1. Canada ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on December 10, 1981, and submitted its initial report in June 1983, its second report in January 1988, and its third report in September 1992. This report is the fourth submitted by Canada under the Convention. The main period covered is from January 1, 1991 to March 31, 1994 (with occasional references to developments of special interest which occurred since that time).
2. Canada is a federal state comprised of ten provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec and Saskatchewan), and two territories (the Northwest Territories and the Yukon). While the ratification of international treaties is the prerogative of the Government of Canada, the implementation of the treaties requires the active participation of the governments which have jurisdiction over the subject matters covered. In Canada, the responsibility for the subject matters covered by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is shared by the Government of Canada, the provincial governments and, following a delegation of authority by the Parliament of Canada, the territorial governments.
3. This fourth periodic report is composed of four parts. Part I contains a review of the jurisprudence applicable to the Convention. Part II contains a review of measures adopted by the federal government. Part III contains a review of measures adopted by the provincial governments as prepared by these governments. Part IV contains a review of measures adopted by the territorial governments as prepared by these governments. The report follows, in as much as possible, the guidelines issued by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The recommendations adopted by the Committee have also been taken into consideration, in particular the recommendation on violence against women.
4. In response to the wishes of the Committee for concise reports, efforts have been made to keep this report at reasonable length. Additional details on the situation of women in Canada can be found in other reports submitted to the United Nations, in particular in the reports submitted to the International Labour Organization on the Equal Remuneration Convention (N0 100) and on the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (N0 111). Information can also be found in Canada's National Report to the United Nations for the Fourth World Conference on Women to take place in Beijing, China, in September 1995. Copies of this report will be made available to the members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
5. Previous reports under the Convention contained a statistical section. This report does not. However, copies of the third edition of Women in Canada - A Statistical Report will be made available to members of the Committee. That publication will be an updated and expanded version of the first and second editions published in 1985 and 1990. The new edition will be completed and published by Statistics Canada in August 1995.