Ottawa - An informal network of women from across Canada announced today that over 5000 women have signed on to a non-partisan letter of concern about Stephen Harper and the new Conservative Party.

"We were concerned about the uncritical way in which media reported on Stephen Harper and his unknown party as though it was the previous Progressive Conservative Party," said Elizabeth May. "It struck me that Harper's policies and positions, especially on issues like climate change, were nothing like the previous, now dead, PC Party, but were entirely like the U.S. Republican Party under George Bush."

The ad hoc group, including Maude Barlow, Naomi Klein, Judy Rebick, Elizabeth May, Doris Anderson, Dr. Ursela Franklin, Shirley Eikhard and leaders from the trade union movement, business, academia, lawyers, teachers, doctors, clergy, scientists, aboriginal women, immigrant women, writers and entertainers, has grown exponentially since the release of the letter. When released to the media on June 13, the letter was signed by eighty women, including Sarah Polley, Sarah Harmer and leaders from many walks of life. In the twelve days since its release, a spontaneous electronic effort has resulted in a further 5,000 signatories.

The effort received a real boost when Canadian musicians Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan and other celebrities adopted the letter and wore stop Harper buttons at the MuchMusic awards

"A Harper Conservative government would privatize essential services, enter into Bush’s dangerous ballistic missile defense program, allow Canadian military personal to be sent into unjust wars, and work to withdraw some fundamental rights guaranteed by the Charter," says Maude Barlow. "These policies are dangerous for all Canadians, but especially women. On June 28, we must vote to ensure that the Harper agenda does not become a reality."

"What is incredible to me is the number of Canadian women who found this letter without any publicity, with no money spent to promote the effort," said Jillian Skeet, an international affairs expert in Vancouver whose email address appeared on one web site. "Literally, all I have been able to do the last 12 days is try to keep up with the deluge of supportive women, many writing heartfelt comments about their deep concerns if the Stephen Harper agenda should ever be that of a governing party."

The group revealed the expanded list of signatories on Parliament Hill in front of the statue of the Famous Five, Canada's pioneer suffragettes who won the right of Canadian women to be "persons." They urged Canadians to get out and vote on Monday.

"The choices in this election have never been as stark. The threat to rip up the Kyoto Protocol, to place key issues of human rights to free votes, over-riding the Charter of Rights, to put Canada into a deficit for military spending at the expense of social programmes -- all of these issues demand that voters support candidates and parties whose views are closest to their own," said Judy Rebick.

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Click here to add your name to the list and to view the list of signatories.