More women's health organizations fall victim to federal funding cuts

Ottawa (26 April 2012) – Yet another group of organizations dedicated to research and communication in Canadian women’s health has fallen victim to cuts by the federal government. Earlier this week, the federal government announced the closure of the Women’s Health Contribution Program.

 

The program provided federal funding to six women’s health organizations including the Canadian Women’s Health Network (CWHN), the Réseau québécois d’action pour la santé des femmes (RQASF), the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (ACEWH), the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (BCCEWH), the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE) and the National Network on Environments and Women’s Health (NNEWH). 

 

These groups carried out research and provided policy input to federal government departments on a broad range of women’s health issues. The organizations’ funding will end March 31, 2013 forcing them to find funding elsewhere or permanently close their doors. 

 

"The effect of this decision by Health Canada is yet another strong sign that the federal government is pulling away from its responsibility to gender equality," stressed Chi Nguyen of CWHN.

 

This is the second annoucement this month to severly affect organizations whose primary focus is on women’s health.  On April 13, the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) was notified by Health Canada that funding to its Health Department would cease. 

 

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is joining with these organizations to encourage Canadians to write their Member of Parliament to voice their concerns about these funding cuts to organizations that promote women’s health and equality.

 

 

 

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE