Executive Summary,
UNPAC Workshops on the Provincial Budget
Current to March 31, 2006

Compilation of Workshop Proceedings

Summary of Revenue Suggestions

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Main Headings —
Executive Summary

• Who We’ve Talked With
• “Fix the Basics Before the Extras”
• Housing, Housing, Housing
• Childcare
• “Everything is Harder Without a Vehicle”
• Employment
• Health Care
• Government and Government-Funded Programs
• Lots of Work for Low — or No-Pay
• Revenue Ideas
• Participatory Democracy

The following is a summary of various recurring themes generated by workshop participants as part of our gender budget consultations throughout Manitoba.

1. Who We’ve Talked With

In the first year of our project we engaged over 200 women in the provincial budget process through 21 workshops. The majority of our sessions are day-long workshops though we also offer half-day and evening sessions, if requested. Of our first 21 workshops, 10 were held in Winnipeg and 11 in Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas, Carman, Selkirk, Portage La Prairie and Gimli. The majority of our workshops welcome a general female audience though a number of workshops are specific to particular women who we feel are not adequately represented in the general workshops, for example immigrant women, senior women, and women living with disabilities. These “targeted” workshops tend to be particularly well-attended. We have been very pleased that Aboriginal women have been well-represented in our workshops. Most workshops are hosted by a local community group such as a women’s resource centre. In one case we held a workshop with a Social Policy class at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Social Work at Thompson and in another half of the participants were students at the University College of the North. We are continually booking more workshops with women across Manitoba.

2. “Fix the Basics Before the Extras”

Women feel that basic needs of communities and individuals should be met over and above other considerations. Women stress the health and well-being of families and communities as the highest priority: “We always put children before ourselves.” In this sense, women feel the government budget should reflect the same priorities: “Fix the basics before the extras.” By this women mean dealing with short-term needs but always in light of long-term implications. Women express dismay at the disconnect they experience between what they hear about prevention and the systems that make a preventative approach difficult. For example, many senior women say they receive constant messages about the need for healthy eating, yet many seniors’ income is inadequate for nutritious food. We have heard stories of seniors checking themselves into hospitals in order to receive proper meals.

3. Housing, Housing, Housing

Common themes have quickly begun to emerge through the workshops. In particular, the need for quality, low-cost, safe rental housing is raised repeatedly in all workshops in all regions. In the majority of cases, this is the first issue raised by groups when asked about women’s key concerns in the community. In one case, a participant responded to a question about other issues for women in her community by saying that, “I think if everyone had a decent, safe place to live that they could afford, all the rest would fall into place.” Many participants are currently living, or have in the past lived, in inadequate homes including those that are unsafe or overcrowded (i.e. three or four families living together in one house.) Concerns around housing include: incomes inadequate to meet housing costs, long waiting lists for subsidized housing, lack of homeless shelters, limitations of the shelter system (i.e. not being able to put children in school), lack of funding for women’s shelters (i.e. not enough money for pillows or toothbrushes), the need for accessible housing for seniors and people with disabilities, hassles and long-waiting lists for repairs, safety concerns (i.e. locks and lighting), slum landlords, health hazards (i.e. mould, bedbugs), racism and stigma from service providers and landlords, lack of essential services (i.e. grocery stores) near low-income buildings, long and arduous subsidy application forms, and neighbourhood gentrification.

The lack of sufficient social housing is a particular challenges for women leaving abusive relationships; some women “choose” to live with abuse because there is no other place to go.

4. Childcare

The lack of sufficient childcare services is also brought up in every workshop. The two major concerns are high costs, and lack of spaces and subsequent long waiting lists. Other concerns include: limited hours of operation, lack of flexibility, funding models that are inadequate especially for rural communities, low salaries for staff, the need for childcare in secondary and post-secondary schools, and transportation challenges. Participants have had some innovative ideas for improving the childcare situation including day care cooperatives that run on the barter system and subsidized heating for day cares. (For example, in rural communities church basements offer good daycare space yet heating costs are often prohibitive).

5. “Everything is Harder Without a Vehicle”

Transportation is repeatedly raised as a concern, especially in rural and Northern communities. Many smaller communities have no transit system. Those systems that do exist offer limited hours, limited routes, and infrequent service. Women tell stories of walking long distances, sometimes in dangerously low temperatures, in order to take children to day care or school. Lack of transportation options exacerbates women’s time poverty; single mothers in particular talk of the hours of time it takes to walk everywhere, especially with small children in tow. Big box stores — rising rapidly in towns across the province — offer bargains for cash-strapped parents as well as employment opportunities for those with limited formal education. The location of these stores, and frequently other essential services such as libraries, on the outskirts of town, creates challenges.

6. Employment

Women frequently discuss challenges around employment. Of particular concern are low wages and lack of employment opportunities. The latter is particularly true in rural and Northern communities. In one community we heard that there are “only six kinds of jobs for women.” In rural and Northern communities women’s work tends to be either minimum wage jobs at pizza joints or big box stores, or professional jobs usually within the health field. There is a strong need for a living wage as well as for flexibility, particularly for single parents and people living with disabilities. Immigrant and other women talk about the need to recognize foreign credentials. Women feel strongly that their full and equal involvement in the labour market will mean healthier families and communities.

