“women speak mind
 on provincial budget”

the Opasquia Times, page 6

November 22, 2006 by Trent Allen, Staff Reporter

It was a chance for women’s voices to be heard Friday, as UNPAC was in town to do a workshop with women on the Manitoba provincial budget.

UNPAC, which stands for UN Platform for Action Committee, have been touring Manitoba doing a number of these workshops, with the goal to give women a basic understanding of how the provincial budget works, how it affects them, and how they can make their wishes and concerns heard.

UNPAC was formed several years ago and decided they needed a specific platform to focus on. While a number of issues were brought forward affecting women, such as poverty and health, the platform chosen was the economy, as many of the problems being brought forward could be tied back to financial issues being felt by women.

To illustrate this point, it was noted women, on average, earn 73 per cent of what a man would earn, and women make up two-thirds of both the minimum wage and part-time jobs in Canada. In addition, 20 per cent of Canadian women are living in poverty and the majority of single parent families are led by women.

Approximately 15 women took in the workshop, which ran for over three hours. The women were often divided into groups and given hands on tasks to do, such as pie charts to try and guess how much money was allocated by the provincial government for various departments, such as justice and health. The tasks gave the women a chance to not only see how their priorities matched up with those of the province, but also a look at how difficult it can be to give all departments the amount they deserve.

The workshop was attended by mostly members of The Pas Golden Agers. When it came time in the workshops to express what they felt was needed in The Pas, most of their demands echoed those of other smaller communities, especially those in the north.

Safe, secure and affordable housing, a lack of public transportation, shortages of doctors, nurses and medical services, and what is viewed as a very weak judicial system were pointed out.

The judical system wrath fell mainly on the judges, however, with most in agreement the RCMP share little blame and preferring to point to what was deemed as weak sentences imposed on young offenders as the biggest issue.

Child care costs, lack of affordable recreation, lack of recreation choices, the number of seniors looking after children and more recreation opportunities for seniors were also issues brought forward.

One women in attendance was adamant the province give seniors more of a say and a slice of the pie.

“We’ve worked hard all our lives, helping to make this country what it is now, and when you can’t do it anymore, they just push you out,” stated the frustrated audience member.

At the end of the workshop, the women were provided a prepared letter which they could sign and submit to their local MLA, Oscar Lathlin. The letter contained a call for women to have more of a say in budgetary matters and see more funding for issues of priority for women, such as economic inequality. There was also a blank section open, allowing the women to include more specific items reflecting their own situation and community.

Following the workshop, Jennifer deGroot, the UNPAC Project Coordinator and one of three women who put on the workshop, was pleased with what she heard.

“Housing has been the number one issue whereever we go, but I didn’t realize how bad it is for seniors,” stated deGroot, referring to the issue echoed over and over again by those who came out to hear the workshop.

This was the 35th workshop put on by UNPAC in the province in the last 18 months, and the second one in The Pas. The turn-out for the first workshop here wasn’t very good, so deGroot stated she was pleased with the number of people who came out this time, as well as they fact they were a very vocal group. She encouraged everyone to start to speak up.

“Our society is going to be better when all areas express themselves,” deGroot said.

As for the letters, deGroot said those could have the most immediate and significant impact.

“Government knows when one person takes the time to write a letter, many others are thinking it, so when a lot of letters start coming in, it gives them a better idea on what Manitobans are thinking,” explained deGroot, adding so far over 150 letters have been sent on to Provincial government members via the workshop, a number which is close to two-thirds of those who attend.