There has been a fair amount of coverage over the past few weeks on recent cuts to women's programs in Canada, and now the federal government announced that it is not giving any funding to Toronto's Pride Parade. In comparison, last year they received $400,000, which is estimated to have translated into $6 million in economic activity in Toronto that week.
Last year, conservative Member of Parliament, Diane Ablonczy, lost her position as tourism minister after approving funding for the Pride Parade, and other conservative MPs went as far as to apologize to "pro-life" and "pro-family" groups.
Tracey Sandilands, the festival's executive director, said “We believe this sends the message that queer events are not worthy investing in,” and noted that Pride was the only queer event to receive any support from the federal government in over two years.
It is not only access to abortion and funding to women's groups currently under attack in Canada. We need to foster solidarity between various leftist movements to protect everybody's rights. It starts with funding, but, if we don't speak out now, I fear that we will lose so much more of what activists have fought so hard for.
"We need to foster solidarity between various leftist movements to protect everybody's rights."
ReplyDeleteWe really do. I read an article about how the Christian right has been gaining more power in Canada. We cannot be quiet. It doesn't help that there are liberal MPs who agree with the conservatives on the abortion issue.
Also, I've been living in Toronto this year and am excited to go to a Pride Parade for the first time. Hopefully they can get enough funding to make it as good as other years.
Last year, conservative Member of Parliament, Diane Ablonczy, lost her position as tourism minister after approving funding for the Pride Parade, and other conservative MPs went as far as to apologize to "pro-life" and "pro-family" groups.
ReplyDeletePro-LIFE groups?!
They apologized to pro-LIFE groups for sponsoring a celebration of the relationships LEAST likely to produce abortions?
I don't know whether to facepalm so hard I crack my skull, or laugh so hard I explode my ass.
Lyndsay, I agree completely. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding abortions in the United States over the past few years (the Stupak amendment, for example, ensures that abortions are not covered by the new health care that has been introduced for American citizens, similarly to Harper's proposal for developing nations). The past few weeks have shown glimpses of what is happening in the US, but in Canada. Being vocal about what is happening and fostering solidarity between various groups is the only way to ensure that these rights are not taken away.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Pride Parade will find some extra funding, but am very disappointed that they have to figure out new ways to do so... and I'm not sure it will be as much as previous years.