Part III - Measures Adopted by the Governments of the Provinces - Manitoba

• Article 2: Anti-Discrimination Measures
• Article 3: Measures to Ensure the Advancement of Women
• Article 6: Trafficking of Women and Exploitation
• Article 7: Women in Politics and Public Life
• Article 10: Education
• Article 11: Employment
• Article 12: Health
• Article 13: Economic and Social Life
• Article 14: Rural Women

Article 2: Anti-Discrimination Measures

Legal aid

435. A Woman's Place, which opened in November 2004, addresses needs specific to women, including free legal services to primarily low-income, immigrant and Aboriginal women. It combines services with other agencies, including Legal Aid Manitoba. In 2005-2006, legal services were provided to 125 women.

436. In January 2003, Legal Aid Manitoba cut back domestic and civil services (separation, divorce, support variations, uncontested guardianships) due to deficits. These cuts primarily affected women. In April 2005, provincial funding increased, and these services (except for uncontested divorces and uncontested guardianships) were reinstated. Statistics for 2004 to 2006 show a 4.8 percent (351) increase in certificates issued to women.

437. Legal Aid issued 7,227 certificates to women in 2004-2005 and 7,737 in 2005-2006. In addition, based on overall certificate statistics, it is estimated that 22,815 women were assisted through duty counsel and drop-in services in 2005-2006 and 19,940 in 2004-2005.

Complaints of gender-related discrimination

Complaints to the Manitoba Human Rights Commission – 2003 to 2006

Year	Complaints Closed	Sex Discrimination Complaints	Disposition of Registered Complaints
2003	336	77 registered complaints (plus 10 complaints settled prior to registration)	17 settled prior to determination by the Board 9 withdrawn or abandoned31 dismissed by the Board 3 settled by Board directed mediation10 referred to adjudication3 settled by the parties1 terminated for other reasons
2004	427	94 registered complaints (plus 25 complaints settled prior to registration)	10 settled prior to determination by the Board11 withdrawn or abandoned 23 dismissed by the Board1 terminated by the Board*3 settled by Board directed mediation3 referred to adjudication43 settled prior to adjudication
2005	325	53 registered complaints (plus 21 complaints settled prior to registration)	16 settled prior to determination by the Board 9 withdrawn or abandoned17 dismissed by the Board 2 terminated by the Board*1 settled by Board directed mediation 7 referred to adjudication1 settled prior to adjudication
Jan – May 2006	104	17 registered complaints(plus 4 settled prior to registration)	7 settled prior to determination by the Board2 withdrawn or abandoned8 dismissed by the Board

* Offer of settlement reasonable

Aboriginal women

438. Manitoba has progressively increased core funding and project funding provided to Mothers of Red Nations, whose mandate and mission include “ educating, promoting awareness on Aboriginal women's human rights, and advocating on behalf of Manitoba's Aboriginal women" (http://morn.cimnet.ca/cim/92C270_397T18351.dhtm).

Aboriginal women in custody

439. There are approximately 120 women incarcerated in provincial correctional facilities in Manitoba; of that number, about 70 percent are Aboriginal women. Complaints have been filed with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission by women prisoners alleging failure to accommodate the special needs of women prisoners; those complaints have been referred for mediation. In April 2006, Manitoba announced that $25 million has been set aside to begin constructing a new correctional facility for women.

440. Measures to address the high percentage of Aboriginal women incarcerated include:

• The planning process for the new women's correctional centre will include culturally appropriate programming for Aboriginal women.
  
  
• Manitoba Corrections has developed gender specific programming – the Circle of Change program, which has a female elder and a female cultural support worker.
  
  
• There is one Elder, one Chaplain and one Cultural Support Worker at Manitoba's correctional facility for women. The Elder and Cultural Worker provide service to sentenced and remanded inmates such as cultural specific crafts, drumming, sharing circles, traditional medicines, smudging, cultural awareness and community resources. They also provide one to one counselling.
  
  
• As of the date of this report, the trend in Manitoba is a large number of remand inmates compared with the sentenced population – the percentage is approximately 70 percent remand. This has required changes to programming to allow short-term remand inmates to participate.
  
