Dear friends and allies,
On Tuesday, Nova Scotians elected the first NDP government in Atlantic Canada. With a majority of 31 seats, Darrell Dexter’s party has been given a strong mandate to serve our province for the next four years.
There is unprecedented political will to address issues facing women and girls in Nova Scotia. Nearly half of our new MLAs have pledged their support for women’s services, and Darrell Dexter has committed to investing $500,000 in women’s centres and transition houses.
We must keep the momentum going to make sure women and girls don’t disappear from the political agenda. We know where our elected representatives stand on the issue of adequate funding for women’s services—now we must hold them accountable for the commitments they made during the election campaign.
Thank you for your support and solidarity! Let us move forward with hope and determination to continue the struggle for a world in which women and girls are safe, valued and empowered.
In solidarity,
Betsy/the Connect! campaign
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Women and Girls Matter! - Wordle
I just discovered these things called "wordles", which are clusters of words that appear in a given selection of text (such as a blog, article or website). The more frequently a word comes up in the text, the larger it appears in the wordle. Here's one I just created based on the Women and Girls Matter! blog.
Betsy
Betsy
Monday, June 8, 2009
Election Day is tomorrow - It's time to make our voices heard!
Dear friends and allies,
Tomorrow is election day, and all signs are pointing to a change in government. On Tuesday we have the chance to elect MLAS who are committed to addressing the needs of women and girls in our province - but only if we vote them in and hold them accountable once elected.
It's time to demand real changes that reverse, rather than exacerbate, poverty and violence against women. We must fight for affordable housing and childcare, more accessible education and training, a living minimum wage, quality and affordable health care, adequate funding for women's centres and transition houses, and a social assistance program that allows women and their families to live with dignity.
Tomorrow let's get out and vote for change! WE CAN elect a woman-positive legislature in Nova Scotia!
Here is the updated chart/list displaying the number of candidates supporting fair, competitive salaries for women's centres (now 72 in total).
Tomorrow is election day, and all signs are pointing to a change in government. On Tuesday we have the chance to elect MLAS who are committed to addressing the needs of women and girls in our province - but only if we vote them in and hold them accountable once elected.
It's time to demand real changes that reverse, rather than exacerbate, poverty and violence against women. We must fight for affordable housing and childcare, more accessible education and training, a living minimum wage, quality and affordable health care, adequate funding for women's centres and transition houses, and a social assistance program that allows women and their families to live with dignity.
Tomorrow let's get out and vote for change! WE CAN elect a woman-positive legislature in Nova Scotia!
Here is the updated chart/list displaying the number of candidates supporting fair, competitive salaries for women's centres (now 72 in total).
Annapolis – Jamie F. L. Spinney (Green), Stephen McNeil (Liberal)
Antigonish – Miles Tompkins (Liberal), Maurice Smith (NDP)
Argyle –
Bedford-Birch Cove – Kelly Regan (Liberal), Brian Mosher (NDP)
Cape Breton Centre –
Cape Breton North –
Cape Breton Nova –
Cape Breton South – Cathy Theriault (Green), Wayne McKay (NDP)
Cape Breton West –
Chester-St. Margaret’s – Ryan Cameron (Green), Jo-Ann Grant (Liberal), Denise Peterson-Rafuse (NDP)
Clare –
Colchester-Musquodobit Valley – Willy Versteeg (Liberal), Gary Burrill (NDP)
Colchester North – Judy Davis (Green), Lorenda Ebbett (Liberal)
Cole Harbour – Tony Ince (Liberal), Darrell Dexter (NDP)
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage – Denise Menard (Green)
Cumberland North – Aviva Silburt (Green), Ernest Fage (Independent)
Cumberland South – Don Tabor (NDP)
Dartmouth East – Andrew Younger (Liberal), Joan Massey (NDP)
Dartmouth North – Trevor Zinck (NDP)
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley – David Croft (Green), Marilyn More (NDP)
Digby-Annapolis –
Eastern Shore – Sid Prest (NDP)
Glace Bay – Todd Pettigrew (Green), Myrtle Campbell (NDP)
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour – Amy Florian (Green), Lloyd Hines (Liberal), Jim Boudreau (NDP)
Halifax Atlantic – Anthony Rosborough (Green), Jim Hoskins (Liberal)
Halifax Chebucto –
Halifax Citadel – Ryan Watson (Green), Gerry Walsh (Liberal)
Halifax Clayton Park – Amanda Hester (Green), Diana Whalen (Liberal), Debbie Hum (PC)
Halifax Fairview – Jane Hester (Green), Brad Armitage (Liberal)
Halifax Needham – Maureen MacDonald (NDP)
