Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

BC Human Rights Committee - Minutes of Oct 17th, 2006 meeting

In attendance:

• Vancouver RO: Tracy Shudo (chair), Deanna Wilson (food), Agnes Lui, Sanda Turner, Craig Langston, Monica Urrutia (PSAC staff – minutes), Regina Brennan (staff, guest), Barbara Jackson (guest)
• Via teleconference: Floyd Knelsen, Todd Harding

Regrets:

• Sargy Chima, Carol Pegura, Carolyn McGillivray, Val Hargreaves, Kim Forster, Sid Wong, Terri Lee

Continue reading below or download the BC Human Rights Committee minutes, October 17 2006 (pdf).

1. Introductions: quick round of introductions in the room and on the phone

2. Audio conference on Accommodating Disabilities held Oct 16th

• committee thanked Kim for initiating this idea, it was really well received
• very impressed with speakers
• even though it was an audio playback, still got a lot out of it, money well spent
• if date works, participating on a live session would probably be even better
• Floyd acknowledged and appreciated Kim’s follow-up work in getting him to put some of his coordinator’s budget towards the purchase of the CD copy
• Monica shared there is already a long list of people waiting on the borrowing list

3. Client module update c/o Todd

• print agreement screen is still inaccessible for those who have visual impairments
• national implications and change has been great
• committee acknowledged Todd’s efforts in getting more accessible tools into the workplace to the benefit of all visually impaired members

4. November 8th Disabilities awareness night

• Monica updated that she was able to confirm Harry Monk as a speaker on visual disabilities
• Monica also shared that Carol was able to confirm Rhonda as a speaker
• Craig updated that Paul Tubby from the City of Vancouver is confirmed as a speaker on mobility issues

5. Human Rights Committee December event

• Monica shared Jennie’s email to the committee regarding some of her ideas and her request for a joint event between Agriculture Component-BC, and the HRC here, as well as for other support
• the committee suggested if Carol or Kim would be able to contact Mary Woo Sims as a possible speaker, (to assist Jennie)
• the committee would like to request that Jennie create an estimated budget for the event, so that the committee could discuss how much it can support the December event at it November meeting
• Craig suggested a possible speaker on land claims issues. He will attempt to find someone and connect with Jennie regarding this idea.

6. Women’s history month

• Agnes brought some materials (posters, etc.) for the committee regarding women’s history month, with a specific focus on Aboriginal women
• there was a discussion on the current direction of the government
• cuts to Aboriginal tobacco programs that were effective in the community
• cuts to Aboriginal Women’s program, particularly around keeping matrimonial rights to property for women
• the Minister has told a Parliamentary committee that status of women is unneeded because women are equal now
• discussion on the court challenges program and its implications for all those who advocate for equity and equality
• while the funding for women’s programs was not cut (more administrative) it has changed the criteria for funding, e.g. gender equality is not longer part of the criteria; has opened funding to for-profit organizations; no political advocacy is allowed
• suggestion to have the PSAC really monitor job losses. Members are encouraged to contact the PSAC to help in this process
• suggestion to revisit Work Force Adjustment training in preparation

7. Guest speakers

• Regina & Barbara
• on this history of witches and witch burnings. Witch comes from wick which means wise. Even the term hag, which has a negative connotation, actually meant one with sacred knowledge
• particularly targeted women at the tie, was equated to the holocaust (9,000,000 women were burned)
• gave background of witches, midwifery, herbology
• also sang a song that tells about the history
• still many barriers for midwifery in the mainstream
• Agnes offered to provide some additional resources
• Regina will finish compiling her research and will send it out to the committee
• video was shown, “The Burning Times”
• a short discussion ensued, making parallels to the anti-terrorist hysteria facing many today
• many expressed that they enjoyed the video

8. Next meeting: Wed, November 8, 2006, 5:45 – 8pm.

Meeting was adjourned at 8pm.

Amended November 2nd with additional information received from Agnes Lui.

Here is a list of programs that are affected by the recent announcement of cuts, which is summarized by a senior women’s group.

This is the message from Women of Elder in Action (WE*ACT):

With the many studies and reports that have done to show the tremendous increase in poverty in Canada, the “new” Federal Conservative government has made very damaging cuts to departmental program initiatives and services that were primarily Canadian as the list below clearly shows.

Federal Government Cuts Programs

This list has been received over the internet from the following sources:

• The Federal Government (Budget) website
• Status of Women Canada / website
• Canadian Social Research website
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
• CUPE National
• Canadian Bar Association
• Canadian Library Association
• ABC Canada Literary Foundation
• Health Canada / Policy Research
• National Association of Women and the Law
• Volunteer Canada
• National Anti Poverty Organization
• National Council of Welfare
• National Council of Canadian Women
• National Council of Aboriginal Women
• Canadian-Feminist-Alliance (CFA-FIA) and
• Democracy-Now.

The first thing to question is;

• Why our newspapers have not printed the full complement of cuts in one full article, versus feeding it to the general public in dribs and drabs?

The second question is this:

• Does the general population fully realize that the cuts have been made to everything CANADIAN? The cuts to entire departments and programs are as follows;

• Court Commission of Canada-eliminated,
• Status of Women Canada, ( clarification not included in the article) $5,million dollars or 40% percent of administrative budget cut -mandate changed to exclude “gender equality and political justice” in terms of advocating, policy research and lobbying has been totally banned.) (This was well documented even in the mainstream media)
• Community Access Program (internet access for communities at libraries, post offices, community centers) -eliminated,
• Adult learning and literacy programs,
• Youth Employment Programs.
• Workplace Skills Program,
• Canada Policy Research Networks,
• Canadian Labor Business Centre- eliminated
• First Nations and Inuit Tobacco Control Program - eliminated
• Museum Assistance Program
• Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative
• Foreign Affairs and Public Diplomacy Program
• Canadian Volunteerism Initiative -eliminated
• Health Canada Policy Research Program
• Environment: Youth International Internship Program-eliminated,
• School of Public Service. All eliminated

Jan Westlund, Coordinator
Women Elders in Action (WE*ACT)
c/o 411 Seniors Centre Society
411 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1X4
604-684-8171 (Loc. 228)