Face-Off

Doris Anderson at the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women

penney kome

Plusieurs groupes de femmes furent Then there was the nature of the twice in my role as Woman’s Place sceptiques en 1979 quand les Libéraux Advisory Council itself. Although columnist for Homemaker’s maga- ont nommé Doris Anderson au poste the Council had published some zine—a position with a generous de présidente du ccccf mais elle a useful research papers—which Op- expense account completely out of prouvé qu’elle pouvait offrir plus que position mps had used to some ad- proportion with the actual column personne. Doris avait une image men- vantage during Question Period— fees. I used to pop up to Ottawa tale de ce que devrait être le Conseil, the cascw had a reputation for practically once a month to keep up elle a voulu arrêter les nominations co-opting all who entered there. with national news. partisanes pour y installer des cher- Only very dedicated feminists My recollection is that Doris was cheures dynamiques et intrépides. dared apply for staff jobs at the fairly circumspect in her phrasing Pendant son mandat, le ccccf s’est Council. Within the civil service, it when she first started at the Coun- objecté à la formulation de la Charte was widely regarded as a career dead- cil. Only in another interview, much canadienne des droits et libertés qui end. Transferring out was difficult, later, did she say openly, “The Liber- allait être incorporée dans la Constitu- because few departments wanted to als saw me as a well-known woman tion canadienne. Cet article rapporte hire avowed feminists (that is, trou- and as a nice comfortable friend. I en détails la façon dont Doris a dirigé ble-makers). Yet the Council seemed knew I would be more activist than et motivé le mouvement qui a secoué et to eat up those same dedicated and they would like and that they’d poussé le Canada à adopter une procé- talented women; they disappeared never re-appoint me. But I really dure plus sévère et plus étendue en vue without a trace. did think I could make the Council de garantir les droits à l’égalité des per- Doris was already in her late 50s work in three years and then leave sonnes des deux sexes dans la section 15 when she took the job. While not quietly.” (amendée au début de la procédure) quite a Senate appointment, to Doris had a mental image of what ainsi que dans la section 28. many observers the cascw presi- the Council could be. She wanted dency looked like an undemand- to clear out the dead wood and pa- Many women’s groups responded ing sinecure where she could spend tronage appointments, and install with some skepticism in 1979 when a few years before retiring with a bold, dynamic researchers. Her ar- the Liberal government announced healthy pension. rival as president was complicated it would appoint Doris Anderson as I interviewed Doris shortly af- by a number of factors, including President of the Canadian Advisory ter she started at the Council, and the cascw’s move from cramped Council on the Status of Women discovered she had quite a differ- quarters in the aptly-named Hope (cascw). While a few women al- ent view. She saw the Council as a Building, to the top floor of the Es- lowed grudgingly that, “at least she dysfunctional organization, and she planade building on Sparks Street. knows something about women’s intended to clean it up. She was glad Files, equipment, reference ma- issues,” the overall sense was that to see a familiar face, and terials—things were in boxes for she was given a patronage appoint- very kindly invited me to a spaghetti months. ment because she had run (unsuc- dinner at her townhouse, with her When they finally settled in, the cessfully) as a Liberal candidate in son Mitchell (then in high school). cascw and its sister agency, the an important 1978 by-election. I’d lunched with Doris once or Office of the Co-ordinator on the

VOLUME 26, NUMBER 2 61 Status of Women (now Status of that he’d been given the Status of McLeod to include Peggy Mason Women Canada), thrived in of- Women portfolio as penance for an- as staff legal counsel. Mason under- fices so spacious that the Status of nouncing his leadership intentions lined what the constitutional experts Women Canada (swc) Co-ordina- too quickly when it seemed that had said: the Charter used the same tor, Maureen O’Neill, could afford Pierre Trudeau might step down. wording as the 1960 Bill of Rights, to set aside an office overlooking Axworthy let it be known that he which had never been interpreted to Parliament for the Minister’s use, had requested the position. advance women’s equality. in case the Minister ever decided to However, Axworthy didn’t get So Doris wrote a letter to the visit. along with Doris. Trouble started Prime Minister, with a copy to Ax- Doris Anderson’s office overlooked between them even before they had worthy, detailing the cascw’s ob- the Four Seasons Hotel. She joked to work together. Soon after Doris jections to the proposed wording of