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville – Shawn Redmond (Green), Mat Whynott (NDP)
Hants East –
Hants West – Sheila Richardson (Green), Barbara Gallagher (NDP)
Inverness – Nathalie Arsenault (Green), Michael MacIsaac (NDP)
Kings North –
Kings South – Ramona Jennex (NDP)
Kings West – Leo Glavine (Liberal)
Lunenburg – Pam Birdsall (NDP)
Lunenburg West – Emily Richardson (Green), Mark Furey (Liberal), Gary Ramey (NDP)
Pictou Centre – Jim Lindsey (Green), Ross Landry (NDP), Pat Dunn (PC)
Pictou East – Robbie White (Green), J. Ed MacDonald (PC)
Pictou West – Paul Landry (Liberal), Charlie Parker (NDP)
Preston – Janet Sutcliffe (NDP)
Queens – Stuart Simpson (Green), Vicki Conrad (NDP)
Richmond –
Sackville-Cobequid – Jessica Alexander (PC)
Shelburne –
Timberlea-Prospect –
Truro-Bible Hill – Bob Hagell (Liberal), Lenore Zann (NDP)
Victoria-The Lakes –Waverly-Fall River Beaver Bank – Percy Paris (NDP)
Yarmouth – David Mooney (Liberal), David Olie (NDP), Richard Hurlburt (PC)
If you are a political candidate and would like to be included on this list, please send an email to betsypd@gmail.com.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Supportive Housing for Youth
A common catch phrase during election time is “youth are the future.” Most candidates and voters embrace this idea, but there are still major issues affecting youth that are not being adequately addressed at the political level.
One of these issues is homelessness. Throughout Nova Scotia, a significant number of youth are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. When living at home is not an option due to poverty, violence, substance abuse or a range of other factors, many youth find themselves without a place to stay. In rural areas the options for these youth are few and far between, and most resort to staying temporarily with friends (couch surfing—not as fun as it sounds) or leaving for the city. Sexual exploitation is a reality for many adolescent girls experiencing homelessness.
Youth in our province are affected by a number of interrelated issues that reinforce their marginalization and pose considerable barriers to achieving independence. These include poverty, a difficult housing market, mental health and substance abuse issues, a lack of support services and lack of coordination among services, family violence/abuse, and a lack of job and educational/training opportunities.
A major challenge youth face is the gap in social and economic supports for people in their teenage years. Many youth living in poverty find themselves between a rock and a hard place: they are old enough to be expected to support themselves, yet most are rejected for income assistance because they are under 19 years of age and do not fit the eligibility criteria. Without a source of income, youth struggle to find housing and some end up entangled in the criminal justice system.
If young people are fortunate enough to find rental housing, an expensive housing market forces youth to make difficult choices between paying rent, buying groceries, and covering other financial costs. Many forces work against youth who are seeking affordable housing including age discrimination, no track record with landlords and creditors, and difficulty obtaining references. Combined with the low self-esteem that consistently accompanies housing insecurity, these circumstances prevent youth from taking steps to achieve their goals.
We need a provincial system of supportive housing for youth to address this problem. Supportive housing addresses the gap in services for youth by providing individual support, referrals, advocacy and life skills development—all in a safe and supervised environment. A successful rural model exists in Bridgewater, and there are efforts underway to create similar facilities in Pictou and Antigonish. What would it take to establish supportive housing for youth throughout Nova Scotia?
Source:
Reed, Katherine and Krista DeCoste, “Assessing Youth Homeless in Antigonish” Project Final Report (June 2002).
One of these issues is homelessness. Throughout Nova Scotia, a significant number of youth are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. When living at home is not an option due to poverty, violence, substance abuse or a range of other factors, many youth find themselves without a place to stay. In rural areas the options for these youth are few and far between, and most resort to staying temporarily with friends (couch surfing—not as fun as it sounds) or leaving for the city. Sexual exploitation is a reality for many adolescent girls experiencing homelessness.
Youth in our province are affected by a number of interrelated issues that reinforce their marginalization and pose considerable barriers to achieving independence. These include poverty, a difficult housing market, mental health and substance abuse issues, a lack of support services and lack of coordination among services, family violence/abuse, and a lack of job and educational/training opportunities.
