Presentation to :

Parliamentary
Standing Committee
on the Status of Women

Jennifer deGroot / UNPAC Manitoba

December 6, 2006.

Thank you Madame Chairperson.

I’d like to start with a story. Last week my co-worker and I facilitated a workshop with 16 immigrant women. The women were originally from Iran, the Philippines, Colombia, Sierra Leone, Macedonia and China. Some had been here for 6 years; one had only arrived a week ago. During the course of the day the women learned about the political process in Canada, specifically related to the government budget. They looked at a cartoon showing them the budget process from Throne Speech to estimates to Budget Day. They put their hands on colourful laminated pie pieces representing different areas of government spending guessing which piece of the pie went with which area. And they talked about their own priorities for government spending — programs that work for them, programs that don’t work, and ideas they have for increasing government revenue. Near the end of the day the women did a role-play acting out a meeting with a politician. As we closed our time together a gentle and quiet Filipina woman said:

“I am a shy person. Before this I would have never imagined I could meet with a government representative. Now I know this is something I can do.”

This is the work of the group I represent — the UN Platform for Action Committee Manitoba or UNPAC. In accessible and engaging ways we give Manitoba women — particularly those who are vulnerable — the tools they need to participate fully in economic and political life.

We have received funding from Status of Women Canada since our inception in 1995. We have used these funds for a wide range of activities related to making international human rights commitments to women relevant at the local level. Since the year 2000 our work has uniquely focused on promoting women’s economic literacy. We develop popular education resources and tools to engage women on the economic issues that impact their lives. One of our resources is a video about Women & the Economy called “Banging the Door Down” of which over 600 copies have been distributed.

At the moment our work takes us across Manitoba where we hold interactive full-day workshops on the government budget. In the past 18 months we have worked with roughly 400 women from 16 communities. The women include single mothers, women living with disabilities, Northern, rural, Aboriginal, immigrant, Francophone, and senior women. We offer our workshops at times that work for women; we provide lunch and childcare; and we use a methodology that acknowledges different kinds of learners and that recognizes women’s lived experiences.

We chose to hold workshops on the budget because a government budget does not impact women and men in the same way. Budgets are not gender neutral. And, because budgets reflect a government’s priorities, therefore talking about the budget is key to promoting women’s economic equality.

At the same time, we see women as budget experts. Many women are used to making a little go a long way — something which governments favour — and we have found that they have many good ideas to contribute to budgetary discussions. Women are also very concerned about accountability — another critical concern of governments. A government budget that works for women will contribute to more accountability and to a more effective budget. This will benefit all citizens.

For many women, participation in our workshop is the first time they have talked about a government budget. Many had no idea their voice mattered or that government policy and programming is something they can understand. Many never realized they have a right and responsibility to make their voice heard. After our workshops we’ve heard women make comments like:

“Every woman should know about the budget. I had no clue. Now I know more and am confident to mention it to others.”

Another woman said: “J’ai appris que ma voix peut être entendre et peut changer quelque chose.”

We provide grassroots women with tools to advocate on their own behalf. Over half of women who participate in our workshop write letters to their elected officials naming their budget priorities. For many, this is the first time they have written a letter to a politician. One woman chose to run for elected office citing her involvement in our Women & Economy video as one of the catalysts for her decision. Other women have attended provincial pre-budget consultations or been interviewed by their local media or organized meetings with their elected representatives.

We teach skills which empower women to advocate for their own equality, economic and otherwise. We provide resources and on-going dialogue with women supporting their full participation in the political and economic process. Many countries would never support this kind of work, work which is essential to a healthy and accountable democracy.

Our understanding of the new terms and conditions of SWC is that the type of work we do with grassroots women no longer fits. We are an advocacy organization and we have been told that advocacy will no longer be funded. Administrative cuts will also affect us. The closure of our Winnipeg office will mean a distant and reduced relationship with SWC personnel. Staff of SWC have been tremendously supportive of our work. They have attended our workshops, translated our materials, connected us with other groups and resources, and provided on-going support.

We need these funds, and the people who administer them, to continue working to create a true democracy in which all women of this country have a voice.