Yesterday marked International Women’s Day on Parliament Hill and what a special day it was. 11 year old Alaina Podmorow, founder of Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan and her mum Jamie came to Parliament Hill as the guests of the Honourable Bev Oda, Minister for International Development.

By now we are all familiar with Alaina the young woman from Lake Country, who, with the help of a small army of little women from the Okanagan, has successfully raised over $30,000 in funding to pay for teachers and school supplies in Afghanistan.

Alaina spent a whirlwind day March 6th attending special events marking International Women's Day in recognition of Afghan women, including media events, receptions, and a photo opportunity with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

She was a great spokesperson for the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan and she did us all proud.

I’m sure it was a thrill for her as well when she was recognized not once, but twice, in the House of Commons.

I spoke about how Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan mobilized our community to raise funds to help young girls and women in Afghanistan obtain an education.

Minister Oda referred to Alaina as “an outstanding example of how average Canadians are determined to make a better life for Afghan women and girls” and invited all members to come and meet “this amazing young Canadian.”

The visit was further bolstered by a positive announcement from the Government when it announced that the Canadian International Development Agency(CIDA) would match dollar for dollar funds raised by Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan and their affiliate Canadian Women For Women in Afghanistan to bring the number of female teachers trained to 500.

The Government also announced a $5 million Responsive Fund for the Advancement of Women, and $500,000 to support the Excel-rate Education initiative being undertaken by the Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan to establish a teacher-training program as recommended in the Manley Report.

If there was a dark spot on Thursday it was that politics reared its ugly head when the Liberal Party used International Women’s Day to accuse the Government of cutting back funding to women’s groups.

Not so. The government has increased the budget for the Women’s Programs of Status of Women to $20 million, an increase of 76% and its highest level ever. Budget 2008 also announced the Government’s intention to develop an Action Plan to advance the equality of women across Canada through the improvement of their economic and social conditions and their participation in democratic life.

Partisan politics aside, it’s clear that whether here at home or abroad, equality must extend to everyone in society in order to achieve a true and peaceful democracy.

Government funding, as important as it is, will not achieve it alone. We must recognize and correct injustices in our families, in our communities, and in the workplace to make a real difference.

That’s what Alaina did. Alaina saw a need and by gathering help through other young women in our community made something significant happen. Furthermore, their actions have become the catalyst for even more support for the young women of Afghanistan.

We should expect nothing less for the women and girls in our own country and Alaina and Little Women for Little Women are proof that no matter the issue, we can find a way and the means to make a difference.

I am Ron Cannan, your Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country. If you have any issues or concerns you wish to discuss with me, feel free to contact me by phone at 470-5075, by e-mail at ron@cannan.ca or by dropping by my constituency office in the Capri Mall