Advocacy

Advocacy is a core function of CFUW and is at the heart of its mission and vision.  Advocacy is responsible for many things we now take for granted such as universal Medicare in Canada, women's voting rights, matrimonial property rights, and paid maternity leave.

CFUW has three National Advocacy Priorities:  1. Equity & Social Justice (gender equality; gender-based violence; poverty & homelessness; safe & strong institutions); 2. Education (life-long learning & member education; diversity, equity, & inclusion; Artificial Intelligence & digital education); and 3. Safe & Healthy Communities (Long-term care & aging in place; quality, equitable public healthcare; climate change & green policies; environmental conservation).

Resolutions

At their respective Annual General Meetings, CFUW and Ontario Council members pass resolutions on topics for which to advocate. These resolutions are used as the basis for advocacy campaigns. Lists of all resolutions CFUW and Ontario Council have passed can be found on their websites. 

Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence is a persistent and pervasive issue in Canada. The mental, physical, social, and financial impacts of violence are devastating and cannot be ignored.

CFUW advocates for the elimination of gender-based violence and campaigns for increased support to victims who experience all forms of violence. Our collective efforts help raise public awareness about gender-based violence, improve support and prevention, and put pressure on all levels of government to take stronger action.

Each year, CFUW KW participates in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign (Nov. 25 – Dec. 10), among other actions. Our annual December 6 Vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence brings together community members to honour the fourteen women murdered at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, as well as the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and all women killed because they were women.

Working Groups

In addition to our standing Advocacy Committee, group members form working groups to focus on the topics highlighted by different CFUW resolutions

Long-Term Care & Aging

This working group was formed in February 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed systemic failings in Canada’s long-term care system, and leads our club’s advocacy actions related to LTC and social issues related to aging.

In addition to attending webinars and reading policy documents and reports to learn more, our group helped to promote CFUW Stratford’s “Long-Term Care in Ontario Survey” and organized a letter writing campaign and continuing to learn more about national standards and principles, aging at home, and alternate models.  Background papers and questions to ask candidates in the provincial election were developed, articles about privatization and other long-term care issues were published in the club's newsletter, and the Ontario Council resolution to establish a Seniors' Advocate was reviewed.  The current focus is aging in place, which means having access to supports in order to live in one's own home safely, independently, and comfortably. 

The message coming from experts at national, provincial, and local levels is clear: public pressure on elected officials must be maintained to make sweeping changes.

Ontario Council Virtual Speaker Series

CFUW Ontario Council hosts a virtual speaker series each year. Attendance is free, but attendees must register in advance.

Register for an Ontario Council Virtual Speaker Series event.

Get Involved!

To join the CFUW KW Advocacy Committee, contact Susan Vecchiarelli.

Subscribe to the provincial and national CFUW newsletters to stay informed.

CFUW Ontario Council newsletter

CFUW Club Action Newsletter