  
• Manitoba 's correctional centre for women also receives services from various community agencies to assist with programs, for example, the Triple P parenting program, which is delivered from an Aboriginal perspective.
  
  
• New programs that are developed must be gender specific and include the Aboriginal perspective as a common thread throughout the program.

Article 3: Measures to Ensure the Advancement of Women

Violence against women and girls

441. Manitoba 's Domestic Violence Front End Project was expanded in November 2005 to include all sexual assault cases (www.manitobacourts.mb.ca/domestic_violence.html). This case management system has introduced many efficiencies to the Justice system, particularly in the area of services to victims of domestic abuse, and has achieved significant results. The Front End Project won the 2006 United Nations Public Service Award for improving service delivery.

442. Initiatives in the area of violence against women are described in paragraph 307 of Canada's Fifth Report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Additional initiatives include:

• The "Domestic Violence Prevention: A Workplace Initiative" was launched in January 2004.
• The Winnipeg Family Violence Probation Unit has been expanded to increase its ability to provide educational and long-term domestic violence programs for women, multi-cultural, Aboriginal and learning disabled clients.
• Standard and ongoing training for probation staff and Winnipeg Police Service recruit classes was created, focusing on domestic violence theory and issues.
• The Criminal Organization High Risk Offender Unit was established, which provides intensive community interventions and monitoring for 30 very high-risk family violence offenders.
• The Domestic Violence Intervention Unit was created to assist families where domestic violence-related incidents do not result in charges or arrests.
• Funding for two Family Violence Prevention Conferences (in 2003 and 2005).
• The Domestic Violence and Stalking Act was amended to expand the categories of people the Act applies to and improve protections for children (http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/2004/c01304e.php).
• The Enforcement of Canadian Judgments Act was enacted, which allows out-of-province Canadian civil protection orders to be enforced in Manitoba and acted upon by police, whether or not the order is registered in the Manitoba courts (http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/e116e.php).

443. Generally, evaluations of services provided by the family violence service sector have been descriptive in nature. A proposal is being developed for a more broad-based evaluation to assess the impact of and the gaps in family violence prevention and intervention services.

444. Measures aimed at violence against vulnerable and marginalized girls and women include:

• The Government of Manitoba and the Association for Community Living provide information and support to persons with intellectual disabilities in conflict with the law as victims, witnesses or offenders (www.aclmb.ca/justice.htm). Specific attention is paid to women with intellectual disabilities who are at risk of abuse in their personal relationships.
• The Immigrant Women's Counselling Services provides specialized counselling services to immigrant and refugee women experiencing family violence.
• A workshop on Immigrant Women, Family Violence and Homelessness was held in Winnipeg on June 20, 2006.
• Three neighbourhood immigrant outreach programs and the Newcomer Youth and Family Recreation/Orientation Project are offered in Winnipeg.
• The Entry Program for newcomers (October 2004) includes orientation to Manitoba laws, child protection, processes, domestic violence and abuse remedies and police services.

Aboriginal women

445. Manitoba policies and programs that address violence against Aboriginal women include:

• The Stolen Sisters Interdepartmental Working Group is examining and will make recommendations respecting discrimination and violence against Aboriginal women.
• Funding is provided for a community-based support program for enhanced services to Aboriginal women and children caught in the cycle of domestic violence, and for other culturally appropriate services such as the Native Women's Transition Centre.
• Funding was provided in 2005-2006 towards Phase 2 of the United Against Racism Project through Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. Aboriginal students are part of this project.
• Mothers of Red Nations received funding for projects such as Developing Capacity for Change, to support a Community Development Facilitator for Aboriginal Women to assist with development for women in crisis; an Aboriginal Capacity and Leadership Development Community Response to Aboriginal Girls and Women Involved in Gangs; the national Our Healing in Our Hands conference in March 2005.

Shelters for victims of violence

446. Funding for 10 women's shelters across Manitoba exceeds $6.3 million annually; funding has increased by 74 percent since 1999. Funding is also provided to residential second stage housing programs, women's resource centres, long-term counselling programs, access/exchange centres, couples counselling programs and programs for men. Total funding to Family Violence Prevention Program agencies is nearly $11 million.

