Collection search - The Committee for '94 [textual record, graphic material, object]

Record information – Brief
1
The Committee for '94 [textual record, graphic material, object]

Hierarchical level:

Series

Date:

1970-2000.

Reference:

R16294-1-4-E

Type of material:

Photographs, Textual material, Objects (including medals and pins)

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

5247249

Context of this record:

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Rosemary Speirs fonds

The Committee for '94
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Record information – Details

Series includes:

52 lower level description(s)
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Date(s):

1970-2000.

Place of creation:

Canada

Extent:

0.315 m of textual records.
5 photographs : b&w.
2 lapel buttons.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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Created in 1984, the Committee for '94 had a formal goal of seeing women elected to half the seats in Parliament within 10 years, using the slogan "Half the House by 1994." The first president was political writer Christina McCall. She was later succeeded by organizer and fundraiser Wanda O'Hagan.

The Committee for '94 had four main aims: to educate the public about barriers to female election; to press the political parties to nominate and elect more women in winnable seats; to campaign for public funding of elections so women could realistically compete; and to help women equip themselves to run for office at any level of government. They pioneered the "multi-partisan" model, bringing together high-profile women from all major parties, plus journalists and academics, to work together in the common cause of electing more women. Notable members included: Judy Steed, Christina McCall, Chaviva Hosek, Wanda O'Hagan, Maude Barlow, Sylvia Bashevkin, Gloria Bishop, Libby Burnham, Donna Dasko, Michelle Landsberg, Marilou McPhedran, Maria Minna, Nadine Nowlan, Kay Sigurjonsson, Frances Lankin, Marcia McClung, and Joyce Wieland.

The Committee members held news conferences, badgered political reporters and party leaders, mounted a campaign school, and created a special internship at the Ontario Legislature to be held by older women interested in getting elected and wishing to learn the ropes. Two of the Committee for '94 members, Progressive Conservative Libby Burnham and Toronto Star political columnist Rosemary Speirs, wrote a brief to the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform entitled "Let Women Play Too", arguing for public funding of elections.

In 1994, president Wanda O'Hagan disbanded it due to lack of interest. Failure to make substantial progress in the numbers of women elected over the previous decade had brought the Committee activities to a standstill.

Source:

Private
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Graphic (photo)

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R16294] 1

[Consultation 90 Open]

Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R16294]

[Consultation 90 Open]

1--3;

[Consultation 90 Open]

7;

[Consultation 90 Open]

Object

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [R16294] 1

[Consultation 90 Open]

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Date modified:: 2024-07-24