Editor:
With the announcement Monday of the new plastic Canadian $50 bill, we find out that the pictures of the Famous Five – the five women who asked the Supreme Court in 1927 if the word ‘persons’ in the BNA Act included females – and of Therese Casgrain, as well as the quote from the UN International Declaration of Human Rights, will no longer appear on the back of the bill.
It would seem this government has found a way to make women and human rights vanish from the economy and tossed aside our symbols. The cumulative cuts and changes by this government continue to undermine women’s gains and girls’ futures.
The replacement is honouring the icebreaker, CCGS Amundsen, which is named after a northern explorer. And no, Roald Amundsen was not a woman nor Canadian – not that I have anything against Norwegians, as an immigrant from Finland myself – but what is he doing on a Canadian bill?
Sadly, I observe the gender imbalance and devaluing of women’s contributions continues.
Who decides?
Please, ladies, remain engaged in speaking up, championing improvements and not demurely watching in silence.
Get involved in clubs, organizations and even politics!
Pat Petrala, White Rock