A major challenge youth face is the gap in social and economic supports for people in their teenage years. Many youth living in poverty find themselves between a rock and a hard place: they are old enough to be expected to support themselves, yet most are rejected for income assistance because they are under 19 years of age and do not fit the eligibility criteria. Without a source of income, youth struggle to find housing and some end up entangled in the criminal justice system.
If young people are fortunate enough to find rental housing, an expensive housing market forces youth to make difficult choices between paying rent, buying groceries, and covering other financial costs. Many forces work against youth who are seeking affordable housing including age discrimination, no track record with landlords and creditors, and difficulty obtaining references. Combined with the low self-esteem that consistently accompanies housing insecurity, these circumstances prevent youth from taking steps to achieve their goals.
We need a provincial system of supportive housing for youth to address this problem. Supportive housing addresses the gap in services for youth by providing individual support, referrals, advocacy and life skills development—all in a safe and supervised environment. A successful rural model exists in Bridgewater, and there are efforts underway to create similar facilities in Pictou and Antigonish. What would it take to establish supportive housing for youth throughout Nova Scotia?
Source:
Reed, Katherine and Krista DeCoste, “Assessing Youth Homeless in Antigonish” Project Final Report (June 2002).
Supporting Transwomen and TransGirls
All women's centres work towards a fair & equitable world for everyone. Some centres have done some concerted work in creating safe spaces for our Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) community. Some centres also have Queer and Questioning/LGBTQ Youth Groups, where transgendered, transsexual and gender queer youth have an avenue for discussion and support.
Like many other organizations, the women's centres look to the transgendered and transsexual community for ways our services and programs can meet the needs of its members. We look forward to engaging in further dialogue on this issue.
Like many other organizations, the women's centres look to the transgendered and transsexual community for ways our services and programs can meet the needs of its members. We look forward to engaging in further dialogue on this issue.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Leaders' debate and other interesting links
Good afternoon,
I thought I would share some interesting links.
Leaders' debate - Last night the CBC-Chronicle Herald leaders' debate aired on TV. The leaders responded to my question about women's services in Nova Scotia! You can see the whole thing here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nsvotes2009/debate/
The importance of funding women's groups -I was forwarded an excellent article the other day about the importance of funding women's groups. The article was written in September 2006 when the federal Harper government was aggressively attacking women's programs and organizations across the country. It's available at the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) website: http://www.nawl.ca/ns/en/Actions/act-swc.html
Facebook group - The Women and Girls Matter! Facebook group has 189 members, and new people are joining every day. If you are on Facebook, you can visit the group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110348491419&ref=ts
Questions to ask our candidates - The South Shore Chapter of the Council of Canadians recently published a list of questions to ask canddiates in this election, touching on issues such as energy and food security, education, the "Atlantica" agenda, health care, forestry and fishing and (drum roll...) women's issues! The list is available here: http://blogs.southshorenow.ca/cofc/?p=10
I thought I would share some interesting links.
Leaders' debate - Last night the CBC-Chronicle Herald leaders' debate aired on TV. The leaders responded to my question about women's services in Nova Scotia! You can see the whole thing here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nsvotes2009/debate/
The importance of funding women's groups -I was forwarded an excellent article the other day about the importance of funding women's groups. The article was written in September 2006 when the federal Harper government was aggressively attacking women's programs and organizations across the country. It's available at the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) website: http://www.nawl.ca/ns/en/Actions/act-swc.html
Facebook group - The Women and Girls Matter! Facebook group has 189 members, and new people are joining every day. If you are on Facebook, you can visit the group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110348491419&ref=ts
Questions to ask our candidates - The South Shore Chapter of the Council of Canadians recently published a list of questions to ask canddiates in this election, touching on issues such as energy and food security, education, the "Atlantica" agenda, health care, forestry and fishing and (drum roll...) women's issues! The list is available here: http://blogs.southshorenow.ca/cofc/?p=10
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Let's Elect a Woman-Positive Legislature in Nova Scotia!
Dear friends and allies,
The Women’s Centres Connect! campaign to increase support for women’s services is entering its final week. So far we have received positive responses from over sixty political candidates including the leaders of the Liberal, New Democratic and Green parties.
While we are pleased with these responses, many candidates have not yet responded to women’s centres’ request for fair, competitive salaries.
We need your help over the next week to secure these candidates’ support. The following is a list of candidates who have given positive responses to our campaign (there are 71 in total). Are your candidates on this list?
It’s time to put the pressure on our politicians to support women’s services!