7. Health Care

Women frequently discuss challenges around employment. Of particular concern are low wages and lack of employment opportunities. The latter is particularly true in rural and Northern communities. In one community we heard that there are “only six kinds of jobs for women.” In rural and Northern communities women’s work tends to be either minimum wage jobs at pizza joints or big box stores, or professional jobs usually within the health field. There is a strong need for a living wage as well as for flexibility, particularly for single parents and people living with disabilities. Immigrant and other women talk about the need to recognize foreign credentials. Women feel strongly that their full and equal involvement in the labour market will mean healthier families and communities.

8. Government and Government-Funded Programs

Women express strong support for many government programs and government-funded programs. In particular Friendship Centres, women’s and family resource centres, women’s shelters, Baby & Me Best Beginnings, Family/Baby First, Head Start, and Adult Learning Centres have been mentioned by women in all communities. These programs provide valuable support for women’s daily physical needs but they also alleviate the isolation many women experience. Programs such as the LEAP program, offered at the YWCA in Thompson, use an empowerment model to help women take steps to gain control of their lives. Women spoke strongly for the need for stable long-term funding for such programs, and the need to integrate empowerment into the delivery of all programming.

Women, in particular women who are vulnerable because of race, age, and ability, frequently mentioned that many people are unaware of the services that do exist. Community resource centres are essential to ensuring that all people in a community are able to access the programs available to them.

Women express frustration at the delivery of some government programs, in particular social assistance. Many women say they received different answers from different people as to what expenses are eligible and what are not. Women are frustrated at the time and energy it takes to advocate for one’s self and one’s community. They don’t understand why some government programs tend to work against each other: “What one level of government gives, the other one takes away.”

Women have had some interesting ideas for better delivery of government programs. One idea is a “Government Wal-Mart” where all government services are under one roof. Another is standardized or generic forms to apply for benefits and services to alleviate the shame and hassle of long forms. Another idea is a government liaison person who works cross-departmentally ensuring there is neither duplication of services nor a gap in services. Many women have expressed frustration at falling through the gaps between programs. A suggestion from both service providers and recipients is for government programs that come under budget to be rewarded rather than penalized. This will eliminate spending sprees prior to March 31. Women stress that as providers and users of government services, they should — and want to — be involved in decision-making about the delivery of these services. Women would like to see a process such as Minister Selinger’s Budget Consultations implemented with other government departments.

9. Lots of Work for Low — or No-Pay

Women recognize that most of the issues they raise have to do with women’s inadequate incomes. Housing and food security in particular are much less challenging for those who do have enough money. Women still earn less than men. They are the majority of part-time earners and the majority of minimum wage earners. Minimum wage is inadequate. Social assistance, upon which many single mothers depend, does not provide enough for the basic necessities of life. Women know they are the glue that holds families and communities together and yet the lack of recognition of their unpaid work frequently means that they are unable to participate fully in the society they serve. Single mothers experience the crunch of income and time most acutely; many have suggested a government program that offers respite days for single mothers.

10. Revenue Ideas

When asked how governments can earn more revenue, participants’ responses have focused on two areas: taxation and a realignment of government priorities. Women suggest a range of tax measures including higher corporate taxes, higher personal income taxes especially for high earners, more tax brackets, new and higher luxury and sin taxes, and green taxes. Women also feel government priorities need to be refocused on providing essential services for citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable. Many women talk about the costly justice system and suggest a move to restorative justice as more efficient and effective. Women feel that a focus on prevention across the board will cost less in the long run and higher incomes will lead to a higher tax base. Women who are aware that recent federal budgets have produced a surplus wonder why transfer payments aren’t higher.

11. Participatory Democracy

Women recognize that the provincial budget impacts their lives in tremendous ways and thus they feel strongly that budgets need to work for them as women. While many of our workshop participants have never paid much attention to the provincial budget previously, they leave our workshops with much more knowledge about the budget (the expenditure and revenue pie charts are a constant favourite) and with a strong desire to be more involved in budget decision-making. A participant in Flin Flon said, “I thought it would just be us sitting here and being lectured about how the government spends our money and how we couldn’t do anything about it. I didn’t think it would be this interactive and interesting." An inner-city participant said, “Our personal lives are so affected by the budget. How can you not get involved? You’ve got to!” Some women comment that they will be more attentive on Budget Day and many express interest in attending Minister Selinger’s public budget consultations (some have heard of the consultations, many others have not and suggest better promotion of the consultations.) Approximately two-thirds of participants write a letter to their MLA at the close of the workshop, raising issues that have come up during the day. For some this is the first time they have ever written a letter to government; many women say they hadn’t known it was possible to articulate their views to their MLAs. A number of participants have expressed interest in meeting with their MLA to further discuss their concerns.

Over twenty-five women attended our last workshop. Women are sharing their ideas, with politicians, and with each other as in the words of this immigrant woman participant: “Every woman should know about the provincial budget. I had no clue, now I know more and am confident to mention it to others.” It is clear that women are interested in the budget, and that they want a budget that brings greater equality to their lives.