Vancouver - The BC Federation of Labour says it welcomes the appointment today by Premier John Horgan of MLA Mitzi Dean as the newly created Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity.
“It’s an important move to turn the tide on 16 years of BC Liberal policies that have hurt women,” says BCFED President Irene Lanzinger.
“From deep cuts to women’s centres to inaction on childcare and tearing up signed contracts for women health care workers, the Liberals created many additional burdens for women in our province,” says Lanzinger.
“It’s an important step for the new government to take, and a sign of a renewed commitment to work for equity and social and economic justice.”
Lanzinger says that she’s also heartened that Dean will take a more active role in the troubled National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Just ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, the Federation’s Women’s Rights Committee will be in Victoria to lobby provincial politicians from all parties on a host of issues, including stronger protections against sexual assault and harassment in the workplace, and more widespread availability of rape kits and access to specialized health services for women who are sexually assaulted.