Thank you very much for the opportunity to present our views here today.
I'm with the Women's Health Clinic. It's a non-profit community health centre in Winnipeg that's based on the principles of feminism, equity, and diversity.
Since April 2001, the Women's Health Clinic has benefited from Status of Women Canada funding for an educational and policy change project that was aimed at decreasing income equities by educating the public about the impact income inequities and social exclusion have on women's health. This project has been very successful in making changes that would not have been possible without the ability to do research, to advocate, to lobby for policy change, and to build the capacity of low-income women.
Let me specifically address some of these proposed changes.
First I'll speak on the need for research. A research report for this project was the basic foundation that started the project. Poverty is hazardous to women’s health. The research showed that poverty was in fact hazardous to women's health, and it validated why society needs to consider policy change to reduce poverty if we wish to reduce health care costs. The educational and media efforts utilized the research information to inform the general public of the impact of poverty on health care budgets and to advocate, to government, for specific policy changes.
The ability to use Status of Women funding to do research on issues of significance to women and to develop advocacy and public education programs based on the evidence is critical. Research informs society on emerging issues, and it's necessary in the development of public policy.
Second is the need to advocate for women’s equality. At every age and stage of life, we know there are more poor women than there are poor men. The link between poverty, social exclusion, low income, and health status, plus the increasing feminization of poverty, highlights the failure of public policy to take women into account. The ability to use Status of Women funding to lobby and advocate for policy change is essential.
Here is an example of some of the advocacy we've done. Because the majority of minimum wage earners in Manitoba are women, we founded the Minimum Wage Coalition. Since 2002 we have presented briefs and petitions and have held rallies to support an increase in the minimum wage. Due to the efforts of the coalition, the minimum wage in Manitoba increased. It was at $6.50 per hour when we started, and by April 2007 it's going to go to $8. That took a lot of effort in the advocacy and policy change arena.
Other outcomes of the advocacy efforts include the elimination in Manitoba of the child tax benefit clawback, a housing benefit provided to disabled individuals, and some gender analysis done in the provincial budget process. We've seen an increase in child care spaces, and we have a provincial commitment to review child care subsidy levels. And there are efforts to improve housing for low-income families.
Finally, there is the need to build the capacity of women. Women who experience poverty and inequality rarely have any opportunity to participate in shaping the programs or policies that affect and influence their lives. Validating their knowledge, experience, and stories, plus involving them in developing the recommendations for policy change, is very powerful, both for the outcomes of the policy change and for their own self-esteem and confidence.
Before I close, I want to address the reduction in the administrative budget of Status of Women Canada. The Women’s Health Clinic has appreciated the support of the regional representatives of Status of Women located in Winnipeg and in Edmonton. They have linked us to helpful research and information and to individuals who are working on projects with similar goals in Manitoba and Canada.
This has been most useful to us, and it needs to be recognized as a very valuable component of the success of the Status of Women money.