Queen’s University law professor Kathy Lahey is available to talk about the failings of the Harper Government in terms of women’s rights and equality in Canada.

“Stephen Harper identifies reducing maternal and child mortality as ‘the most important initiative we have right now’—but women in Bosnia and Herzegovina now have a greater chance of surviving childbirth than women in Canada,” says Professor Lahey, an expert in law gender and equality. “$1.1 billion has been committed to maternal and child health outside of Canada, but there appears to be no investments aimed at addressing the increase within Canada. Rather, Stephen Harper’s 2011 Federal Budget would have invested $24 million in research aimed at decreasing mortality rates for pigs, rather than women.”

Professor Lahey also notes that the Harper Government has done little else to support women’s equality. Harper’s Economic Action Plan has focused on job-creation in industries where few women work and provided tax breaks in which women have little share. The Harper Government also cancelled a national child-care plan that would ensure that all working parents would have increased access to safe, affordable child care while they are working.

To arrange an interview, please contact Christina Archibald at christina.archibald@queensu.ca, 613.533.2877 or Michael Onesi at michael.onesi@queensu.ca, 613.533.6000 ext. 77513, Queen’s News and Media Services.

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