Priority Issues for Women in Montreal
On April 5, 2018, the Conseil des Montréalaises (CM), in partnership with the Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal (TGFM), held an event for women's groups on the theme Women and Municipal Issues. The event brought together more than 50 representatives from feminist organizations.
As an advisory body for the City of Montreal on questions relating to the status of women and gender equality, as well as equality among women, the CM is in communication with various networks working towards improving living and working conditions for women. The event was an occasion to consult with women's groups who have a day-to-day understanding of the complex lived experiences of Montreal women. "Encounters like these are necessary and unifying. They allow the CM to hear from Montreal's women, research their concerns and bring them to the attention of the municipal administration,” highlighted Dorothy Alexandre, President of the CM.
The representatives from women's groups in attendance raised several concerns, including four priorities, for Montreal women:
- They want the City of Montreal to truly apply a differential gender-based and intersectional analysis to consider the realities of all women, including those who face discrimination based on their socio-economic status, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or Indigenous identity.
- They are concerned for women's safety in Montreal’s public spaces and want the City to take a clear stance against all forms of violence against women.
- Poverty and difficulty accessing housing, especially social housing, are crucial issues for women.
- Event participants wanted the City to consider the many lived experiences and needs of women when making decisions on urban infrastructure and in its measures to combat climate change.
The event also allowed the women in attendance to express their expectations for the City of Montreal. They want to be consulted as part of the post-mortem for the City's 2015-2018 municipal action plan "Promoting the Equal Involvement of Women and Men in the Montreal Community" as well as for the next action plan. "We hope that the city will organize a forum with feminist groups, elected officials, public servants and the CM for this consultation process," explained Carole Benjamin, TGFM Coordinator.
CM members want to take this opportunity to thank all of the participants who helped make the event a success.
The Conseil des Montréalaises
Created in May 2004, the Conseil des Montréalaises is composed of 15 volunteer members chosen from the female population of Montreal. It acts as a consultative entity for the municipal administration on all questions related to working and living conditions for Montreal women and gender equality, as well as equality among women.
The Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal
The Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal is a regional round table founded in March of 1996. Its mission is to promote and defend the interests of women from a feminist perspective of gender equality. It intervenes in all spheres of social, political, economic and cultural life that may influence women's living conditions in Montreal.