Women, Economic Crisis, and Recovery: Growing Discrimination in Canada

L-R Kathleen Lahey, Kim Pate, Alexa Conradil & Kate McInturff

This workshop was just before the launch of UN Women, on Thursday, the 24th, but i wanted to attend - Speakers included Kathleen Lahey, Professor of Law, Queen's University, Kim Pate, Executive Director, Elizabeth Fry Society, and Kate McInturff, Executive Director, FAFIA. Alexa Conradl spke for the Federation des Femmes du Quebec.

The following are a few of the key points:

Kate McInturff

Kate reviewed the current economic regime in Canada, stating that there are only shorterm economic objectives of current government. Women are more affected then men - single parent families led by women are very poor. Retrogression and diminishment of women’s equality has happened. Not solely outcome of economic crisis. World Bank 2006 Canada was 14^th, 2008, 31^st. Decrease in ranking. Political representation. Gender watch equality 2007 17, 2009, 21^st. Social Watch very low because of womens representation in politics.  2006-2008 – equality taken out of SWC mandate. Funding for research and advocacy eliminated. Government’s statistical body, Census Canada – not asking about unpaid work.CCPA studies – wealthy holding power – increase own power.

Presentation of finance committees. Football league – arguments for funding – emotional arguments. Because inequality a complex   problem, dealt with by hostility. We need to talk about sex and money.

Kathleen Lehay, 

Women's equality has been eroding for a number of years – until most recent economic crisis 2008, women who work in this area have been soft peddling – last big recession 1991, coincided with free market ethics – affect of globalization on status of women. No analysis of recession on women’s equality. Attempt to bring to the fore the impact of recession.  Recessions, and major recessions are not accidents, but part of the business cycle. Common knowledge in economics, Frequent occurances. Last several are more serious, and coming more frequently. Because recessions treated as gender neutral – and not the focus on recessions, research of 1930s. Focus on male bread winner. 1930’s male breadwinner – so couldn’t hire married women.  Male only worker. Women helpful to support men. When crisis break out, no time to ask, how does this affect women? Many of the programs were in place before – older recessions with newer ones, Admidst decline in 1990’s, failure to take women into account 2008 recession.

Economic gender equality indicators. Lag of recovery – and labour market attachment. Impact of budget cuts, in Europe budget cuts were only temporary.  By 2007, Canada 4^th lowest taxing country in the OECD.  Canada –spending no money in child care -  40% of 2 income earners  goes to child care. So little assistance – most families are trapped not having money for child care, or getting extra time in the paid law force.

Kim Pate 

Impact of colonization – 1 to 3 % of general population, but over 30% of females in prison system are Aboriginal. Money spent on military complex. Pretext of crime bills – 38 of them – research – dismissed. Mandatory minimum sentences – backlash – Canada Assistance Plan, Historically  over represented in mental health, and prisons. Why were we putting women with mental health concerns, and putting them in prison. Affect on workers, nurses, Cuts to services- put them away – default for mental health care is prison.  Criminally low social welfare rates.  Criminalizing this group. Huge growing group are being criminlzed. 38 Bills – 1 bill alone – budgetary officer – costing of crime bill is a cabinet secrecary. No documentation – to cost enough  Credit for pre trial custody. Recognition judges – truth in sentencing act. Judge used own discretion – law estimated 2 billion dollars a year  – told no money for support services ?? Likely cost 5 to 10 billion dollars a year. Cost to keep one woman in 185,000 a year in jail. Risk – if we challenge that – get the women out of the jail. Women with $500,000 in solitary, with mental health conditions.  Costing social and fiscal costs. 2 million dollars for one woman, for 18 months. Community stepped in – helped her access services. System brutalized woman. Mental health triggered by way handled in jail.

This presentation by Kim Pate, Kathleen Lahey, and Kate McInturff certainly inspired me to appreciate the important work of National Council of Women of Canada and all our members is very important.