Reprinted from May June 1993
Issue of Reality
The year 1993 marks the tenth anniversary of REAL Women of Canada. These past years have been challenging, exciting and above all, rewarding. However, they have not been tranquil!
When we began, the media and the government were generally not sympathetic to us; the established feminist groups were apoplectic! This is still largely the case, but our persistence and determination have required them all to acknowledge our organization as part of the public debate. We have persevered, notwithstanding this wall of opposition, largely because of the marvelous support of our members. You have never let us down in all the years. When we asked you to write letters, you did so; when we appealed to you for funds, you never failed us. We hope, too, that during these past tumultuous years we have returned your kind support by never failing you either. We have tried to always put forward pro-family truths to the government, the media and the courts and to never compromise our principles.
After 10 years, our impact has been felt. Our name is now a household word – for better or worse! Some government legislation has changed direction because of our efforts, either directly or indirectly. Much of the work has been carried out by the provincial and local chapters – their work being too numerous to list here. However, the results of all these efforts include the following:
The federal government acknowledged for the first time the importance of the mother in the home by way of a child tax credit. This was indeed a minimal sum (200 annually) and a token in comparison to the substantial tax deduction given a parent in the paid work force with children in substitute care ($6,000 tax deduction for children under six years and $4,000 deduction for children over six years). However, it was an acknowledgement at last; this is an issue on which we will build now that the principle has been established.
The national child care plan, which would have provided government-operated “free” (tax supported) child care to upper income yuppie parents, as well as others, was scrapped. The government instead targeted low income families, as well as children most “at risk”, for special benefits.
Pension credit splitting for couples separated since 1987. Minister of Health and Welfare, Benoit Bouchard, is now working out an agreement with the provinces to assist women who separated prior to 1987, thanks to our efforts.
Special homosexual privileges in the federal Human Rights Act proposed by former Justice Minister Campbell have now been placed on the back burner and will probably die on the Order Paper when Parliament ends in June.
The notorious Court Challenges Program which funded mainly feminist and homosexual groups has been scrapped.
Couples living common law no longer receive tax advantages over legally married couples.
The government and media understand that the radical feminist groups do not speak for the majority of Canadian women. The media is contacting us more and more for comment on current social issues. We have appeared briefly several times these past months on CBC Prime Time News, never enough to provide “balance” – but the trend is there and growing daily. No longer is NAC (National Action Committee on the Status of Women) quoted as the voice of “women” – only that of the special interest group of “feminist women”. A break-through!
The feminist stranglehold on the Women’s program, Secretary of State (without which they would not continue to exist) – has been broken. Although we have received only minor grants, the latter have been an acknowledgement that there are valid voices for Canadian women other than those of the feminists.
This progress occurred because we have worked long hours without pay, volunteering our time, energy and talents because we care deeply about Canadian families and our country’s future.
We can proudly look back on our accomplishments which are the results of the following:
Briefs
Over 30 national briefs on many diverse issues. Many briefs were also prepared on the provincial level by provincial chapters.
Lobby of Members of Parliament
REAL Women maintains constant contact with MP’s on issues affecting the family, e.g., divorce, child care, pornography, abortion, homosexuality, etc.
Presentations to Parliamentary Committees
REAL Women has made 21 appearances before Parliamentary Committees and Royal Commissions.
Newsletters
Newsletter REALITY is published bi-monthly. REALITY includes updates on current political developments affecting the family, as well as in-depth analysis of the Canadian scene.
Media
Careful monitoring of both print and visual media is carried out by REAL Women in order to provide some balance in Canadian media on family issues. Many TV and radio appearances, newspaper interviews, letters to the editor, etc., have been an important part of our work during the past ten years in order to provide some balance in Canadian media on family issues.
Public Speaking
REAL Women has given hundreds of public talks to church, service, university and social groups.
Court Interventions
REAL Women has intervened in five separate cases in the Supreme Court of Canada dealing with family issues such as homosexuality and abortion. These cases included: Borowski v. Attorney General of Canada (abortion and the human rights of the preborn child), Daigle v. Tremblay (rights of father and mother in abortion procedures), Sullivan and Lemay (whether a full-term baby in the course of birth is a person), Mossop v Attorney General of Canada (whether homosexual lovers constitute a family), and Morgentaler v. the Attorney General of Nova Scotia (whether provinces have jurisdiction to regulate abortion procedures).
There have, of course, been disappointments and losses along the way. The Abortion Bill C-43 which provided no protection for the preborn child, the government’s failure to proceed with the Pornography Bill C-54, which, if passed, would have considerably widened the definition of pornography to include depictions of explicit sex, and the failure to gain equality on taxation for single-income, two-parent families, have all been disappointments to us.
However, these issues and others will continue to be pursued by REAL Women in future years – regardless of who is elected to Parliament in the fall general election. The election, we all know, will bring many changes. We will not alter our course because of them. Supported by you, we will continue with our work, analyzing the issues, lobbying the government and intervening in the courts. We are proud to be REAL Women and regard it as an honour and privilege to serve you and the Canadian family. |
