I was just reading this on Bread n Roses, the feminist message board.
we've just heard from one of our bloggers that the Tories have started a fresh assault (though indirect) on the SWC - or rather the groups that depend on the funding from the SWC.
Progressive Bloggers was further referenced:
From the Comments thread - Pamusment brings news of a fresh Conservative assault on women's advocacy groups who depend on SWC funding:
Another bad news Monday. Today, Minister Oda announced the changes to SWC's mandate, including terms and conditions. The worst of it is that they have now banned ALL domestic advocacy and lobbying of governments with any funding received from SWC. What this means is that even though they've preserved the program funding available through the Women's Program, they've chopped at the knees those orgs who utilize that funding for anything other than service or program delivery. Case in point: without funding for advocacy from SWC, groups like the Canadian Council of Muslim Women et al could not have successfully mobilized and advocated against Sharia law in Canada (religious arbitration). So today's changes signify a brutal blow.
Pamusement has ties to women's groups, and I think she is a reliable source of information for this stuff, although I think there needs to be confirmation.
STAY TUNED!
UPDATE: IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.
SOW'S website has been updated. The Women's Program will no longer fund:
Domestic advocacy activities and lobbying of federal, provincial and municipal governments.
WOOHOO!
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