Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women : In 1967, the Government of Canada established a Royal Commission on the Status of Women, empowering it with the mandate to enquire into and report upon the status of women in Canada and to make recommendations to ensure for women's equality in all aspects of Canadian society.
The report of the Commission was tabled in the House of Commons in 1970 and contained 167 recommendations, of which 122 were directed at the federal government. One of its recommendations included the creation of a federal Status of Women Council, directly responsible to Parliament, which would monitor annually the status of women, undertake research relevant to the status of women, establish programs to correct attitudes and prejudices adversely affecting women, and propose legislation and policies in consultation with other government organizations and voluntary groups.
On May 31, 1973, John Munro, the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women announced the creation of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women (ACSW), which later became known as the Canadian Advisor Council on the Status of Women (CACSW). A 30-member council was appointed with a mandate:
(a) To bring before the government and the public matters of interest and concern to women; and
(b) To advise the Minister (Responsible for the Status of Women) on such matters relating to the status of women as the Minister may refer to the Council for its consideration or as the Council may deem appropriate.
Differing from the original recommendations of the Royal Commission, the Council did not report directly to Parliament and did not have the power to establish programs within the federal government. Instead, the Council operated as an arms-length agency, retaining the right to carry out its activities without ministerial consent. Other mechanisms were created within the government to address women's equality, including the Office of the Co-ordinator, Status of Women Canada and the Women's Program.
The Council consisted of three full-time members - the President and two Vice-Presidents - and up to 27 part-time members. CACSW members were appointed by the federal Cabinet to represent the rational, linguistic, cultural, and racial diversity of Canada. They determined Council policy, monitored the research agenda, and adopted recommendations advising the federal government on issues affecting Canadian women.
The President was responsible for providing direction to the CACSW, for its operations, and for advising the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and federal government officials of Council recommendations.
The Vice-Presidents, who represented the eastern and western/northern regions of Canada respectively, were responsible for CACSW regional offices in Montreal and Vancouver. In addition to ensuring that regional issues were brought to the attention of the Council, they provided a resource for CACSW members in their jurisdictions.
Council members represented the CACSW in their areas, ensuring a continuing liaison with individual women, as well as with local and provincial/territorial organizations committed to women's issues.
As a result of the federal government's consolidation of women's equality programs, the CACSW was dissolved in 1995 and its responsibilities and records were transferred to the Status of Women of Canada.