Women looked forward to conveying their alarm to Axworthy, the Minister responsible, who was scheduled to be the after-dinner speaker. Rather than listening to them, however, Axworthy asked them to make a “leap of faith” and trust that the government knew what was best for them. that she could see who was having took over the cascw , she decided the Charter. She followed up with a lunch with whom. to lighten the payroll by getting rid press conference later that day. Ac- Since Doris’s appointment was an- of a non-productive member in the cording to reports, when the Prime nounced only two days before Pierre Winnipeg office, who even Win- Minister asked Axworthy about Do- Trudeau went to the Governor-Gen- nipeg Vice-President Win Gardner ris’s letter, he said he hadn’t read it. eral and precipitated the 1979 elec- agreed was redundant. To Doris’s At that point, Trudeau “tore a strip tion, it was seen in some quarters as surprise, Axworthy phoned her and off him” before the entire Cabinet. electioneering. However, the Liberals demanded that she reinstate his loyal The cascw also blanketed the lost that election, and Doris proved campaign worker. At that point, he country with a flyer, inviting wom- to be more than anyone had bar- was just a Winnipeg backbencher. en to mail in an attached coupon gained for. With the Conservatives Doris refused. demanding a change in the word- in power, she persuaded David Mac- When Axworthy retained his seat ing of Charter equality guarantees. Donald, the Minister responsible for in the next election, the Prime Mi- And it organized a Women’s Con- the Status of Women, to double the nister appointed him Minister of stitutional Conference, planned Council’s budget (to $1.4 million) Employment and Immigration— for the first weekend in September and increase the swc budget too. and the Minister responsible for the 1980. By the end of August, how- When the Liberals regained po- Status of Women, which made him ever, the conference was postponed wer in 1980, the Council was a Doris’s boss. indefinitely, due (Doris said) to an busy little shop, briskly turning out Their next clash came in the impending translators’ strike over important reports (such as Linda fall of 1980, after Justice Minister maternity leave and other issues. McLeod’s groundbreaking report on Jean Chrétien introduced the gov- In 1980, the Canadian femi- violence against women) that were ernment’s proposed constitutional nist movement enjoyed a level of bestsellers in government book- package, which included the new funding and organization hardly stores and sometimes led to awk- Charter of Rights. Axworthy had as- imaginable in 2007. In addition to ward questions in the House. David sured the Prime Minister and Cabi- longstanding organizations like the MacDonald had sometimes used his net that women’s groups would sup- National Council of Women and the office space in theswc office. Lloyd port an entrenched Charter—even Federation of Business and Profes- Axworthy, his Liberal successor, was though he hadn’t consulted them. sional Women, most provinces had rather more distant. But Doris saw serious problems both a provincial Status of Women Lloyd Axworthy looked so prom- with the Charter. Since early sum- Council and also a volunteer Status ising at first. A Westerner, of whom mer, the Advisory Council had had of Women Committee. There were some of his local women’s groups experts researching the Charter’s government-funded women’s cen- gave good report, he seemed pro- implications for women. In August, tres and women’s publications, as gressive on issues like mandatory af- she expanded the in-house research well as shelters for women fleeing firmative action. Cynics whispered team of Julyan Reid and Linda abuse. And there was a vigorous and

62 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME “Lunches with Leaders.” Doris Anderson is the third woman on the right. vocal National Action Committee dent Louise Harel, led the audience About a month later, Liberal Sen- on the Status of Women (nac), a through a review of the proposed ator Harry Hays galvanized women coalition of women’s groups from constitutional document. By the end across Canada with a careless com- across Canada that actively orga- of the day-long seminar, the group ment picked up by television camer- nized, strategized, and lobbied the concluded that the proposed word- as and replayed over and over again. federal government every year. ing of some sections of the Charter Joe Clark and the Conservatives had As cascw President, Doris was seemed to jeopardize women’s legal forced the Liberal government to in a key leadership role. She ensured rights rather than protect them. strike a Special Joint Committee on that the Council provided the data Women looked forward to con- the , and to and analysis. The volunteer organi- veying their alarm to Lloyd Axwor- hold public hearings—first for one zations followed through with lob- thy, the Minister responsible, who month, and ultimately for a total of bying. cascw research, especially was scheduled to be the after-din- four months. Hays co-chaired the the briefs prepared by lawyers Mary ner speaker. Rather than listening committee and heard most, if not Eberts and Beverly Baines, informed to them, however, Axworthy asked all, of the 20 women’s groups that virtually all the feminist activities them to make a “leap of faith” and managed to win invitations to make around the Constitution. trust that the government knew presentations. Justice Minister Jean In October 1979, about 200 what was best for them. Not only Chrétien specifically commended women met in Toronto, in a con- did he alienate that audience (and presentations by the cascw and the vergence of regularly scheduled subsequent audiences where he pre- National Association of Women and meetings with a special nac mid- sented the same arrogant, patron- Law when he subsequently intro- year gathering. Eminently qualified izing speech), he galvanized lawyer duced amendments to the Charter. speakers, including Doris Anderson Marilou McPhedran—a former stu- At first, only two women’s groups and Parti Québécois Vice-Presi- dent of his—into opposing him. were invited to present, both on No-

