This week, a flash back to Council’s 20th year, 1995. Here’s a fascinating summary of the Council’s recommendations over the span of 1995, taken from annual reports.
Cover of the 1994-1995 Annual Report, “Mother’s Day Dream,” artwork by Vian Emery.
The Chairperson of the Council that year was Anne Nicholson, who continues her activism today as President of the Chairs Circle for Gender Equality.
Anne Nicholson was Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women during our 20th anniversary year in 1995.
Health
Council issued a media release urging the Minister of Health and Social Services, Walter McEwen, not to appeal the PEI Supreme Court decision to strike down the provincial government’s abortion payment policy (February 1995).
Child Support and Taxation
The Advisory Council issued public service announcements April 21, 1995, reminding parents who paid taxes on child support payments in 1993 to file a “notice of objection” to Revenue Canada to qualify for possible rebates. Prior to the federal court decision regarding child support in May 1995, parents may have qualified for retroactive rebates on taxes paid on child support back to 1993 only if they filed a T400 form before May 1, 1995. The Council office responded to over 150 requests for assistance and provided copies of T400 forms and sample letters for many parents prior to the deadline.
The ACSW recommended that the inclusion/deduction system for child support payments be changed in favour of a limited tax credit for non-custodial parents who pay child support on time.
New Family Law Legislation
The Advisory Council organized a media conference May 4, 1995 in response to new provincial family law legislation. The conference was co-sponsored with Women’s Network, the National Association of Women and the Law and East Prince Women’s Information Centre. Council issued a media statement in response to the passing of the new family law legislation, applauding the 50/50 division of assets rule and the recognition of both partners’ contributions to marriage in the case of separation and divorce.
The ACSW recommended to the Special Committee on the White Paper on Family Law Reform (March 29, 1995) that common law relationships and same sex relationships be recognized in the new legislation. The ACSW also recommended increasing funding to family legal aid and suggested that the provincial government conduct a public awareness campaign to inform Islanders about the legislation and how the changes may affect them.
Women In the Judiciary
At every opportunity, the Council promotes the appointments of more women in the federal and provincial judiciary.
The ACSW recommended to Minister of Provincial Affairs and Attorney General Alan Buchanan (letter: August 2, 1995) that he appoint a qualified female to the position of a fourth provincial court judge. The ACSW also recommended that the Minister of Justice Allan Rock appoint a qualified woman to the Supreme Court to increase the representation of women on the Bench (letter: April 1995).
Sentencing of Sex Offenders
The issue of sentencing for sex offenders came up consistently throughout the year in the media and in the public’s perception of “lenient sentencing” and the response to the re-licensing of a physician convicted of sexual assault.
Highlights of ACSW recommendations and actions (1995):
- On July 11, 1995, the Advisory Council issued a media release condemning the violent attack on a 9-year old Island girl who was brutally sexually assaulted.
- On October 18, 1995, the Council issued a media release supporting the implementation of the provincial government’s five-year Family Violence Prevention Strategy.
- In a media release on Thursday, December 21, 1995, the Council urged Islanders to voice complaints to the legal system about the release pending sentencing of a man convicted of sexual crimes against three girls. As this is a federal court decision, the only complaint mechanism is to call the Canadian Judicial Council. The ACSW encouraged Islanders to express their concerns to the federal justice minister Allan Rock directly or through provincial affairs minister Alan Buchanan.
In other justice-related work and advocacy to the federal Justice Minister, the Council continued advocacy for immediate action to ensure clear legislation that does not permit drunkenness as a defense for sexual crimes. This built on a publication, Reforming the General Part of the Criminal Code.
Women In Policlng
The Council continues to promote more representation of women as police officers.
The ACSW recommended to Chief Paul Smith of the Charlottetown City Police (letter: May 11, 1995) to raise the issue of more women on the police force.
In a media release on August 23, 1995, Council commended the City of Charlottetown for hiring three female police officers as a step towards better representation of women in the justice system. The ACSW also recommended in an open letter to Chief Paul Smith and Charlottetown City Councillors (September 15, 1995) that they conduct a “direct and systematic recruitment of women” as police officers and conduct a gender analysis of why there are so few women in policing.
Provincial Judicial Council
The Council has been lobbying for a provincial judicial council since 1993, specifically to provide gender sensitivity training for judges regarding violence against women and children. The judicial council would also provide a complaint mechanism for provincial court judges. The Council strongly supported the announcement by Premier Catherine Callbeck in October 1995 that her government would establish either a provincial council or an Atlantic council.
The ACSW recommended to Premier Catherine Callbeck (letter: April 20, 1995) that the government establish a provincial judicial council.
Provincial Budget Consultation
The Council made a written submission to Provincial Treasurer Wayne Cheverie on December 6, 1995, for the pre-budget consultations in Charlottetown.
The ACSW recommended that the provincial government oppose the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) and not further cut spending on social programs. The recommendations are based on Council publications: Women and Social Policy and Social Security Reform: A PEI Response (1994) and included a gender analysis of the impact of any budgetary decisions.
Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China
The Council participated in the PEI Beijing Steering Committee to plan and organize the International Day of Action for Women’s Equality on September 6, 1995, in solidarity with the World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. The day of action included a media conference, flag/banner procession. Take Back the Night march and Women’s Equality coffeehouse.
Support for Caregivers
Council lobbied the Confederation Centre of the Arts in support of a woman’s challenge of their box-office policy, which states “Babes in arms will not be admitted to performances unless otherwise advertised … Management accepts no responsibility for inconvenience caused by these circumstances.” (March 1995). The Centre did not agree this was a discriminatory policy.
Maritime Centre for Excellence on Women’s Health
In December 1995, the Council assisted the Maritime Consortium with the development of a proposal to have the Maritime Centre For Excellence on Women’s Health located in Halifax. In consultation with the advisory councils in NB and NS, the PEI ACSW made recommendations to the Consortium and assisted with development and editing of the final proposal.
The ACSW recommended that the Consortium increase community women’s involvement and include more representation of women from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Council sent a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Sheila Finestone, MP Lawrence MacAulay, MP George Proud, MP Wayne Easter, and MP Joe McGuire – copied to provincial and national councils on the status of women ~ to lobby for continued and improved funding to the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the federal Women’s Program funding (January 1995).
[Note: The Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women was dismantled April 1, 1995.]
Anne Nicholson (right) in 2024 with (left to right) Mari Basiletti, Michelle Harris-Genge, Hon. Jenn Redmond (Minister Responsible for the Status of Women), at an event hosted by the Chairs Circle for Gender Equality.
