Commitment to Women's Equality Pledged as 
Canadians celebrate International Women's Day

"International Women's Day recognizes the fundamental rights of women as equal partners in society. I join with all women and men around the world to celebrate what we have achieved together. I also join all Canadians in working to create equal opportunities for women and men. Today, and every day, we must recognize that if society as a whole is to thrive, then the 52% who are women must be equal partners in its growth and development.

Our government has taken a number of initiatives to support equality.

Our new child support strategy and the new Seniors Benefit were designed in a way that recognizes the challenges faced by single mothers and elderly women in our society. We are establishing Centres of Excellence for Women's Health, and a Pre-Natal Nutrition Program for disadvantaged pregnant women. We announced a new breast cancer initiative. We reinstated the Court Challenges Program which helps equality-seeking groups, including women, to establish their Charter rights in court. We are funding a number of projects to address the problem of violence against women, which unfortunately remains a very serious and widespread problem in Canada. Tougher gun control, reforms to sentencing legislation, and new legislation on stalking are also aimed at addressing the problem of violence.

Beyond these specific initiatives, our government recognizes that the concerns of women must be integrated into every area of government policy.

I encourage Canadians to participate in the activities associated with International Women's Day, and to honour the contributions that women have made to Canadian society."

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555