Harper government axes funding for 11 women's groups

Liberal MP Bob Rae is outraged over Senator Nancy Ruth's solution to anyone criticizing the government on the abortion debate to 'shut the f--k up'. Transport Minister John Baird says Canadians do not want to drag the abortion debate out, but did express disapproval.

CTV News Channel: Richard Madan in Ottawa

Ottawa Bureau Correspondent Richard Madan discusses the Tories' so-called 'culture of intimidation', and how the Jaffer/Guergis affair has prompted new lobbying rules for all members of parliament and senators.

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper boards his plane in Ottawa as he departs for a five-day, four-country visit to Europe, Tuesday, May 4, 2010. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. May. 4 2010 6:47 PM ET

A women's rights group is charging that the Harper government has cut funding for 11 women's groups in the last two weeks, just prior to June's G8 summit at which maternal health to a key part of the agenda.

Kim Bulger, executive director of Match International, said her group was one of the groups to lose funding.

International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda said the group's funding was cut due to performance issues.

The funding cuts were revealed a day after Conservative Sen. Nancy Ruth advised a gathering of women's groups that they risk a backlash from the government unless they "shut the f--k up" on the abortion issue. She said she fears there will be more of an anti-abortion response from her party if women's groups continue to speak out.

"If you push it, there will be more backlash," Ruth said. "This is now a political football. This is not about women's health in this country."

Bulger blamed the funding cuts on the "ideologically driven" Conservative agenda against feminist groups who support funding abortion as part of maternal health initiatives in developing countries.

The government announced last week that it will only fund family planning, but not abortion, in its new policy.

During question period Tuesday, Liberal MP Bob Rae said Ruth's comments are part of the "culture of intimidation and bullying" used by the Tory government to quiet their critics.

"If you have a disagreement with the government, just shut the F up," is how Rae characterized his political opponents' style.

Transport Minister John Baird said the government disapproved of Ruth's comments.

"The language is unacceptable and in no way, shape or form represents the views of the government," he said

But Baird replied that the Liberals were trying to start a "culture war" by opening the divisive abortion issue.

Comments are now closed for this story

Rob W.
said

Backlash over criticism..?!! From a sitting government elected to govern the ENTIRE electorate objectively??!!

PM
said

Nobody even bothers arguing the merits of these groups beyond tacking the label "women's group" onto them.If these groups actually represented mainstream Canadian Women, they would be able to raise a massive amount of political and financial support from both women and men by pointing to their common values and good works. Instead, they choose to keep their goals secret, and to lobby behind closed doors for more uncountable public money. The funding should have been pulled a long time ago.

Sue
said

Harpy is just playing to his base on this one. The money Canada donates to this project goes into a common pool and unless Harpy wants to send an army of accountants to worry over our money then the money will be spent on abortions whether Harpy likes it or not.

Raphal Landaverry
said

Why the media doesn�t mention who these 11 groups are? We are getting over taxed! Enough with the waste of tax payer�s money. Maybe one of this groups are like the one that legalized woman�s rights to be topples in Ontario and now they want to go federal�

Steve
said

The Conserative Maternal Plan. Here you go Ladies, here is a glass of water, this should help. Ooops, sorry, I need the glass of water back, cut backs, (LOL).

Mel Blake
said

If their causes are so just they should have to do like everyone else and raise money through awareness campaigns and fund-raising. Let their own members and people who support them give their money. I am also curious how much these supposedly cash strapped organizations pay their executives. Maybe they are in for a pay cut and that's why they really are upset. That condo in the Muskokas might be at risk. When as much money is spent on research into prostate cancer as for breast cancer, then women's groups will have a case for complaining about a lack of funding. Why should private political groups get money from the taxpayer? this goes for all political groups and parties not just the feministas.

Taxed Enough Already in SK
said

Good! Why on earth are these special interest groups given a single penny by government?