VOLUME 26, NUMBER 2 63 vember 20, 1979—nac in the after- tion, how can the Council support would seriously damage the Coun- noon, and the cascw in the evening. its entrenchment at all? Wouldn’t cil’s credibility, the other executive nac president Lynn McDonald pre- Canadian women be better served members—Win Gardner, Florence sented a cogent eight-page brief, as- if Council refused to accept this Ievers, Joanne Linzey (and later, Lu- sisted by Jill Porter, Betsy Carr, and Charter?” cie Pépin)—declared their support Marilou McPhedran. Their recom- Doris replied, “That’s like ask- for the Minister. mendations included gender parity ing if I prefer outright execution or On January 12th, Doris issued a on the Supreme Court of Canada— Russian roulette. I prefer Russian press release saying she intended to unthinkable at the time, but initiated roulette.” go ahead with the conference any- 15 months later with the appoint- Her words were more prophetic way, unless the full Council decided ment of Bertha Wilson as the first than she realized. After a quick otherwise at a special meeting to be

Although the government tried to portray the kerfuffle as a personality conflict between Doris and everyone else, women across the country weren’t convinced. As celebrated feminist Laura Sabia recalled, “If Doris Anderson resigned over it, there must be a serious issue involved. What are they trying to keep from us?” woman Supreme Court of Canada trip to Copenhagen for a United held January 20th. Public, press, and Justice. They fielded a few questions Nations meeting, Doris set the politicians responded immediately from a fairly friendly committee that wheels in motion to finally hold the to her charge of political interfer- included mps Flora MacDonald, postponed Women and Constitu- ence with the supposedly indepen- Pauline Jewett, and Senators Flor- tion conference. She met with the dent Council, flooding ministerial ence Bird and Yvette Rousseau. Minister responsible for the Status offices with letters, telegrams, and Senator Hays adjourned the af- of Women, Lloyd Axworthy, on phone calls. Flora MacDonald and ternoon session by saying, “I want December 15, 1979, and discussed Pauline Jewett led their caucuses to thank you girls for your presen- the conference at length with him, in raising pointed questions in the tation. We’re honoured to have you and followed up by sending him the House. here. But I wonder why you don’t proposed agenda. However, Doris was out-voted have anything in here for babies or The Council prepared invitations again at the meeting, 17 to 10. She children. All you girls are going to for a February 13-14, 1980 event, emerged from the meeting room, be out working and who’s going to with the headline, “The timing has stood before the television cameras, look after them?” His comments never been better!” Apparently the and announced her resignation as met with stunned silence, which re- Minister didn’t agree. On January cascw President. Within hours, verberated across the country. 6th, Doris returned after a week five other Council Board members Partisan politics came into play away from the office, and discov- resigned in support. By March 30th, that evening when Doris led the ered that the invitations and press 1980, eight out of nine office staff cascw’s presentation. The Conser- releases had been held back, osten- had resigned or transferred out. vatives were opposed to a supreme sibly because the Minister preferred Although the government tried to Charter. To be fair, many Canadians not to see a national women’s con- portray the kerfuffle as a personality were concerned about adopting the stitutional conference at the same conflict between Doris and every- U.S. model of allowing courts to time as debate in the House. one else, women across the country strike down legislation. They felt After a year and a half of constant weren’t convinced. As celebrated that the doctrine of Parliamentary upheavals, the Council suddenly feminist Laura Sabia recalled her Supremacy, under the 1867 Brit- faced the greatest crisis in Ander- reasoning when I interviewed her ish North America Act, had served son’s short presidency. On January for my book, The Taking of Twenty- Canada well. 9th, Doris convened an emergency Eight, her thought at the time was, So when the cascw criticized the meeting of the cascw executive. “If Doris Anderson resigned over it, wording in Charter equality clauses, Axworthy attended, and stated that there must be a very serious issue in- Flora MacDonald led the Conser- he would rather see a series of re- volved. What are they trying to keep vative challenge by asking, “If the gional conferences than a national from us?” document is as flawed as it seems conference. Despite Doris’s insis- Less than a week later, groups to be from your excellent presenta- tence that a second postponement of women met in Toronto and in

