Advocacy - Why I Volunteer for CFUW

CFUW’s “Master Statement” announces at the beginning of each piece of external correspondence that:  Founded in 1919, CFUW is a self-funded, non-partisan organization of over 6,600 women and 94 Clubs across Canada that works to improve the status of women by promoting human rights, public education, social justice, and peace in Canada and abroad. CFUW Clubs grant over $1 million a year in scholarships and awards and work actively in their communities to advance our mission of achieving equality and social justice through continuous learning and empowerment. CFUW holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is the largest affiliate of Graduate Women International.

We don’t declare outright that we are a Feminist organization. Feminism is the belief that women deserve equal social, economic, and political rights and freedoms. Over the years, feminism and CFUW have focused on issues like the right to vote, reproductive and sexual freedom, and equal pay. Feminism and CFUW also explores racism, gender norms, self-expression, and much more.  Feminism can also be seen as a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that advocate to establish the equal rights - political, economic, personal, and social - of the sexes - male, female, trans and non -binary.  

For the past 100 plus years, and today, CFUW’s past strengths and forward vision offers hope to the future.  Scholarships from local Clubs and at the Federation level lends support, financing the education of promising women, giving them confidence and a sense of community - knowing that other women believe in them.  Even now, with life long learning opportunities for members and the public and scholarship programs for worthy persons, CFUW offers encouragement and inspiration to anyone who wants to study.  

Resolutions supporting advocacy about violence against women in politics, or election reform, hasn’t interfered with CFUW remaining non-partisan. We just don’t endorse political parties or political people. But we do get involved in political decision making. Many resolutions contributed to changes to government policy, new legislation, studies or new regulations.  

During 2023, Margaret Therrien visited the National Archives and investigated the CFUW files, especially the record of resolutions and studies on hand. She reported the findings in a Success Matrix, that included when CFUW contributed to government policy change or actual law change.  I count these as great successes of our predecessors.  Here is a sample of how CFUW made a difference during the years 1919 to 1964:

    •    Statements were issued in 1920 about Education, that included 

    •    Municipal system of school administration 

    •    Financial support of the public school system

    •    Adequate salaries for teachers

    •    Teacher qualifications 

    •    A statement was issued regarding Women in the Senate (1921) 

    •    A statement issued regarding armament reduction and the manufacture of armaments (1934) 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Women included on the National Medical Commission

    •    Study of Social and Economic Conditions in Canada (1934)

    •    Scientific Study of Crime and Punishment (1934) 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Reduction in discrimination against women in the Civil Service 

    •    Promotion of world peace (1937)

    •    Government Policy Impact: Input to the Royal Commission on Prison Reform (1940) 

    •    Statement about Racial Intolerance 

    •    A study on war end challenges (1940) 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Canada’s UNESCO participation   

    •    Government Policy Impact: CBC Authority 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Grants for Gifted Students

    •    Government Policy Impact: Welfare of Indigenous People 

    •    Study about the Candidacy of women for politics (1946)

    •    Law change for Student Tax Exemption 

    •    Law Change for Housekeeper Tax Exemption 

    •    Appointment of a Woman to the National Parole Board 

    •    Law change for Income Tax Regulations for Students 

    •    Law change for Amendment to the Estate Tax Act 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Refugees 

    •    Law change re:  Canadian Citizenship Act Amendment 

    •    Law change re: Income Tax Act Amendment 

    •    Government Policy Impact: CBC Support 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Funding support for Canada Council 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Support for the National Library 

And since 1964, these are just some of the government policy impact and law changes have occurred because CFUW contributed through resolutions and advocacy: 

    •    Law Change: Contraception and the Criminal Code (1964) 

    •    Law Change: Divorce and Separation

    •    Law Change: Marriage Act 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Educational Television

    •    Law Change: Water Pollution (1967) 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Commissioner for Human Rights

    •    Law Change: Family Unit for Income Tax Purposes

    •    Law Change: Women and the Indian Act

    •    Law Change: Abortion (1970)

    •    Government Policy Impact: Federal Timetable for Status of Women Council (1972) 

    •    Government Policy Impact: National Legislation for Child Care 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Solid Waste Disposal 

    •    Law Change: Citizenship Act - Sex Discrimination (1973)

    •    Law Change: Revision Committee of the Indian Act (1978)

    •    Law Change: Old Age Security Act

    •    Law Change: Young Offenders - Age, Media Presence in Court, Cultural and Linguistic Accommodations

    •    Government Policy Impact: Women’s Prisons 

    •    Law Change: Canada Elections Act

    •    Law Change: Charitable Donations 

    •    Government Policy Impact: Low Level Test Flights over Labrador

    •    Law Change: Ethanol Blended Gasoline (1992)

    •    Law Change: Tobacco: Health; Education 

    •    Law Change: Ethical and Human Rights Implications for New Reproductive Technologies

    •    Law Change: Hate Propaganda for Criminal Code

    •    Government Policy Impact: A high-level women’s agency at the UN 

Advocacy is more than adopting resolutions. It includes the work of educating members and the public about the issue, motivating their actions towards the goal of a policy or legislative change by writing letters, meeting with political decision makers and just plain persistence in pursuing change.  All the above examples shine out as beacons for today’s advocacy practitioners that CFUW really does make a difference.  And can continue to make a difference every month, every year, with its work on resolutions, on issues of interest groups locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.  

Thank you to all the current advocacy practitioners in CFUW and to all our past champions of issues, who have resolved to make a difference.  

Heather Oxman

National VP Advocacy 

CFUW Lethbridge and District