At the meeting, co-chaired by the Honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Status of Women) and the Honourable Patricia Mella, Minister Responsible for Status of Women for Prince Edward Island, Ministers addressed a number of issues that continue to impede women from achieving full social and economic equality.

As part of their discussion of women's economic security, Ministers reviewed the report of the House of Commons Finance Sub-Committee on Tax Equity for Canadian Families with Dependent Children. Ministers agreed on the importance of ensuring that all public policy, and in particular tax policy, reflects and supports economic equality for women.

During their meeting, Ministers reiterated their commitment to eliminating violence against women with the adoption of Preventing Violence Against Women, A Strategic Framework. The Framework, developed to guide policy and program development in the area of violence prevention, is based on a common vision and shared goals and follows the Iqaluit Declaration released by Ministers in December 1998. The Framework reflects strategies and initiatives that work and highlights best practices to prevent violence.

This Framework supports other ongoing work by Ministers, organizations and groups as well as individual women and men with regards to violence. It reflects the strategies and initiatives of each government and recognizes the work accomplished in various areas, notably at the community level, to eliminate violence against women and its multiple consequences. Ministers also agreed to pursue a collaborative approach to addressing criminal harassment (stalking). Their strategy focuses on information sharing, aimed at eliminating the harmful effects of criminal harassment in Canadian society.

In addition to the discussion on economic issues and violence, Ministers also examined issues of concern for older women and aging, one of their priority issues. Some of the major challenges facing the well-being of older women today include low-income, caregiving responsibilities and health issues. In this the International Year of Older Persons, Ministers discussed the needs of the diversity of older women and agreed to work collaboratively with Ministers Responsible for Seniors to address these challenges.

The next meeting of Federal-Provincial/Territorial Ministers is scheduled to be held in British Columbia in 2000.

For more information, contact: Anne Schroder, Status of Women Canada, (613) 943-1729, schrodera@swc-cfc.gc.ca; or Sandra Bentley, Interministeral Women's Secretariat, (902) 368-5557, scbentley@gov.pe.ca.

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