64 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME Doris Anderson and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Ottawa to decide how they would one of us tomorrow.” cyclone” of publicity, pre-arranged respond to the government’s ac- They formed an Ad Hoc Com- speaking engagements, and much in tions. Sabia was part of the Toronto mittee to formulate the response. demand for television and radio talk group, which also included Kay The two groups communicated shows. She plugged the upcoming Macpherson, Nancy Jackman, Moi- mainly by phone. They had a conference in every interview. ra Armour, and representatives from huge advantage in the person of Core Ad Hoc Committee mem- the Federation of Women Teachers lawyer Marilou McPhedran, who bers soon found themselves work- Associations of , Canadian was working in Ottawa during the ing 16 hours a day. All the women’s Congress on Learning Opportuni- week and commuting home to To- movement infrastructure came into ties for Women, Women for Po- ronto on the weekends. The Ottawa play, inside and outside govern- litical Action, Women’s Halton Ac- group decided to handle the logis- ment. Women’s Workshop of Lon- tion Movement, and the Canadian tics for proceeding with the very don, Ontario, a registered charity, Woman Studies Journal. same conference that the Advisory agreed to sponsor the conference, The Ottawa group included Jill Council had planned—it was to issuing tax receipts for donations. Porter and Rosemary Billings from be the first public conference ever After published nac, author Heather Menzies, law- held on Parliament Hill—and the a column in the , the yer Shirley Greenberg, accountant Toronto group agreed to plan the donations poured in, as did phone Jane Pope, and representatives from program. They were hoping to at- calls from eager volunteers and reg- the Ottawa Women’s Lobby—as tract maybe two-thirds of the 300 istrants. well as women who had spent all that the Council expected. Senator Martha Beilish, ndp mp day phoning around Ottawa trying A delegation went to visit Doris, Margaret Mitchell, and Conserva- to locate organized response to the who suggested mildly that organiz- tive mp Flora MacDonald openly as- cascw fiasco. Women who worked ing a national conference is a lot of sisted the conference every way they in the government were especially work and they might be biting off could; other vital helpers chose to be likely to say, “If we let them do it to more than they could chew. For her more discreet. By the day before the Doris today, they could do it to any part, Doris said she was “riding a conference, organizers counted 350

VOLUME 26, NUMBER 2 65 Canadian Advisory Council Conseil consultatif canadien on the Status of Women de la situation de la femme

for immediate release

ottawa, January 12, 1981 – Defying a five-to-one vote on the part of her executive, Doris An- derson, President of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, says she plans to proceed with a constitutional conference which is scheduled for February 13 and 14.

“The members of the Council and the women of Canada have been promised this conference early in 1981. As President, I have a commitment to them to air the key issues for women and the Constitution in a public forum as early as possible. Unless the full Council decides to cancel the conference at its January meeting, it will go ahead as planned.”

“I am personally shocked,” said the president of the cacsw, “that the executive interpreted a suggestion from the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, that our conference might be slightly embarrassing to the government, as a valid reason to cancel this conference. I find it even more astonishing that they should consider this action a legitimate one by an independent council. In the history of cacsw, I know of no other instance where an executive has tried to a cancel a clear Council commitment on such flimsy grounds, or where a government has attempted to influence the Council’s plans so directly.”

The conference, which had been originally scheduled for September, was postponed because of a translators’ strike.

“We promised to re-schedule the conference as soon as the strike was over, and in November, we set a February date. We hired an organizer in early December. Mr. Axworthy assured us at that time that he would reserve space in the West Block and host a reception and a luncheon. All the speakers and panelists have been contacted. Plane and hotel reservations have been made. Women’s groups have made plans to dovetail meetings around our conference.”

