The End of an Era

In early October, the federal government announced dramatic changes to Status of Women Canada that will, in effect, eliminate federal funding to feminist organizations in Canada. Combined with the removal of the Court Challenges Program, these changes will end the era of Canadian democracy that recognized the need for state funding to marginalized groups. The Harper government has taken us one more step toward U.S.-style “democracy” where only the powerful have access to government.
The administrative cuts to Status of Women have received the most attention in the media but the changes to the government agency's mandate are much more significant. The word “equality” has been eliminated from the agency's mandate replaced by the word “participation.” In addition, funding for lobbying and research, exactly what the agency always funded, is no longer permitted.
Another potentially even more significant change is that for-profit groups are now eligible for funding. In other words, the Royal Bank of Canada could apply for funding to Status of Women Canada to increase the number of women managers at the bank. For more http://http://www.rabble.ca/politics.shtml?x=53346