On November 21, 2014, the Board of Directors of the Canadian Women’s Health Network (CWHN) announced it has
decided to suspend the activities of the CWHN. This decision, effective Nov. 14, 2014, was not taken lightly. Despite efforts made by the CWHN, the support of partners and donors, and some notable successes along the way, the CWHN has not been able to secure sustainable funds to replace the federal funding that was withdrawn in 2013. The CWHN office is closed and the remaining staff members are being laid off.
CWHN Board Co-Chair Janet Currie explains
“the Board and staff struggled for many months to replace the funding support we received from Health Canada for close to 20 years. To lose all of our funding so suddenly left us in a very difficult position. This is a tremendous loss for the women of Canada. The information we provided was independent, current and addressed important and emerging health issues. This voice will now be missing.”
The closing of CWHN is another insult to the women of Canada, to the mothers, grandmothers and caregivers of the nation, compliments of a federal government that fails to consider that women make up 50% of Canadian voters.
Wojtek Gwiazda’s discussion with Anne Rochon Ford, Executive Director of the Canadian Women’s Health Network is available at Radio Canada International.