Annapolis – Jamie F. L. Spinney (Green), Stephen McNeil (Liberal)
Antigonish – Miles Tompkins (Liberal), Maurice Smith (NDP)
Argyle –
Bedford-Birch Cove – Kelly Regan (Liberal), Brian Mosher (NDP)
Cape Breton Centre –
Cape Breton North –
Cape Breton Nova –
Cape Breton South – Cathy Theriault (Green), Wayne McKay (NDP)
Cape Breton West –
Chester-St. Margaret’s – Ryan Cameron (Green), Jo-Ann Grant (Liberal), Denise Peterson-Rafuse (NDP)
Clare –
Colchester-Musquodobit Valley – Gary Burrill (NDP)
Colchester North – Judy Davis (Green), Lorenda Ebbett (Liberal)
Cole Harbour – Tony Ince (Liberal), Darrell Dexter (NDP)
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage – Denise Menard (Green)
Cumberland North – Aviva Silburt (Green), Ernest Fage (Independent)
Cumberland South – Don Tabor (NDP)
Dartmouth East – Andrew Younger (Liberal), Joan Massey (NDP)
Dartmouth North – Trevor Zinck (NDP)
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley – David Croft (Green), Marilyn More (NDP)
Digby-Annapolis –
Eastern Shore – Sid Prest (NDP)
Glace Bay – Todd Pettigrew (Green), Myrtle Campbell (NDP)
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour – Amy Florian (Green), Lloyd Hines (Liberal), Jim Boudreau (NDP)
Halifax Atlantic – Anthony Rosborough (Green), Jim Hoskins (Liberal)
Halifax Chebucto –
Halifax Citadel – Ryan Watson (Green), Gerry Walsh (Liberal)
Halifax Clayton Park – Amanda Hester (Green), Diana Whalen (Liberal), Debbie Hum (PC)
Halifax Fairview – Jane Hester (Green), Brad Armitage (Liberal)
Halifax Needham – Maureen MacDonald (NDP)
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville – Shawn Redmond (Green), Mat Whynott (NDP)
Hants East –
Hants West – Sheila Richardson (Green), Barbara Gallagher (NDP)
Inverness – Nathalie Arsenault (Green), Michael MacIsaac (NDP)
Kings North –
Kings South – Ramona Jennex (NDP)
Kings West – Leo Glavine (Liberal)
Lunenburg – Pam Birdsall (NDP)
Lunenburg West – Emily Richardson (Green), Mark Furey (Liberal), Gary Ramey (NDP)
Pictou Centre – Jim Lindsey (Green), Ross Landry (NDP), Pat Dunn (PC)
Pictou East – Robbie White (Green), J. Ed MacDonald (PC)
Pictou West – Paul Landry (Liberal), Charlie Parker (NDP)
Preston – Janet Sutcliffe (NDP)
Queens – Stuart Simpson (Green), Vicki Conrad (NDP)
Richmond –
Sackville-Cobequid – Jessica Alexander (PC)
Shelburne –
Timberlea-Prospect –
Truro-Bible Hill – Bob Hagell (Liberal), Lenore Zann (NDP)
Victoria-The Lakes –
Waverly-Fall River Beaver Bank – Percy Paris (NDP)
Yarmouth – David Mooney (Liberal), David Olie (NDP), Richard Hurlburt (PC)
If you are a political candidate and would like to be included on this list, please send an email to betsypd@gmail.com.
The Women’s Centres Connect! campaign to increase support for women’s services is entering its final week. So far we have received positive responses from over sixty political candidates including the leaders of the Liberal, New Democratic and Green parties.
While we are pleased with these responses, many candidates have not yet responded to women’s centres’ request for fair, competitive salaries.
We need your help over the next week to secure these candidates’ support. The following is a list of candidates who have given positive responses to our campaign (there are 71 in total). Are your candidates on this list?
It’s time to put the pressure on our politicians to support women’s services!
