11 Reasons Stephen Harper Is Terrible For Women Explained In GIFs

Harper is the worst. How much longer are we going to put up with this shit?

David Lazarowych / CALGARY HERALD

I know it's hard to remember a Canada without Stephen Harper, but try to harken back to 2005. It was a simpler time. That other nice Pope was still around - not the one we have now, but the one from like two popes ago, whose picture hung in your grade school hallway. Brokeback Mountain came out and we collectively learned how cowboys can be hot and also gay. Jeans were more flared but had lower waistlines so you always felt like your pants were sliding down your ass.

You know, the good old days.

And then in 2006 Harper came into power, and it was pretty much immediately like that scene in Arthur when a certain Dora Winifred gets her library card.

Pretty much immediately Harper started plotting how to wreck everything good about out country.

Over the course of the past nine years, Stephen Harper has done everything he can to strip away women's rights. And all with that smarmy smile on his face.

Let's take some time and review all the crummy things the Conservative government has tried to do to women, shall we?

1. He took the word "equality" out of the Status of Women Canada's Mandate!

He also closed 12 of the 16 regional Status of Women Canada offices

2. He literally DOES NOT CARE about women's equality

According to a report issued by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canada lacks the political will to achieve equality between men and women. The report, Progress on Women’s Rights: Missing in Action, argued that gender inequality in Canada had persisted or worsened in critical areas, including violence against women.

3. He cancelled the Court Challenges Program

The court challenges program allowed, among other things, for women to challenge rulings on sexual assault programs. It was described as providing a voice for some of the most marginalized people in Canada, which is probably why Harper got rid of it.

4. He voted down a national plan to end violence against women

In spite of the ample evidence showing that we need one, and we need it now.

5. He all but destroyed pay equity

He passed a sneaky bill as part of the 2009 budget that actually ensures higher pay for men even if the work they do is of equal value to work a woman does.

6. He has said that the issue of thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada "isn't really high on our radar."

He refuses to open an inquest, because women of colour's bodies are completely disposable to him.

7. They cut $1 billion in childcare funding within 3 hours of being elected.

From Shit Harper Did: "Just three hours after being sworn in as prime minister, Stephen Harper announced changes to Canada's national child care program amounting to $1 billion in cuts by March 2007. The cuts disproportionately affect Canadian mothers' ability to stay in the workforce."

8. One of Harper's MPs gave two of the Queen's medals to anti-choice protestors.

These women had spent time in jail for criminally harassing people trying to access reproductive healthcare- in fact, one of them was still in jail when she was given the award. The MP who gave the women the medals described them as being similar to CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

SO MUCH NOPE.

9. He shut down an agency that provided women's health, training and counselling projects in 17 countries around the world.

From Shit Harper Did: Canadian human rights agency Rights & Democracy has worked internationally on issues of gender equality since 1988. The Harper Conservatives brought their legacy to an end, abandoning women's health, training and counselling projects in 17 countries abroad.

10. He cut funding to six women's health organizations

From Shit Harper Did: " He also cuts the National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), ending crucial programs on suicide prevention, maternal and infant health, diabetes and other urgent health issues."

11. During Harper's time in power, Canada has dropped to 23rd in the UN's ranking of gender inequality

Meanwhile, he suddenly wants you to think that he's here to protect women

BUT THIS MONTH WE HAVE OUR CHANCE TO END HARPER'S WAR ON WOMEN

We can channel our inner Ginger Spice

Channel our inner Beyonce

Unleash our beautiful misandry AND VOTE HARPER OUT OF OFFICE FOREVER!!!