Don't Make Us Work for Free! On September 17th, Ontario women started working for free because of the 29% wage gap between women and men. See the Ontario Equal Pay Coalition's Toronto Star Op Ed, "Ontario's gender pay gap cheats women workers ," and new "Don't Make Me Work for Free " sticker. Check out the website of the Equal Pay Coalition HERE for more information.
New funding for women's shelters; second stage housing programs! Read the Ontario government announcement HERE and our media response HERE .
Women at Mattawa IWD celebrations send a message to government: maintain the special OW back to school and winter clothing allowance for low-income families in Ontario.
At their recent meeting, members of the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) created some messages for Ministers and MPPs in the new Ontario government. Anyone can send a message to Step it Up! Decide on your message about what we need to end violence against women, take a picture and send it to us at info@StepItUpOntario.ca with a note giving us permission to put it up on our website.
OAITH women's shelter reps took time out from their annual meeting November 8th to send a welcome message to the new Ontario government with a cold and rainy rally. Spirits undampened, they 'count on' the Liberals to provide a warmer reception when MPPs return to the Legislature.
Step it Up! was featured at the Parry Sound October 17th Walk for Community Safety, where women, children and men gathered to hear about the campaign and to listen to the Min We We Singers from Wasauksing First Nation before taking to the streets.
Women's advocates in Ottawa teamed up with students from University of Ottawa and Carleton University to meet the press, take the issues to an all-candidates meeting and leaflet Ottawa transit stops and neighourhoods with Step it Up! materials.