“The cacsw worked hard all fall to get changes in the Charter of Rights to more securely guar- antee women’s rights in the constitution. More than 17,000 women have individually responded in support of the cacsw recommendations. Although I have not seen the proposed amendments yet, I believe we have had some success in getting the wording changed along the lines we sug- gested. But other matters that affect women in Canada—such as overlapping jurisdictions, better representation of women on boards, in courts and in government, and the whole area of family law—still need to be addressed.”

“We have lined up first-rate experts to speak at the conference. Women must be armed with the very best information in order to take part in the next round of discussions on the constitution. The cacsw will lose all credibility with the women of Canada if this conference is cancelled.”

– 30 –

66 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME interview with doris anderson cbc morningside – january 21, 1981 – 9:45am

Interviewer: Good morning Doris. Saw you on tv last night along with the rest of the hostages.

Doris Anderson: I certainly picked a great night to resign.

Interviewer: Well, you obviously had reasons. What were they?

Doris Anderson: Well, what was at issue was the independence of the Council, because it’s a Council of women appointed certainly by the government and certainly it had strong political ties, but … they should be able to act in an independent way for the women of Canada.…

Interviewer: This is the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Doris Anderson: That’s right. And the minister wanted a conference cancelled. He didn’t say he wanted it cancelled but he said that the timing would be unfortunate for the government and might cause the government some embarassment at that time because they would be debating the charter of Rights in the House of Commons.

Interviewer: So it seems like the members of the Executive Council want it cancelled. Is that right?

Doris Anderson: Well, after this discussion with the Minister they collapsed totally and said, yes they must cancel this conference. And at that time I could not even get them to say they would ever hold a conference. So I decided, instead of resigning at that time, which is what I felt like doing, to take the whole matter to the whole Council and see if I couldn’t get the decision reversed. And I am just sorry that I just didn’t seem to be able to convince that Council that they have to stand up.… They have to be independent of the government if they are going to represent women properly. And I think what has to be looked at is how those Council members are appointed. And I think another factor is should a Council like that report to a Cabinet minister? I don’t think they should. I think they should be independent of that kind of paternalistic set up.…

Interviewer: So, do you think this whole thing smells of a pork-barrel?

Doris Anderson: Well, I suppose people could come to those conclusions. I don’t know who the Executive were representing in Lloyd Axworthy’s office when they all said: “Yes, Mr. Minister, we will cancel the conference.” They certainly weren’t representing the Council’s credibility and the in- dependence of the Council. I didn’t even think they were representing Council members. That’s why I wanted the Council members to have that final say. They certainly weren’t representing the women of Canada who want this conference, who have been demanding it and were angry when it was can- celled in September. And I promised that we would re-stage it as soon as possible and all plans have gone forward to do that in February.…

Interviewer: So, have you lost faith in this government’s commitment to justice for women?

Doris Anderson: I don’t think it was ever terribly concerned about women. It hasn’t been a top pri- oriy with the Liberals as long as I know.…

Interviewer: I hope we haven’t lost your voice. What’s next for Doris Anderson?

Doris Anderson: Well, I’m a journalist and so I’m going to take the cover off my typewriter and get back to my craft.…

Interviewer: Thank you, Doris. Doris Anderson who, until yesterday, was President of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

VOLUME 26, NUMBER 2 67 Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Doris Anderson.

Ottawa registrants and a further 350 Conservatives and Westerners op- when Doris told them that Cabinet in Toronto. They hastily arranged posed the entrenched Charter. ministers had expected that, “those for overflow seating, with live video The program listed subjects and women’s groups will just tear each coverage on giant screens. In later proposed resolutions. To keep to other apart.” The meeting recom- interviews, McPhedran and others their planned adjournment time, mendations called for the resigna- recalled that when the program pre- the assembly would have to limit tions of Lloyd Axworthy and the senters met for the first time, they discussion on each resolution to four Council executive members who “ripped the program apart and put minutes, which was barely enough voted to cancel the conference, a it back together again” (said McPhe- time to count the votes. Twice, the thorough independent review of dran) and decided to address the meeting plunged into pandemoni- the Council, and appointment of content of the Charter rather than um (once over the Indian Act, once new Councillors recommended by the question of entrenchment. over entrenchment) and the three women’s groups. More than a thousand women chairs had to call for brief recesses. Conference organizers were clear- arrived on the morning of Febru- They also called for an evening ses- ing away their gear when ndp staff- ary 14, 1980 (1,300 registered by sion, which succeeded because the er Patricia Wudel broke the news to day’s end), spilling out into hall- translators and technical staff agreed them: their work had just begun. ways everywhere. Organizers hast- to stay on the job until 9:00 p.m., The very next morning, they were ily improvised new governance and then until 10:00 p.m. on Parliament Hill again, meeting strategies—three women (at least About 600 women crowded into with all the party leaders, lobbying one bilingual) shared the Chair at City Hall on Sunday, February 15, for inclusion of the conference reso- all times. Partisan and regional ten- where a thunderous standing ova- lutions in a revised Charter. After sions rippled through the crowd. tion greeted Doris Anderson’s first a harrowing, exhausting month of Most Québecoises opposed the idea appearance on stage that weekend. meetings, conferences, and drama, of a new Constitution at all; most The audience roared with laughter four feminist lawyers entered yet an-

