The Perpetuation of a Myth: The Anderson-Axworthy Affair Someone once said that if you told a whopper Berenice B. Sisler was born in Winnipeg in 1924. She and told it often enough, it would soon become accept- was a prominent and active volunteer with the church, ed as fact. In my opinion, that is exactly what has hap- the YWCA, the Liberal Party, and the University of pened with respect to the now infamous feud between Winnipeg. She received several awards for her work in Doris Anderson, the former president of the Canadian the areas of family law and pension reform, including Advisory Council on the Status of Women, and Lloyd the Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1985), the Persons Axworthy, the former Minister Responsible for the Sta- Award (1986), the YM-YWCA Woman of the Year tus of Women. Misinformation about the affair contin- Award for Public Affairs (1989), and a Doctor of Laws ues to be circulated in many ways: by the Women’s Le- from the University of Winnipeg (1990). Her book, A gal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) in the film “For Partnership of Equals: The Struggle for the Reform of Our Sisters, For Our Daughters”; by writers such as Sid- Family Law in Manitoba was published in 1995. She was ney Sharpe in her book The Gilded Ghetto: Women and appointed to the Canadian Advisory Council on the Political Power in Canada; and in repeats of interviews Status of Women in 1980. with Doris Anderson (Armstrong 1991; Sharpe 1994). My introduction to what was to become a most Abstract unpleasant interlude in the history of the women’s A member of the Canadian Advisory Council on the movement in Canada came about when I was appointed Status of Women (CACSW) gives her account of events to the CACSW as a representative from Manitoba. The comprising the crisis of 1980-81. As an activist from appointment was made by Lloyd Axworthy for whom outside Ontario, Berenice Sisler presents a different I had worked during the elections of 1979 and 1980. It view than that of lawyers and the central Canadian was made not because I had worked for Mr. Axworthy women’s movement. Sisler indicated that this account (many others had done so), but because of my work in was written in 1997. She referred to Edward Greenspon the women’s movement, most particularly during the and Anthony Wilson-Smith (1996) as having provoked struggle to reform family law in the 1970s, an involve- it, and wrote in ink at the bottom of the last page ment recorded in a book I authored entitled A Partner- “February, 1997.” ship of Equals (1996). My involvement in the YWCA of Winnipeg, the YWCA of Canada, the Manitoba Action Résumé Committee on the Status of Women, and the Provin- Un membre du Conseil consultatif canadien sur la cial Council of Women of Manitoba was evidence of my situation de la femme (CCCSF) fait son propre récit concern for all issues of concern to women. des événements qui ont engendré la crise de 1980-1981. Prior to my attending my first meeting of the En tant que militante venant de l’extérieur de l’Ontario, CACSW in the late fall of 1980, the council had under- Berenice Sisler présente une vision différente de celle taken “research on Women and the Constitution, as he des avocats et du mouvement féministe du Canada [Lloyd Axworthy] had requested, and was prepared to central. Sisler a indiqué que ce récit avait été rédigé en move ahead with a high-level conference” (Minutes of 1997. Elle a cité Edward Greenspon et Anthony Wilson- the meeting of the CACSW held in Ottawa, June 9-11, Smith (1996) comme les personnes ayant provoqué 1980). At the June meeting, Mr. Axworthy had wel- cette crise et a écrit à l’encre au bas de la dernière page comed the council’s commitment to prepare a report on « Février 1997. » women and the constitution, saying, “It was absolutely critical that women examine the issue from their point 132 Atlantis 37.2 (1), 2015/2016 www.msvu.ca/atlantis of view, and [he] suggested that they would conclude Anderson was skeptical that the union could deliver on that a strong federal government was in their best in- its promise to provide translators for the conference. She terests” (ibid). He offered to address a conference on felt that the conference had to be postponed while the the subject to explain his views. Ms. Anderson thanked collective bargaining process was taking place and un- him for his presentation, commenting that “the Council til it was settled. She feared that, since the government realized that in three months he couldn’t achieve vast and not the union decided who would be assigned to changes, but that they looked forward to future prog- work at the conference, management personnel would ress” (ibid). (The Liberal government had taken