SOWwatch

Seriously. Helena Guergis, the Conservative Minister of State for the Status of Women? 

Don't make me laugh.

And, with that, a new feature kids, right here on Broadsides! The adventures of Party Girl Guergis in her defence of women's status which, judging by her party's record, is to be lowered at every opportunity.

Example, from last week's Question Period in the wake of Saskatoon MP Maurice Vellacott's fabulations about women's reproductive choices. This exchange between Bloc MP Nicole Demers and Guergis. Boldface is by moi.

Nicole Demers (Laval, QC, BQ): Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister responsible for Status of Women refused to denounce the unacceptable statements made by a Conservative MP who implied that abortions contribute to the development of breast cancer. Besides being wrong medically, this assertion is meant to make women feel guilty. We would expect that the minister would defend women and the right to abortion with vigour rather than saying things worthy of Sarah Palin. When will the minister stop protecting the dinosaurs in her party to the detriment of women's right?

Hon. Helena Guergis (Minister of State for Status of Women): --Very clearly in the house yesterday, this member is actually fully aware that there are elected members in this house who have said very similar things at different times. Members in this house represent their constituencies and they are free to have any opinion that they choose to. It does not mean it represents the government. But please let me highlight one of our most recent achievements to protect women across the country. Recently we revised our citizenship guide. I would like to recognize the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration for the great work he's done in specifically outlining that barbaric practices like female genital mutilation are not tolerated in Canada.

Ya think? I mean, until the revision of the citizenship guide, parents could pop in with their terrified daughters at any old corner store and have her lady parts chopped up while all the rest of us turned a blind eye. Wow. Thanks Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. I don't know where Canadian women would be without you and your swell woman-loving government to defend us from the incoming barbarians.

But what about those resident dinosaurs, hunh?

Okay, so now that you get how this is gonna go, we fast forward to today's Question Period (again, boldface by me):

Hon. Anita Neville (Winnipeg South Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, more than 520 aboriginal women and girls have gone missing or have been murdered in this country. Aboriginal women need to feel safe and they need to know they are being heard. The government talks about being tough on crime but refuses to act. It refuses to launch a complete public investigation. What will it take? How many more women will have to go missing? When will it launch a comprehensive, national, public investigation?
   
Hon. Helena Guergis (Minister of State (Status of Women), CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member is well aware that we are supporting Sisters in Spirit, which is led by the Native Women's Association of Canada, as it should be. It is a five year, multi-research project that our government supports and financially backs. We are in fact looking at exploring the next options. In fact the president for NWAC has recently said that she knows that I am supportive and that we are working together on a regular basis to look to the future.

Aboriginal women are being picked off like ducks in Dick Cheney's gunsights and all the government can do is ''look'' at exploring options? Gee, thanks Madame Minister. Thanks for nothing.

Oh and thanks for voting to get rid of the long-gun registry. And let's not forget your support of Bill C-484, which the government said was reopening the abortion debate.

Stay tuned right here for more non sequiturs and political bafflegab from your not-so-woman-friendly Conservative government woman defender.

H/T to the brilliant Pale for the image.

Comments

[hysperia]

The CONS chose a "perfect" woman to carry out their agenda as regards the status of women in Canada - reduce, reuse, recyle.

[skdadl]

Well, you made me laugh -- bitterly, but that first non sequitur from Helena Handbasket is very funny ... if you look at it sideways, maybe. The second is just a head-shaker.

I think the insult to women when Steve appointed Helena to anything was intentional.

Gotta love that stove, though.

[JR Jake]

One thing I do not want to do is state anything hrmful that might preclude me from visiting your wonderful country before I even get a chance. Here in the states we have every conceivable viewpoint on women and their rights, depending on the day, the person you are speaking with, and what party/religious affilitations they belong.

All I know is I treat everyone the same regardless their gender, race, creed, sexual orientation or religion. What good does it do to alienate people based on a prejudice or bias I might have without even knowing them. With that said, love your suspenders Antonia.

[tf]

The first line of the Sisters in Spirit website - "After almost one year of negotiations, NWAC [Native Women's Association of Canada] is pleased to announce that they have signed a five year contribution agreement with the government of Canada. The agreement was signed on Tuesday November 15, 2005."

I can count as well as anyone and from my calculations, a five year agreement signed in 2005, by the Liberals of Paul Martin, will expire in 2010. I would like to hear about the next options...so far not much action has come from 4 years of exploration and Aboriginal women remain vulnerable...just saying....

[Jim M]

I am surprised the Minister for Status of Women was not in a hurry to correct the perception created by her colleague, who said that abortion is known contribute to the development of breast cancer. The answer given by the Minister to the Bloc MP's question, in saying that her colleague's views do not necessarily represent her government, reminds me of the same answer given by the man behind the counter in the following short video clip, which he supplied as an answer to the famous question: "Does your dog bit?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXn2QVipK2o

[Ian]

SOWwatch? Honestly, Antonia?

[heather]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRfdThDTA_0

[Dr b Wainrib]

How many women still have a true share in in anything? Time's up! BaWa

[stellersjay]

Yes, honestly, Ian. The UN is so concerned about what’s happening to Canadian women that in 2008, when a human rights panel monitoring compliance with the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, to which Canada was a signatory) met in Geneva, it asked Canada to report within one year and not wait until its next scheduled report in 2014.