Jake in Florida
said

Women's groups that support abortion are essentially supporters of murder. I am not bothered if a woman destroys her life with a coat-hanger in an attempt to murder her child. We should be bothered that our taxes actually fund the legal destruction of the smallest human beings among us for the sake of so-called women's rights. Cut their funding completely and let the voters decide whether to choose life or death in the next election.

Mike
said

Most men don't need shelter from abusive wives.Complaining about a lack of Men's groups is just silly.My dad beat my Mum and us kids.I'm thankful for Women's groups and Women's Shelters....and i'm a man.

boohoo from t.o.
said

can any of you holier than thou at everything liberals even name half these groups ?

Joel from North York
said

The title of this article is "Harper government axes funding for 11 women's groups". The article itself, the video and the majority of comments so far are about the abortion issue.Am I missing something, or is there nothing of substance about which women's groups are affected and listing their purpose and/or effectiveness? I can't hear the answers to the real, important questions about this issue over all the saber rattling.

Ken - Calgary
said

Not fit to govern.

Alex (Toronto)
said

Can it get worse? This is a ballot question. Let the Prime Minister host the G20 summit during an election, if he has the, well, let's say guts. Healthy families around the world need mothers who are alive. We have no business imposing an unsustainable right-wing ideology on corners of the world where such policies lead to orphans, poverty, and death. Time for the Tories to back down, or else time for the majority of elected members to take a united stand against the government.

erica
said

"Canadians don't want to drag the abortion debate in the maternal health discussion,"

Actually, we do! Family planning measures that are choice based and supportive of safe, legal abortion and follow up medical care is an absolute necessity to the health and well being of all women, including mothers.

Wendy
said

Her comments weren't very lady like, If you have a disagreement with the government, just shut the F up, it doesn't sound very democratic. Sounds more like were dealing with a dictator.

I support the far right in Quinte West
said

Brought to the Canadian people by the party of, keep your women pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen Party....Shameful!

Chris in Ontariariari-oh1
said

As the government continue's to look for cost saving's and efficiencies to pay for this huge deficit created in part by the threat's imposed by the opposition there will be funding cut's to program's that do not make the grade.I have absolutely no problem with my money not going to some social program that does not fulfill it's mandate either in it's delivery or it's budget.The conservative government has been unwilling to deal with these inefficient and funding waster's since they took over from the liberal's for fear of the socialist's in opposition threatening to topple the government but with the country in deficit now is the time to trim the excess.There is nothing ideological about seeking value for taxpayer's dollar's and if the liberal's are trying to portray the government as ideological in their decision making I think they are misleading Canadian's.As long as there is government money there will be a line up at the trough and it is time government fulfilled the basic need's of Canadian's and stop pandering to special interest group's.We have deficit and debt and we need to look to to the future or we won't be able to afford even the basic's like quality health care and pension's for our aging population.

Tim
said

Sounds good! Lets keep up the good work! More cuts to government bureaucrats and useless committees are what we sorely need in this country.

James from Vancouver
said

So then the cuts are tied inextricably to voicing concerns other than those the Conservatives wish to address. The Liberals were never this ruthless.

Pam in Waterloo
said

This is great news. These "Womens'" groups only represent a handful of extreme feminists and not the average Canadain woman. Its about time a government had the courage to insist that these groups prove their worth and not just get funding for their existence. If they don't produce results, then get rid of these freeloaders.I would also like to see the press celebrate the great potential of the maternal health program to really improve the lives of women and children in developing nations. This program will bring them clean water, sanitation, basic education on nutrition and hygine, and trained midwives to attend births in remote areas. Those who are trying to turn this into an abortion debate should be ashamed. If these pro-abortionists actually cared about women they would support this program. If they only want to scream about abortion, they care more about politics than about the lives of women and children.

Erin Butler
said

To quote:"Canadians don't want to drag the abortion debate in the maternal health discussion," [Minister Baird] said.Anyone else see the problem with that statement?

