Why do you vote?

UN Platform for Action Committe, MB., is holding a session in rural Manitoba, in spite of the flood waters lapping close by - To encourage women to get out and VOTE - 

UNPAC Changemakers session in Altona, Manitoba where we're being asked to answer the following questions.

 

-Why do I vote?

-Why do I think voting is important for all of us?

-Do I have 'criteria' when I vote?  (i.e. certain things that need to be met)

-Do I have a favourite person and/or party that I always go with?

-What federal policies impact us here in this community?

Bring attention to early childhood care and education

"Code Blue Challenge - Do something imaginative in the last week of the federal election campaign to bring attention to early childhood care and education.

• Take a field trip to your local campaign office to deliver the Code Blue "Report Card" on the federal parties' platforms
• Pass out the Code Blue "Report Card" to parents wherever they gather - schools, playgrounds, coffee shops, swim classes, libraries 
• Organize a small group to leaflet in a local mall or on a street corner to deliver the "Report Card". 
• Add some fun with a Hokey Pokey Flash Mob, make up new lyrics to old favourites (Skinnamarink - "We need child care in the morning and in the afternoon")  
• Share your action on YouTube!
• Upload a message to voters and politicians to YouTube, spread the word on twitter and Facebook
• Get the "Report Card" out in any way you can think of and report back to Code Blue on what you did!! 

TAKE THE CODE BLUE CHALLENGE - THEN LET CANADA KNOW WHAT YOU DID FOR QUALITY CHILD CARE

Take a Girl to Vote!

Equal Voice Launches Take a Girl to Vote:
Calls on Canadians to Promote Political Engagement of Girls and Young Women

TORONTO – Equal Voice and partner organizations, Apathy is Boring, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, the Girls Action Foundation, the Girl Guides of Canada, The Historica-Dominion Institute and the YWCA Canada are asking voters to pledge to bring a girl to the polls on May 2nd.

Canadian women and men of all ages are encouraged to take a girl of pre-voting age to the ballot box on Election Day, May 2nd - whether it is their daughter, niece, neighbour, sibling or mentee.

“By committing to take a girl to the polls on Election Day, women and men are engaging young Canadians in the most fundamental democratic and political process that shapes our country”.

“We are appealing to all Canadians to join our cause of changing the face of politics, and this begins with engaging young women,” said Donna Dasko, National Chair, Equal Voice.

In advance of Election Day, these groups are raising awareness regarding the importance of politically motivating and educating young women and girls so that they become involved at every level of politics.

“Girls learn empowerment and leadership by example,” added Paulette Senior, CEO of YWCA Canada, the country’s oldest and largest multi-service women’s organization.  “The positive impact of Take a Girl to Vote is virtually limitless. Teaching girls to value voting is an important step toward ensuring that as adults, they feel fully entitled to participate in all levels of the electoral process, from casting a ballot to becoming prime minister.”

“Low voter turnout, particularly among youth, continues to be significant issue in Canada”, noted Ilona Dougherty, Executive Director, Apathy is Boring, whose goal is to increase youth voting rates, increase youth engagement in communities, and build a sustainable dialogue between young people and their elected officials. 

“By being introduced to the democratic process at an early age, young Canadians will be more inclined to participate in the future”. 

The Dominion Institute (The Historica-Dominion Institute) 2008 Youth Election Survey found that youth who discussed politics at home were three times more likely to vote. Further, youth who perceived voting as a responsibility (instead of a choice) were twice as likely to vote.

“The Take a Girl to Vote initiative speaks to the importance of early civic education as seen in our Youth Election Study, and offers a very meaningful opportunity to help improve youth voter turnout in the long run”, underscored Jeremy Diamond, Director, Development and Programs at The Historica-Dominion Institute.

With their membership of more than 100,000 girls and women, Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada (GGC) fosters the principles of female leadership building.  

Deborah Del Duca, CEO added that, “Promoting the election of more women to government in Canada not only provides a strong voice for women, but also helps to create strong role models for younger generations. 

The work of Equal Voice and the other organizations involved in this campaign exemplify core values of GGC – challenging and empowering Canadian girls in order to help them understand their responsibilities as citizens of Canada and the larger world.”
 
The Montreal based Girls Action Foundation added their voice to Equal Voice’s call to Take a Girl to Vote. 