Annapolis – Jamie F. L. Spinney (Green), Stephen McNeil (Liberal)
Antigonish – Miles Tompkins (Liberal), Maurice Smith (NDP)
Argyle –
Bedford-Birch Cove – Kelly Regan (Liberal), Brian Mosher (NDP)
Cape Breton Centre –
Cape Breton North –
Cape Breton Nova –
Cape Breton South – Cathy Theriault (Green), Wayne McKay (NDP)
Cape Breton West –
Chester-St. Margaret’s – Ryan Cameron (Green), Jo-Ann Grant (Liberal), Denise Peterson-Rafuse (NDP)
Clare –
Colchester-Musquodobit Valley – Gary Burrill (NDP)
Colchester North – Judy Davis (Green), Lorenda Ebbett (Liberal)
Cole Harbour – Tony Ince (Liberal), Darrell Dexter (NDP)
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage – Denise Menard (Green)
Cumberland North – Aviva Silburt (Green), Ernest Fage (Independent)
Cumberland South – Don Tabor (NDP)
Dartmouth East – Andrew Younger (Liberal), Joan Massey (NDP)
Dartmouth North – Trevor Zinck (NDP)
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley – David Croft (Green), Marilyn More (NDP)
Digby-Annapolis –
Eastern Shore – Sid Prest (NDP)
Glace Bay – Todd Pettigrew (Green), Myrtle Campbell (NDP)
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour – Amy Florian (Green), Lloyd Hines (Liberal), Jim Boudreau (NDP)
Halifax Atlantic – Anthony Rosborough (Green), Jim Hoskins (Liberal)
Halifax Chebucto –
Halifax Citadel – Ryan Watson (Green), Gerry Walsh (Liberal)
Halifax Clayton Park – Amanda Hester (Green), Diana Whalen (Liberal), Debbie Hum (PC)
Halifax Fairview – Jane Hester (Green), Brad Armitage (Liberal)
Halifax Needham – Maureen MacDonald (NDP)
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville – Shawn Redmond (Green), Mat Whynott (NDP)
Hants East –
Hants West – Sheila Richardson (Green), Barbara Gallagher (NDP)
Inverness – Nathalie Arsenault (Green), Michael MacIsaac (NDP)
Kings North –
Kings South – Ramona Jennex (NDP)
Kings West – Leo Glavine (Liberal)
Lunenburg – Pam Birdsall (NDP)
Lunenburg West – Emily Richardson (Green), Mark Furey (Liberal), Gary Ramey (NDP)
Pictou Centre – Jim Lindsey (Green), Ross Landry (NDP), Pat Dunn (PC)
Pictou East – Robbie White (Green), J. Ed MacDonald (PC)
Pictou West – Paul Landry (Liberal), Charlie Parker (NDP)
Preston – Janet Sutcliffe (NDP)
Queens – Stuart Simpson (Green), Vicki Conrad (NDP)
Richmond –
Sackville-Cobequid – Jessica Alexander (PC)
Shelburne –
Timberlea-Prospect –
Truro-Bible Hill – Bob Hagell (Liberal), Lenore Zann (NDP)
Victoria-The Lakes –
Waverly-Fall River Beaver Bank – Percy Paris (NDP)
Yarmouth – David Mooney (Liberal), David Olie (NDP), Richard Hurlburt (PC)
If you are a political candidate and would like to be included on this list, please send an email to betsypd@gmail.com.
Women's services demand fair, competitive salaries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s services demand fair, competitive salaries
Antigonish, NS, June 2, 2009— Nova Scotia women’s centres are entering the last phase of a six-week campaign to increase support for women’s services in the province. Women’s Centres Connect! has contacted candidates from all political parties asking them to support fair, competitive salaries for women’s services.
The campaign has received positive responses from approximately sixty political candidates from the Green, Liberal, New Democratic and Progressive Conservative parties.
New Democratic Party leader Darrell Dexter pledged his individual support for the campaign, and the NDP platform includes increasing and stabilizing funding for women’s centres and transition houses.
Liberal leader Stephen McNeil and Green leader Ryan Watson also pledged their support for fair and competitive salaries.
Premier Rodney MacDonald said the Progressive Conservatives plan to maintain funding at last year’s levels for community organizations and look at ways to better support women’s services.
“In this time of economic downturn, women’s services are needed more than ever,” says Lucille Harper, executive director of the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre. “How can we afford not to support them?”
###
For more information, please call Betsy MacDonald at (902) 863-6221, email betsypd@gmail.com or visit http://womenandgirlsmatter.blogspot.com/.
Women’s services demand fair, competitive salaries
Antigonish, NS, June 2, 2009— Nova Scotia women’s centres are entering the last phase of a six-week campaign to increase support for women’s services in the province. Women’s Centres Connect! has contacted candidates from all political parties asking them to support fair, competitive salaries for women’s services.
The campaign has received positive responses from approximately sixty political candidates from the Green, Liberal, New Democratic and Progressive Conservative parties.
New Democratic Party leader Darrell Dexter pledged his individual support for the campaign, and the NDP platform includes increasing and stabilizing funding for women’s centres and transition houses.
