PERSPECTIVES ON WOMENS ISSUES

Legal recognition of women as ''persons'' nearly seventy years ago has not guaranteed that the perspective of women has been reflected in go vernment policies and programs. This paper discusses the need for ongo ing and systematic review of government policies and programs to ensur e that adequate consideration is given to women's perspective and to e ncourage women's participation in government processes. Based on the p ractical experience of a former provincial politician who also sen ed as minister responsible for women in the Alberta cabinet, examples are provided that demonstrate how reform may be brought about. Only throu gh continuing political support at the highest levels, as well as poli tical willingness to act on these commitments, can such reform be sust ained, Notwithstanding progress made in the 1980s, the period of budge t cutbacks in the 1990s often placed policies and programs that affect ed women in greater jeopardy than other programs. It is concluded that governments are doing less for women today than they were a decade ag o. But, in the spirit of upholding the role of women in society, the F amous Five Foundation was established recently in Calgary, with the lo ng-term objective of operating an institute dedicated to the systemati c review of policies and programs from the perspective of women.