In June 1974, Margaret Birch—Ontario’s then-Provincial Secretary for Social Development—delivered a proposal to the legislature to slash the costs of childcare in the province. The so-called Birch Proposals included reductions in minimum staff-child ratios, the elimination of the required formal qualifications for most staff, the elimination of the requirement that day nurseries have kitchens on site, and altered licensing procedures pertaining to physical standards of care sites.

“Maybe one’s definition of reasonableness depends on where you fit in the system. Reasonableness is a device used by those who have money and power to confuse those who haven’t.” ~Pat Schulz

The Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada was established in February 1967.

Today is World AIDS Day, and we are taking the opportunity to draw your attention to some of the extraordinary resources from the archive that highlight feminist organizing around AIDS and how communities came together. Several newsletters included articles on “Women and AIDS,” identifying specific concerns for women (who were rarely included in early education efforts). […]