“workshop focused on
 women & provincial budget”

The Carman Valley Leader

March 24, 2006 — page 14

Budgets are the most influential policy tools of governments, and that’s why women from Carman and area gathered for a recent daylong workshop on the provincial budget.

The workshop introduced women to the workings of the Manitoba budget and gave participants the chance to offer their opinions on it.

“Government budgets affect everyday realities for women, but women’s voices are not adequately factored into the budgeting process,” says Becky Thiessen who travelled from Winnipeg to help facilitate the workshop. “Women need to understand how budgets work and provide creative and constructive input into the process.”

Women’s poverty rates across Manitoba remain alarmingly high. One out of five women live in poverty and certain groups of women such as women living with disabilities, single mothers, Aboriginal women, immigrant women, and senior women experience poverty much more frequently and deeply. In the workforce women still earn on average 27% less than men.

The challenge of balancing paid and unpaid responsibilities was raised as a key concern for women in Southern Manitoba.

Participants talked about the stress of “having to do it all” including having a job, caring for families, and volunteer work.

Single mothers and those who earn low wages feel this time crunch most intensely. Lack of affordable, quality, rental housing was also raised as an issue as well as the lack of childcare spaces. Costs of housing and childcare are major challenges for women living with low-incomes.

They also discussed mental health as an issue for women in the area.

Counselling services are costly and not always available. Stigma and lack of respect are realities for women in small towns and rural communities.

There were also concerns around employment including having to drive long distances for work, limited career options, and a low minimum wage.

Workshop participants mentioned a number of programs and services that offer hope and support to women in Southern Manitoba including Genesis House, Adult Education Centres, Families First, and services for new immigrants. All provide services that women depend on and they should be supported fully.

A provincial budget that favours tax cuts over investing in social programs benefits men most as women, largely because of their parenting responsibilities, are more dependant on programs such as low-income housing, childcare, and social assistance.

Tax cuts on the other hand tend to benefit men most as they are usually the higher earners. A budget that reduces inequality makes life better for everyone.

“I think it’s really important to have women’s input in how the government spends our money. We represent over 50% of the population but less than 25% of MLAs so we need to make our voices heard,” said Julie Ruban MacDonald, Director of the Carman Family Resource Centre and co-organizer of the workshop. “It’s interesting to hear that women around the province have the same concerns, mostly the health and well-being of our families. I don’t feel these concerns are always adequately addressed in the provincial budget.”

Gathering information

Cheryl Hudson, another participant said, said the gathering provided her with a lot of valuable information.

“The workshop made me more knowledgeable. I’m an accountant but I never really thought about the government budget. I thought I couldn’t make a difference but the more information you have the more you can contribute,” Hudson said.

At the close of the workshop participants wrote letters to their MLAs encouraging them to work to make gender analysis a part of the budget process and naming their specific concerns.

The workshop was organized by the United Nations Platform for Action Committee Manitoba (UNPAC), a women’s organization committed to equality, development, and peace.

UNPAC Coordinator Jennifer deGroot said, “We are thrilled with the enthusiasm and expertise of women who came out to share their budget priorities. We will incorporate them into Manitoba’s Alternative Provincial Budget and share them with the Government of Manitoba. We feel that women are the real experts when it comes to knowing how budgets can work more efficiently and can create more equality.”