Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two days from now, on Sunday, is International Women’s Day. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States in 1909. Then in 1977 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a
day for women’s rights and international peace. After that, Canada declared March 8th as
International Women’s Day in Canada.
It’s a day that connects women around the world and celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. It is a day to celebrate the women in our lives and our communities, to honour the advances women have made, but at the same time remember the need for continued action to ensure that the equality fought for and gained by the women who have passed before us is maintained in all aspects of our society.
To quote an old advertising slogan: We’ve come a long way, baby. But in many ways and in many places in the world and the NWT we still have a long way to go. We only have to look to the recent death of a Gameti woman to see that.
Canada’s theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Strong Leadership. Strong Women. Strong World: Equality.” The same reflects the belief that increasing women’s participation and access to leadership roles and opportunities will help women and girls thrive, reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams. In doing so, they will change our world for the better.
I’d like to mention a few facts. Women make up the majority of full-time students in most university departments. The House of Commons currently has 69 women, the highest number ever elected; not nearly enough, however. Forty-seven percent of self-employed Canadians are women and one in 10 women are self-employed. For the NWT our theme is Women Lead the Future, and NWT women are strong leaders, Mr. Speaker, and we find women leaders everywhere. They’re the women in our aboriginal and community governments and in our businesses. They’re the girls in our school councils. They are the women and the girls who volunteer selflessly to help others.
Five strong, very special women leaders will be recognized on Monday at noon here in the Great Hall. The Status of Women Council of the NWT will present the 2009 Wise Women Awards. I’m proud to say that Lynn Brooks, a very deserving Frame Lake resident, is the council’s North Slave region Wise Woman Award winner. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted