BC Coalition of Women's Centres
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British
Columbia Moves Backwards on Women’s Equality
Submission of the B.C. CEDAW
Group to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
Against Women on the occasion of the Committee’s review of Canada’s 5th
Report | January 23, 2003
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Article 10: Education
68. In 2001, tuition fees at public universities
in British Columbia were de-regulated; there is no longer any legislation
governing fee-setting by these institutions. As a consequence, universities
have increased tuition fees from 25-300%. Students can now anticipate graduating
with a much larger debt burden. The effect of tuition increases is most
detrimental for members of those groups least able to bear high debt burdens,
including single mothers, low-income women, and women with reduced labour
market opportunities, such as women with disabilities. For young working-class
women, for whom education is a less usual choice, the prospect of high
debt discourages them. It also erects barriers for women who wish to pursue
educational interests, such as the arts, that may not provide high earnings.
Further, new provisions of the social assistance program make all full-time
students ineligible for welfare benefits, eliminating a key source of income
for some students who are otherwise unable to afford university.
69. Some government-provided education and training
programs designed to assist low income people and people on social assistance
to obtain better jobs have also been eliminated, including programs such
as Summer Works, Skills for Employment and Job Start.
Caledon Institute of Social Policy, “A New Era in
British Columbia: A Profile of Budget Cuts Across Social Programs” at
4, online:
Caledon Institute of Social Policy
(date accessed: 14 August 2002). [Tab 82]
British Columbia Coalition of Women’s Centres, website, online:
BCCWC
(date accessed: 14 August 2002). [Tab 83]
Employment and Assistance Act, S.B.C. c. 40, repealing R.S.B.C.
1996, c. 27, online:
British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General
(date accessed: 29 December 2002). [Tab 29]
70. Because of the B.C. Government’s budget decisions, 1,966 (full
time equivalent) teaching positions in elementary and secondary schools
will be cut, 44 schools closed, and support services for special needs children
significantly reduced. Children in some rural areas will be forced to bus,
sometimes great distances, to schools outside of their communities, and
some children with disabilities will be restricted from classrooms due to
cuts to special education assistants. Programs and services that address
social inequalities in education, such as Gender Equity Programs and Aboriginal
Programs (cultural awareness, Aboriginal language, and support service
programs), have been cut and are disappearing. Given that drop out rates
for young lesbians and Aboriginal girls are already elevated, cuts to these
support programs will exacerbate an existing inequality.
British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, “Education Funding: A Brief
to the Select Standing Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government
Services,” October 2002, online:
British Columbia Teachers’ Federation
(date accessed: 29 December 2002). [Tab 84]
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This page last updated:
March 8, 2003
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