorced women who live alone – almost half of them live below the poverty line. Women earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by men in Canada. Last week’s budget will ensure the continued erosion of women’s economic security in Canada.

With these realities in mind, I am very pleased that Coro Strandberg, an expert in the areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability will be the keynote speaker at my annual IWD celebration this Sunday, on the topic “Can Corporate Social Responsibility deliver for women? The promise and the reality.”

Coro will share her reflections on whether and how CSR can help advance a women’s agenda. Afterwards, Kim Fowler, the director of sustainability for the City of Victoria, and Sarah Webb, the climate action coordinator for the Capital Regional District, will respond to her talk, followed by an opportunity for questions and further discussion with all of those who attend. Please call my office at 250-363-3600 to reserve a seat, as space will be limited. Snacks will be served, and I am pleased that a number of local women artists have agreed to display their art during the event. This is always a dynamic event and a reminder for me that women from all walks of life are working hard in the cause of a just society.

In solidarity,

Denise