office be sent to do the job. If this were done, it was more than in March of 1980.) likely that the union would picket. Bringing over 600 to At the Executive Committee meeting of the a conference in Ottawa was an expensive undertaking CACSW held on August 25-26, 1980, an in-depth dis- and the risk of having the conference sabotaged was not cussion took place of the upcoming conference on wom- one the CACSW was prepared to take. en and the constitution scheduled for September 5-6. It Reactions to the cancellation of the conference was agreed that if the strike of government translators were mixed. A memo from the National Action Com- was not settled by 12:00 noon on Tuesday, September mittee on the Status of Women (NAC), October 1980, 2, all council members and conference participants informed that NAC was planning a one day women’s would be notified of the postponement of the confer- conference on Persons Day, October 18, in Toronto, at ence by telegram. This was subsequently done and I re- which Lloyd Axworthy would be the guest speaker. The ceived a telegram signed “Doris Anderson President” Canadian Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL) which read: “Due to the translators’ strike conference criticized the decision and interpreted the cancellation on Women and the Constitution Ottawa September 5 as a repudiation of the CACSW’s former position of and 6 postponed until further-notice.” support for the translators’ strike and “for those work- On September 9, 1980, Ms. Anderson informed ing for paid maternity leave” (Letter from Blowden those concerned with the conference that she was for- Piercy, President of CARAL, to Doris Anderson, Sep- warding a copy of the background paper by Mary tember 24, 1980). Ms. Anderson’s response clarified this Eberts entitled “Women and Constitutional Renew- erroneous interpretation, indicating that not only was al,” which was to have been released at the conference. the conference cancelled, but also the regular meeting She expressed disappointment that the conference had of the council. She reiterated the support of the council been postponed and explained that the CACSW, an in- for the translators’ stand on maternity leave saying she dependent council, could not “be caught in a crossfire was unable to imagine why CARAL thought this had between a union and the federal government” (Infor- been reversed (Letter of Doris Anderson to Blowden mation release dated September 9, 1980, and signed by Piercy, October 2, 1980). Doris Anderson). New dates for the conference were to On October 2, 1980, the [CACSW] president be circulated as soon as they were established. wrote to the Prime Minister expressing concern that The Toronto Star (September 3, 1980) reported the draft Charter of Rights did not protect women ade- that the CACSW supported the translators’ demand for quately. Her letter itemized the reasons for this concern maternity and paternity leave but was concerned that and pointed out three areas needing revision: (1) the the conference might be picketed. The Canadian Union composition of the Supreme Court of Canada, (2) the of Professional and Technical Employees expressed sur- transfer of divorce jurisdiction to the provinces, and (3) prise at this concern because it had notified the council the entrenchment of human rights. The letter urged im- that translation services would be provided and no pick- mediate revision of the proposed wording to guarantee et line would be set up at the conference. The translators Canadian women their “fundamental human rights to had been working to rule and holding rotating strikes equality.” It included a working draft of an equality of across Canada since August 26 because the Treasury rights clause and urged the Prime Minister to consider Board had rejected a conciliator’s report recommending this as a top priority. In conclusion, Ms. Anderson in- 15 weeks maternity leave with 75 percent of salary and dicated that she would meet with the Prime Minister at up to two or three days of paid paternity leave. Doris his convenience. 133 Atlantis 37.2 (1), 2015/2016 www.msvu.ca/atlantis It was unusual procedure for the head of a body the president, three (later two) vice-presidents—all of such as the CACSW to communicate unilaterally with which were salaried positions—and two non salaried the Prime Minister when there was a minister respon- representatives of the council members. The latter were sible for its area of work, and to do so without even elected annually by the council. At the time, the pres- sending a copy of the communication to that minister. ident, Doris Anderson, and one vice-president, Hellie A letter addressed to “Dear Member of Parliament” Wilson, worked out of the Ottawa office.