This series consists of correspondence [Green], reference [Blue] and NDP position [Red] files.
It comprises a number of subject files on various subjects/issues which were tracked in Dawn Black's Hill office. There are correspondence, research and NDP position files for all the subjects.
The subjects are as follow: Agriculture (6 files); Canada Post (12 files); Children (13 files); Communications (32 files); Constituency Burnaby-New Westminster (10 files); Culture (7 files); Education (6 Files); Elections Canada (7 files); Employment (14 files); Energy, Mines & Resources (14 files); Environment (28 files); External Affairs (32 files); Federal-Provincial Relations (15 files); Finance (60 files); Fisheries & Oceans (6 files); Fitness & Amateur Sports (7 files); Forestry (8 files); Government (4 files); Governor-General (5 files); Health & Welfare (59 files); House of Commons (21 files); Housing (13 files); Human Rights (20 files); Immigration (25 files); Indian Affairs & Northern Development (16 files); Industry (4 files); International Trade & NAFTA (10 files); Justice (51 files); Labour (11 files); Multiculturalism (5 files); National Defence (12 files); New Democrats ( 41 files); Pensions (34 files); Public Service (13 files); Regional Economic Expansion (4 files); Revenue Canada (18 files); Secretary of State (30 files); Seniors (6 files); Small Business (8 files); Solicitor-General (21 files); Statistics Canada (7 files); Status of Women ((7 files); Transport Canada (14 files); Treasury Board (7 Files); Veterans Affairs (8 files); and Women (91 files). There are also occasional files (4 or fewer) on the Bloc Quebecois, Liberal Party, Progressive Conservative Party, Prime Minister, Senate, Supply & Services, Supreme Court of Canada, Tourism and Youth.
Under all these subjects, Black's special areas of concern are manifested. After the usual "general" files under each rubric come the meatier issues which concerned her, and with which she was charged as party critic. For example, under "Children" there are files on child abduction, families, poverty and children's rights. Under "Environment" there are files on greenhouse gases, animal rights, conservation, the Fraser River, the Green Plan, pollution, recycling, sustainable development, the Wildlife Association and women. Under "Health & Welfare" there are files on AIDS, breast cancer, breast feeding, breast implants, the Dalcon Shield, Depo Provera (an anti-pregnancy drug), drugs, family allowances, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, food irradiation, medicare, midwifery, nursing, poverty and reproductive hazards. Under "Human Rights" there are files on sexual orientation, hate literature, the disabled and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The "House of Commons" files hold records on the House Standing Committee on Health & Welfare, the House Standing Committee on the Status of Women, sexism, harassment, and safety. The extensive "Women" bloc of files holds records on aboriginal women, women in the economy, women and election promises, feminism, homemakers, parental leave, pay equity, women and politics, women and religion, women in rural areas, sexism, international women's movements, women's difficulties in various regions (North, Ontario, Prairies and Quebec), and women and labour unions.
These issues files reflect Black's concern about social justice and amelioration of the condition of the poor, disadvantaged and abused, women in particular, but also children, and the down-and-outs of society. These files reflect as well the NDP approach to social justice. This series captures and reflects the numerous social issues and socio-structural debilities concerning women, children and the disadvantaged during this period.
