From Disappointment to Anger
Women's Equality-Seeking Groups React to the Provincial Budget

For Immediate Release

March 23, 2005

Heather Davis, Coordinator of the Corner Brook Women’s Council / Centre, feels that anger best describes what her organization is feeling. A $10,000.00 increase certainly indicates that women’s equality work is not valued by this administration. “We had high hopes,” Ms. Davis explained. “Following a large regional meeting in Western Newfoundland in January, our Council met with the Status of Women Minister, Joan Burke, on two occasions and spoke out loud and clear on the importance of increasing the resourcing for the important advocacy work provided by our Women’s Councils / Women’s Centres.”

 Lorraine Michael, Executive Director of  Women in Resource Development Committee, pointed out that the invisibility of women’s equality seems to permeate this budget. “We are seeing language like ‘Women’s Centres provide a fountain of practical help and moral support.’ There is no talk at all about the equality and advocacy work necessary to advance women’s social and economic equality in Newfoundland and Labrador. This government could have gone a long way in respecting women’s rights by paying up on pay equity.”

 Lisa Zigler stated, “The issue of funding for the eight Status of Women Councils / Women’s Centres has not been addressed in this provincial budget.” Ms. Zigler, Executive Director of the St. John’s Status of Women Council / Centre, feels that it is next to impossible to operate with a meagre $10,000.00 increase for each of our eight equality-seeking Women’s Councils / Centres. “Our Women’s Councils / Centres are involved in a full range of activities, from assisting women dealing with poverty and violence to speaking out on behalf of women and challenging decisions and policies which have a negative impact on women.”

 Joyce Hancock, President of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women, has worked on equality issues for decades and understands the anger and disappointment the Status of Women Councils / Centres are feeling. “Together our organizations put on a strong lobby. We wrote letters to the Premier, attended the Finance Minister’s Pre-Budget Consultations and met with Ministers, only to be given $80,000.00 to be divided between eight of the Newfoundland and Labrador Women’s Councils / Centres.” Ms. Hancock was surprised as well to hear in the budget speech that government is developing a plan of action to address women’s issues. “How can a new government accomplish this unless it is led by grassroots organizations who have years of experience working on women’s equality, and how can these Women’s Councils / Centres work on a provincial plan when they can barely keep up with the daily parade of women seeking services? It is incredible to think that the words from the Premier in 2004, ‘women’s voices will be heard and women’s needs addressed,’ would translate into this.”

 For more information contact:

            Heather Davis - 639-8522                  Lisa Zigler  - 753-0220                       

            Joyce Hancock - 753-7270                 Lorraine Michael - 738-3713