“We work with young women who are passionate, who have ideas and who are committed to making a difference,” explained Tatiana Fraser, Executive Director.   “It is crucial that they understand the power of voting and the political process generally.”

Beverley Wybrow, the Executive Director of the Canadian Women’s Foundation added that “CWF invests in girls’ empowerment programs because we know that it often translates into increased civic engagement. It is crucial that young women become acquainted with the formal political process at a young age.”

Equal Voice is a national, multi-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to the election of more women to all levels of government. More information can be found at www.equalvoice.ca

For media inquiries on Take our Girls to Vote, please contact:

Nancy Peckford, Executive Director , Equal Voice– 613-292-7941

Amy Kishek, Youth Outreach Coordinator, Equal Voice – 613-608-7040

Sign the Petition - Violence Against Women & the Long Gun Registry

Endorse the Open Letter to Party Leaders on the Long Gun Registry! 

YWCA Canada has posted our Open Letter to Party Leaders on Violence Against Women and the Long Gun Registry as an online petition. 

We need people to sign on as fast as possible at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportguncontrol/. 

It’s quick and easy, please sign on and share!

Action Canada for Population and Development and Canadian Federation for Sexual Health to Announce Results

ACPD has received answers to our election questionnaire that was submitted to the five main political parties in Canada. The only party we have not heard back from is the Conservative Party of Canada. We have sent them a reminder and will submit all responses to the media on Tuesday, April 26^th.  

Bloc Québécois’ response - http://www.acpd.ca/node/237

Green Party’s response – http://www.acpd.ca/node/240

Liberal Party’s response - http://www.acpd.ca/node/241

New Democratic Party’s response - http://www.acpd.ca/node/242

Disabled Canadians ask who will fight for them

Disabled Canadians ask who will fight for them

Edmonton Journal

Wed Apr 20 2011

Page: A5

Section: News

Byline: Greg Markey

As the federal parties get close to the home stretch of the election campaign, party leaders are courting several different markets for votes: families, seniors, small business owners. Although usually under the jurisdiction of the provinces, some disabled voters are worried their concerns are not being addressed by the federal leaders, said one person who contacted Postmedia News via openfile.ca to ask where the parties stand.

"Another election, another disappointment . The party platforms have no mention or promises about assistance or funding for people with disabilities who rely on education, or medical professionals . What are the federal parties offering to citizens with disabilities?" wrote Dan Pagan from Calgary.

Conservatives
As part of the Conservative's economic action plan, some projects have been undertaken to assist the physically disabled. Stimulus funds allowed for 300 projects that made government buildings more accessible to those with disabilities. The Conservatives also introduced a Registered Disabilities Savings Plan in 2008.

It also increased the Child Disability Benefit, and increased the amount of medical expenses that can be refunded. Existing tax credits were made available to those already eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.

Liberals
The Liberal party has pledged to work with the disabled, the organizations they work with, as well as the provinces, to examine ways to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (CRPD).

The Liberals also want to protect disability benefits from being lost to bankruptcy of the companies that manage these pension funds. A Liberal government would provide $700 million more annually, for Guaranteed Income Supplements for seniors, and would benefit those seniors with disabilities. The Affordable Housing Framework would provide $550 million to build more affordable housing for vulnerable groups, one being the disabled.

NDP
The NDP proposes increasing the Canada Student Grants program by $200 million a year, to give disabled students more access to a post-secondary education.

Other aspects of the NDP plan mirror the policies of the Liberals.

Child Care Report Card

Child Care report card: Harper’s score ‘unsatisfactory’ 

OTTAWA – A report card grading the Canada-wide parties’ child care election promises says Stephen Harper and his Conservatives are unwilling to learn and should develop active listening skills around parents’ needs for reliable, high quality child care.

The report card, produced by the Code Blue for Child Care campaign, takes Harper to task for the lack of any plan to create and fund a range of good early childhood education and care services and improved parental leave.

“If child care was a course and the Conservatives were in the classroom, they would stand out for their lack of interest and unwillingness to contribute ideas,” says Shellie Bird. “While we found there was room for improvement with the other Canada-wide parties, they at least did their homework, and got some good scores and made commitments to universal child care.”

 The report card can be accessed in full at www.buildchildcare.ca.