FAUST's letter to Hon. Keith Ashfield re: the decision of the federal government to cut the funding of the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Faculty Association of the

University of St. Thomas

(FAUST)

Fredericton, New Brunswick

E3B 5G3

 

Phone: 506.452.9667                                                                                        Fax: 506.450.9615

 

29 April 2010

 

Hon. Keith Ashfield

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6

 

Dear Hon. Keith Ashfield:

 

On behalf of the Executive of FAUST (The Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas), I would like to express our dismay at the decision of the federal government to cut the funding of the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity. The Coalition has done much to improve the lives of the women of New Brunswick. Promoting the message that pay equity is a human right, it took a leading role in the campaign to adopt New Brunswick’s Pay Equity Act, which came into effect on 1 April 2010, and ensures pay equity for women employed  in the public sector. Moreover, the Coalition continues to lobby for pay equity for the 67% of New Brunswick women who continue to toil  for minimal wages in the private sector.

 

The Coalition has requested monies from the Status of Women Canada to work with 80 female representatives from throughout the province to improve their leadership skills and thereby strengthen their participation in the larger community. The long reach of the Coalition is illustrated by its membership, which includes over 700 individual members and 81 group members. Despite its impressive scope, the Coalition has always achieved much with a relatively small budget. If, however, the federal funding of the Coalition is eliminated, their very existence is in jeopardy.

 

As a resident of New Brunswick, we are confident that you will recognize the importance of this organization to your constituents, and take the steps necessary to see that the Coalition’s funding is not eliminated.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Robin Vose, FAUST President,

on behalf of the FAUST Executive