Liberal leader Stephen McNeil and Green leader Ryan Watson also pledged their support for fair and competitive salaries.
Premier Rodney MacDonald said the Progressive Conservatives plan to maintain funding at last year’s levels for community organizations and look at ways to better support women’s services.
“In this time of economic downturn, women’s services are needed more than ever,” says Lucille Harper, executive director of the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre. “How can we afford not to support them?”
###
For more information, please call Betsy MacDonald at (902) 863-6221, email betsypd@gmail.com or visit http://womenandgirlsmatter.blogspot.com/.
Monday, June 1, 2009
PC platform and poverty reduction strategy: Where are women and girls?
Today I finally got a chance to look at the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative policy platform, available here:
http://pcparty.ns.ca/sites/default/files/PC_Policy_Platform_screen.pdf
As with the other party platforms, I did not have the time to do a thorough feminist analysis of the entire document. Rather, I looked at what the party was promising to do to address certain issues: poverty, affordable housing, income assistance, minimum wage and, of course, women's services.
The 56-page document is organized into five sections: "The Economy," "Rural Development," "Fighting Crime," "Defending Nova Scotia" and "Roads and Infrastructure."
On the issue of poverty, the party has announced a poverty reduction strategy that commits $155 million toward training, affordable housing and improving supports for low-income persons. (The entire 45-page strategy is available here: http://gov.ns.ca/coms/specials/poverty/documents/poverty_report_2009.pdf)
From what I've gathered, anti-poverty activists see the strategy as a step in the right direction, but recognize that it will take much more than this modest plan to eradicate poverty in Nova Scotia.
For instance, the government plans to increase minimum wage to $9.65 by 2011. Unless the cost of living goes down dramatically, people earning this wage are still going to be living in poverty - right?
Back to the platform proper. The party promises to invest $128 million into creating or renovating affordable housing, including 8,600 new units. This would certainly be great, although if the CMHC statistics are right, this would still only address a fraction of the province's housing crisis.
The party also promises to increase the employment support and income assistance (ESIA) rates by $21 million. Now, I'm no expert on this issue, so I'm not sure how far this money will go to alleviate poverty. Anyone have insights on this point?
Now, there is nothing in the platform - or the poverty reduction strategy - about women's services. While the party's poverty strategy certainly has implications for women, there is no mention of women's centres or transition hosues.
Rodney MacDonald told us his party will continue to support women's centres in Nova Scotia. With 101 pages of policy and no mention of women's services, however, I wonder what this support will look like. Will women's services receive the funding they need to provide fair and competitive salaries?
http://pcparty.ns.ca/sites/default/files/PC_Policy_Platform_screen.pdf
As with the other party platforms, I did not have the time to do a thorough feminist analysis of the entire document. Rather, I looked at what the party was promising to do to address certain issues: poverty, affordable housing, income assistance, minimum wage and, of course, women's services.
The 56-page document is organized into five sections: "The Economy," "Rural Development," "Fighting Crime," "Defending Nova Scotia" and "Roads and Infrastructure."
On the issue of poverty, the party has announced a poverty reduction strategy that commits $155 million toward training, affordable housing and improving supports for low-income persons. (The entire 45-page strategy is available here: http://gov.ns.ca/coms/specials/poverty/documents/poverty_report_2009.pdf)
From what I've gathered, anti-poverty activists see the strategy as a step in the right direction, but recognize that it will take much more than this modest plan to eradicate poverty in Nova Scotia.
For instance, the government plans to increase minimum wage to $9.65 by 2011. Unless the cost of living goes down dramatically, people earning this wage are still going to be living in poverty - right?
Back to the platform proper. The party promises to invest $128 million into creating or renovating affordable housing, including 8,600 new units. This would certainly be great, although if the CMHC statistics are right, this would still only address a fraction of the province's housing crisis.
The party also promises to increase the employment support and income assistance (ESIA) rates by $21 million. Now, I'm no expert on this issue, so I'm not sure how far this money will go to alleviate poverty. Anyone have insights on this point?
Now, there is nothing in the platform - or the poverty reduction strategy - about women's services. While the party's poverty strategy certainly has implications for women, there is no mention of women's centres or transition hosues.
Rodney MacDonald told us his party will continue to support women's centres in Nova Scotia. With 101 pages of policy and no mention of women's services, however, I wonder what this support will look like. Will women's services receive the funding they need to provide fair and competitive salaries?
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