International Women's Day 2009 is March 8, taking place during Women’s Week from Monday, March 2, through to Sunday, March 8.

This year’s theme of Strong Leadership. Strong Women. Strong World: Equality reflects the Government’s belief that increasing women’s participation and access to leadership roles and opportunities will help women and girls reach their full potential and help build a more prosperous Canada.

The Conservative party has a long history of supporting women’s leadership.  It was our party which elected the first female Prime Minister.  It was our party that appointed the first federal Minister of Justice and the first federal Minister of Defence.

It was a Conservative Prime Minister which passed the Canadian Bill of Rights – the first bill in Canadian history to guarantee equality before the law.

Finally, it was under a Conservative Prime Minister that women gained the right to run as candidates in a federal election.

Our Government has continued the work of earlier governments in promoting leadership and equality for women.  Prime Minister Harper recently appointed the highest percentage of women to cabinet in the history of Canada. He appointed the first Minister of State solely dedicated to the Status of Women – the Honourable Helena Guergis.

I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the many accomplishments and contributions of women in Newmarket and Aurora. Whether raising children, volunteering, working, leading our community or combining all of the above, I am proud to wish all of you “Happy International Women’s Day” on March 8. Thank you for your contributions towards making our communities a better place to live.

Lois Brown, M.P.