68 CANADIAN WOMAN STUDIES/LES CAHIERS DE LA FEMME other meeting with Justice Depart- on the proposed Charter—made Penney Kome is an award-winning ment officials—and discovered they possible the very powerful argu- author and journalist. She has pub- were working out the wording on ments that the Ad Hoc Committee lished six books including The Taking a brand new sexual equality clause put forward during negotiations of Twenty-Eight: Women Challenge for the Charter. The new Section 28 with the Justice Department. the Constitution, a detailed narra- would be part of the interpretative Last but far from least, Doris tive about the battle to include gen- section of the Charter, intended to herself inspired such affection and der equality in the revised Canadian guide the courts in exercising their admiration that women across the Constitution. Her awards include the new powers. “Notwithstanding any- country rallied instantly to her sup- Robertine Barry Prize for Excellence thing in this Charter,” went the final port in standing up to the govern- in Feminist Journalism and the ywca draft, “the rights and freedoms re- ment. Her integrity and forthright- Women of Distinction Award for Com- ferred to in it are guaranteed equally ness helped women’s groups to get munications. She wrote the Woman’s to male and female persons.” over their initial skepticism fairly Place column in Homemaker’s maga- Doris let the Ad Hoc Commit- quickly. It seemed to me from the zine from 1976 to 1988. tee take the foreground during the moment she resigned that, impor- lobbying. She did appear at the nac tant as the issues were, the lobby References agm in March 1980. By that time, was as widespread and ferocious the government had had limited and sustained as it was mainly be- Kome, Penney. The Taking of Twen- success in spinning the whole is- cause women everywhere in Canada ty-Eight: Women Challenge the sue as somehow being about Doris, felt personal offence that a Cabinet Constitution. Toronto: The Wom- personally. She had the last laugh Minister would insult “our” Doris. en’s Press, 1983. in May, however, when the cascw finally did present its own Women and Constitution conference, which Popesse drew about 300 participants and passed no resolutions. She was right: (1964 Tune – “If I Were a Rich Man”) cancelling the conference embarras- sed the government much more Lyrics by Linda Palmer Nye than holding it ever would have. There was one more act to this If I were the Popesse, drama, a spectacular lobbying cam- Yaba daba daba daba daba daba daba doo. paign in November 1980. Provin- All day long I’d bitty bitty with the boys cial premiers dreamed up a “not- And all of it would be pro-choice! Hey! withstanding” clause of their own I wouldn’t have to work hard. to override individual rights and Yaba daba daba daba daba daba daba doo. tried to apply it to Section 28. In I’d decree for every man and wife – the space of one week, with letters, A healthy active protected sexual life, phone calls, telegrams, and rallies, If I were the next Popesse. local and national women’s groups managed to convince the provinces, I’d write a papal decree on religion and living, one by one, to leave Section 28 free Show the two could get along. and clear. The campaign’s momen- I’d prove that women, we could have our beliefs – tum carried on to sweep the first And still we could have a little fun. Hey! woman onto the Supreme Court bench a scant six months later. If I were the Popesse, Doris had spearheaded and moti- Yaba daba daba daba daba daba daba doo. vated an earth-shattering movement I’d get rid of all celibacy. that led to Canada adopting potent Some mad priest will want to fool around with me, and far-reaching gender equality When I am the next Popesse! protections, in Section 15 (amend- ed early in the process) as well as in Section 28. Her wisdom in select- Linda Palmer Nye is a feminist, based in Toronto, who writes ing the lawyers who researched the feminist songs to encourage our sense of humour—and feed history of rights wording, past and the fire in our bellies—because both are essential ingredients proposed—as well as her personal for a successful revolution. contacts with civil servants working

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