Status of Women? No...yes...maybe...

On my way to lunch today, I had the dubious pleasure of hearing Bev Oda reading from a prepared statement on CBC Radio regarding "new" funding to the previously gutted Status of Women Canada.

In a voice dripping with insincerity and political motivation, one that seemed not to convince even the Honourable Minister herself, Oda reiterated her announcement from International Women's Day (March 7, 2007) that in recognition of the inequalities still faced by women in Canada, the Conservative government has decided to restore some of the funding it recently yanked from SWC.

Effective April 1, 2007, the government will contribute $15.3 million to the Women's Program branch of SWC. The government touts this as a 42% increase in that program's budget but really it just replaces the equivalent amount that was cut late last year when the Conservatives closed two thirds of SWC's offices.

Although a step in the right direction, this announcement is cold comfort to Canadian women. Furthermore, I highly doubt that any other recent victims of Conservatism (such as the Court Challenges Programme) will be resuscitated. I'll just have to enjoy the fact that at least this announcement probably annoyed the hell out of REAL Women of Canada. Sometimes, that's almost enough.

Status of Women Canada press release