99.3 DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE POOR
Whereas, In June, 1998, the Senate of Canada passed Bill S-11, an Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, in order to add “social condition” as a prohibited ground for discrimination; and
Whereas, Canada embraces the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of oneself and one’s family, including food, clothing, shelter, medical care, telephone, social services, security, education, culture and justice; and
Whereas, Since the replacement of the Canada Assistance Plan with the Canada Health and Social transfer Plan, there are no national standards guaranteeing such rights as:
- A right to social assistance in cases of need; and
- A right to appeal actions taken by the bodies who administer social assistance payments; and
- A right to have health and safety standards in the workplace; and
Whereas, Pronounced income disparity has a profound and adverse impact on the health and well-being of the population at large; and
Whereas, Structural Adjustments programs, “free market” economic policy reforms imposed on developing countries by the Bretton Woods institutions (the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund) as a condition for receipt of loans, have an unduly harsh impact on women and their families; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) urge the Government of Canada to amend its human rights legislation to:
- Eliminate discrimination on the basis of low income; and
- Establish minimum standards for adequacy of income, based on realistic costs for basic needs such as, shelter, telephone, food, clothing, transportation etc.; and
- Establish minimum standards for adequate public programs such as, health, education, recreation etc.; and be it further
RESOLVED, that NCWC urge the International Council of Women (ICW) to:
- Instruct its permanent and accredited representatives to the United Nations to work strongly to eliminate any Structural Adjustment programs that result in the impoverishment of large segments of the population (especially women) as imposed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; and
- Urge its National Councils to urge their respective governments to ensure that human rights legislation includes provisions that would achieve the results outlined in the first Resolved clause.