[van-announce] Mother's Day March and Rally

[announcements at resist.ca]

Mother's Day March and Rally

Where:
Victory Square, 11am and Vancouver Art Gallery, 12-3pm

When:
Sunday, 9th of May 2004 from 11:00 AM until approximately 3:00 PM


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. 


For more information:
grassrootswomen at telus.net
604-682-4451


This event is being organised by Grassroots Women
  




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