2005:07 Funding for Travel and Accommodation Costs of Attending Government Consultations and Meetings
Whereas: in signing the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) the Government of Canada has made a commitment to enable women to participate in the formulation of government policy; and
Whereas: in signing the UN Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration, the Government of Canada has committed to establishing co-operative relationships with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) especially women’s organizations; and
Whereas: lack of core funding to women’s NGOs has restricted the ability of women to participate in consultations; and
Whereas: the Government has partially fulfilled these commitments by establishing public consultations; however, it has failed to facilitate participation in such consultations by issuing open invitations in order to avoid providing funding for participants’ travel and accommodation expenses; therefore be it
Resolved: that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that travel and accommodation expenses of all Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) representatives invited to participate in consultations and meetings with federal departments and agencies should be reimbursed by the federal department or agency organizing the consultations and meetings without compromising the members of NGOs invited; and be it further
Resolved: that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to routinely make provision for travel and accommodation expenses of all Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representatives without compromising the members of NGOs invited when issuing invitations to participate in consultations and meetings.