Women vote. Does anyone care?

Apparently not. As we move towards voting day in the January 23 federal election, women’s continued social and economic inequality in Canada is deplorable. Despite forming 52 per cent of the population, women have borne the brunt of cuts in social programs and are the last to benefit from a strong economy. Public policies have failed to support women’s priorities and to provide women’s basic needs. Rural women and women from marginalized groups are further disadvantaged and face even more limited choices in work, education and access to services.

Yet politicians have been silent about these issues despite billion-dollar surpluses.

In the most recent House of Commons, women comprised only 21 per cent of the elected total. Currently, women make up 25 per cent of all party candidates, which does not augur well for change. This disparity in representation affects the way women’s voices are heard and creates a serious imbalance in a theoretically equal society. Thus, candidates in this election must be made aware of concerns that matter to women: livable incomes, affordable housing, absence of violence, and the presence of quality, public services. These concerns not only matter, but they affect women’s access to their basic human rights.

In 1981, 25 years ago, Canada ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). In 2003, the UN found Canada was failing to comply with the convention in several key areas. Political will is required to redress women’s inequality.

Women, on average, earn only 71 per cent of their male counterparts’ wages, and are less represented than men in full-time, year-round work. Women’s work is often at minimum wage, without benefits, a pay rate which fails to meet basic family needs. A national standard for a livable minimum wage would ensure equal access to a path out of poverty. Federal pay-equity legislation would close the gap between male and female workers.

Women play a significant role in caring for children, elders and family members in crisis. These unpaid responsibilities and the discrimination in women’s wages reduce the amount of money which women have available to handle crises, and the amount they can contribute to pensions. Lower pensions result in female elders being poorer than their male counterparts, a demographic that is unfair and discriminatory and will grow as our population ages. Innovative, quality, publicly funded and universally accessible national child-care and home-care programs would support women in caring for their loved ones. In addition, elder women would be supported as they age.

Aboriginal women face systemic discrimination, as demonstrated by the disproportionate number of missing and dead aboriginal women in Canada. Aboriginal women do not have the same rights as aboriginal men when it comes to Indian status for their children and grandchildren. Changing the current law (Bill C31) would correct this inequality. Funding aboriginal women’s organizations at the same level as their male-led counterparts would prevent new forms of discrimination against women from being introduced during negotiations between the federal government and the First Nations.

Women are more apt to need access to legal aid for family and/or civil law in order to deal with issues of family violence and child support. Men are more likely to need access to legal aid for criminal matters. There is at present only a designated federal fund for criminal legal aid. A new designated federal fund for civil legal aid would ensure that women and their children have access to the legal support they require, leaving them less at risk.

Discrimination and violence against women and girls are not things of the past; overall family violence statistics have remained unchanged over the past five years and discrimination against women is again increasing. Women are more likely to suffer injury or death as compared to their male counterparts in family violence situations. Core funding for women’s centres, transition houses and women’s equality-seeking groups and services would allow women’s organizations to focus on addressing real problems, rather than on fundraising.

Nova Scotia is promoting itself to attract immigrants. Settlement policies supportive of women, reducing discriminatory barriers and granting women full landed-immigrant status will help Nova Scotia to attract and retain immigrants. These policies will also ensure that immigrant women will not be vulnerable because they are dependent on others for support.

Politicians in Canada need to be challenged on their assumptions and current election rhetoric, which is far removed from the diverse realities of women. By ensuring that the most vulnerable amongst us have equal access to basic human necessities such as a living wage, freedom from violence and the opportunity to make their voices heard, we ensure a better life for all members of our society.