[van-announce] Mother's Day Celebration with a Difference

[Grassroots Women]

For immediate release: April 15, 2004

Press release: Grassroots Women



Mother's Day Celebration with a Difference



(Vancouver, Canada) – This Mother’s Day, May 9, 2004, moms will not stay at
home waiting for the obligatory chocolate and flowers. Mothers will be
taking to the streets to demand a real Mother’s Day gift – the
implementation of a universal childcare program across Canada. Meeting at
Victory Square (Hastings and Cambie) at 11am, mothers, children, and
supporters will march to take their challenges to the street. At the
Vancouver Art Gallery, marchers will participate in a “universal childcare
program” with children’s activities, music, speakers, and lunch.



“The idea to hold a march and rally on Mother’s Day came from the
marginalized and working class women we work with. They believe that for too
long the issue of childcare has been pushed to the sidelines,” explains
Darcie Bennet of Grassroots Women, the organization planning the event. “But
universal childcare is a women’s right and a fundamental part of women’s
liberation. Grassroots Women is campaigning for a universal childcare
program that will truly meet the needs of marginalized and working class
women.”



Only 8.4% of children who need childcare have access to it. And, as a result
of changes to the subsidy program in BC implemented as part of the
neo-liberal agenda of globalization, over 10,000 children lost part or all
of their subsidies. Coupled with the reduction of subsidy rates, women are
often forced to spend up to half of their income on childcare.  To make
matters worse, there is no national childcare program and funds coming from
the federal government for childcare are merely being used to replace
existing or cut childcare services. No affordable, accessible, and
comprehensive national childcare program exists.



“Instead of implementing a national childcare program, the Canadian
government promotes the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) to appease those
families who can afford to hire a domestic worker,” explains Monica Urrutia,
member of Grassroots Women and chair of the Philippine Women Centre of BC.
Over 90% of workers under the LCP come from the Philippines. They leave
their homes because of massive poverty and chronic unemployment. Once in
Canada, they find themselves little more than modern-day slaves.



“As social programs are slashed and public services are privatized under the
neo-liberal agenda of globalization, it is marginalized and working class
women who are enduring the highest costs,” states Bennet. “So it is even
more essential that we take to the streets to voice our demands for
universal childcare loud and clear.”



To get involved in organization the Mother’s Day march or for more
information, call Grassroots Women at (604) 682-4451.



-30-



Media Spokesperson:

Rachel Rosen

(604) 682-4451

______________________________________________________________
Reclaim the struggle for a renewed and militant women's movement!

Grassroots Women
t: 604.682.4451
e: grassrootswomen at telus.net
w: http://www3.telus.net/grassrootswomen
#304-207 West Hastings, Vancouver, Canada

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