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

I'm a "pro-choice" guy who must part with the Conservative flock on any related issue(s). However, as a fiscal conservative, I've never been a fan of our federal government funding hundreds of special interest groups, most of which are entirely unworthy of a public nickel. Ultimately, I'm not shedding a tear, but hope that PM Harper quits throwing bones to those tight sphincters on the right who get their religious knickers in a twist.

joe
said

Mr Harper wants to go back to the days of back alleys and rusty coat hooks! Shame on all of us if we let him!

Mike S.
said

Can someone tell me why the Transport Minister is commenting on women's groups and abortion? Lacking a bit of competence in your party there, Harper?

Rick in NB, Ste Marie
said

How can Baird speak for most Canadians? The new reformed conservatives, under Harper's regime, are a minority at best. One would think that women know whats best for women. But i'm sure Harper see things differently.

redbeardbob
said

I would love to hear them try to claim there is no intimidation now. This classic behavior of Harper and his minions. they are revealling their true colors as a gang of neo con evangelical thugs that are only interested in forcing their dogma on everyone else. I truly fear for this country if they ever get a majority government. I hope the other parties can field enough viable candidates to kick these morons out before they truly f**k us up.

Metro
said

"Canadians don't want to drag the abortion debate in the maternal health discussion," he said. "This government is focused on how to make a positive difference in the lives of mothers and newborn children in the developing world."True, Mr. Baird, and as we all understand, one way to improve the lives of mothers in the developing world is to allow them to limit the number of children they have.Or maybe you haven't quite caught up the the Twentieth century yet? Tories: Canada's own little special-ed class.

CraigW
said

I noticed that no men's groups funding got cut. Oh wait, there was no funding for any men's groups.

Teresa
said

Since the article doesn't actually state what the womens groups did, and what their purpose was, I'm going to assume that they were a useless waste of taxpayer money. Good on the government for axing these leeches. Some of us women actually contribute to this country instead of suckling off of it.

radha
said

Did Baird talk to Senator Ruth about her outburst if it is unacceptable? Did the Prime Minister talk to his minister Guergis on Spt 9th 2009 when her husband was pulled over? Are these acceptable to the Conservatives. This is what Rae is talking about - its their culture of incivility and unacceptable behaviour on their side.

Jettle
said

Is anyone surprised by this? Again Harper swings to the right with his fundamentalist religious views.

robert Brise
said

The good news is, he didn't cut any mens group stuff Right??? By the way is there such a thing?

Havelock Heavy
said

No surprise here. The Harper double speak continues thru his puppet Mr. Baird - everybody else, "shut the f--k up"!! Your opinion doesn't count.

Scott Johnson
said

These funding cutss were planned long before the senator spoke out of line, with her comments being taken out of context. Study the list of organizations that received funding cuts in the past month and it will quickly be discovered that many organizations lost funding. Welcome to the economic reality of budgetary restraint. Prove that tax payers dollars are being well spent with sound productivity stats and you will retain tax dollars. Prove it not and, naturally, the gravy train will end.

garman
said

It is unfortunate that so many womens groups are being affected but I have always been put off that there are not more MEN IN NEED organizations. Perhaps some of these funds could be diverted there.

bruno
said

Tired of the Cons yet? If you disagree with them, then this bunch who received 36% of the votes will cut the funds, even though this is money from 100% of the taxpayers.

Carl
said

Thank you Prime Minister Harper for cutting funding to obsolete, ideologically-driven special interest groups. Sorry your good management of the public purse has been overshadowed by the vulgar ranting of someone in the Senate. Don't worry - Canadians understand that you didn't appoint her.

Sask Voter
said

The Conservatives are the ones opening up the abortion debate by attaching their religious ideology to taxpayer funded foreign aid.

Jason Daniel Baker, Toronto
said

Cut funding in the last two weeks for eleven different women's groups? Sounds like former minister of state for the status of women Helena Guergis successfully championed a lot of different programs and her successor in the portfolio doesn't care about any of them.

Jay, Ottawa
said

The Conservatives are unravelling quickly.

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