447. A crisis accommodations and support program for persons with disabilities, launched in June 2006 with a budget of $100,000 for 2006-2007, targets adults with disabilities who are victims of violence from household members who are not intimate partners.

448. In September 2006, approximately 70 percent of women accessing government provincially funded shelter services in Manitoba were Aboriginal women. Of these women, approximately 30 percent were living on a reserve prior to being admitted to the shelter. Program standards for provincially funded agencies require that agency staff and its governing board reflect the community it serves, and that the agency provide culturally sensitive services. There is no residential second-stage housing program that is specifically for Aboriginal women and children. They have access to the existing programs.

449. Challenges in ensuring access to shelters and crisis centres for vulnerable and marginalized groups include cultural barriers, language barriers, physical barriers in older residences for disabled women and children, distance for rural and northern women, and issues relating to Federal/Provincial programs for Aboriginal communities. Shelters and crisis centres do not exist on many reserves, and half of Manitoba's reserves are located in remote northern parts of the province. Measures to address these challenges include:

• covering transportation costs to a shelter when necessary;
• transfer to another facility if a shelter cannot accommodate persons with disabilities;
• funding shelter workers for disability-related accommodations such as sign language;
• public education in immigrant communities about domestic violence issues and existing supporting services provided by the Immigrant Women's Counselling Services;
• Aboriginal women have access to two crisis lines, at all times, for information;
• off-reserve, the Ikwe Wijjitiwin shelter primarily serves Aboriginal women and many Northern shelters and services have staff who speak various Aboriginal languages;
• four residential second stage housing programs offer protective, affordable, long-term housing and services for women leaving an abusive relationship. One of these serves Manitoba's Aboriginal women and children.

450. For over two years, outcome-based data on the extent of service utilization within the Aboriginal population has been collected. Analysis of this data will provide an evaluation of the impact and effect of domestic violence policies and programming in the Aboriginal community. As collection on Aboriginal status is voluntary, and in many cases a woman may choose not to disclose this information, the date will under represent the number of women using domestic violence services.

Article 6: Trafficking of Women and Exploitation

Sexual exploitation of children and youth

451. The Manitoba Strategy on Child Sexual Exploitation, launched in 2002, is a multi-jurisdictional and coordinated governmental and community approach to preventing or reducing the incidence of sexual exploitation of children and youth in Manitoba.

452. New programs and initiatives to support victims of sexual exploitation include:

• enhancing a residential childcare facility to deliver specialized services for young women aged 13 to 17 who have been sexually exploited;
• intensive specialized training for foster parents and other workers who deal with children and youth who have been sexually exploited and specialized foster care resources for children aged eight to 12 who have been sexually exploited;
• a new Prosecutions Policy stating that children involved in prostitution are victims of a serious form of sexual exploitation and need assistance;
• increased penalties under The Child and Family Services Act for offences that include sexual exploitation of children (http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/c080e.php).

Article 7: Women in Politics and Public Life

453. As of May 2006:

• 13 of the 56 Members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly were women (23.21 percent);
• five of the 17 government Cabinet ministers were women (29.41 percent);
• seven of the 20 government deputy ministers were women (35 percent);
• three of the 36 mayors of communities established under The Northern Affairs Act were women (36.1 percent);
• 50 of the 139 members of the community councils for these Northern communities were women (36 percent);
• three of the eight contact persons appointed for small northern communities were women (37.5 percent);
• two of the eight Manitoba Court of Appeal judges were women (25 percent);
• nine of the 24 Court of Queen's Bench (General Division) judges were women (37.5 percent);
• six of the 15 Court of Queen's Bench (Family Division) judges were women (40 percent);
• 11 of the 37 Provincial Court judges (usually 40) were women (29.73 percent);
• three of the five presidents of public degree-granting post-secondary institutions were women (60 percent).

454. The Women's Leadership Program was introduced in January 2006 to help women in the Manitoba civil service achieve their full leadership potential and to support the Government's employment equity goal of increasing the number of qualified women ready to assume leadership positions.

Aboriginal women

455. Manitoba initiatives respecting the participation of Aboriginal women in governance include funding northern Aboriginal women to attend the Aboriginal Women and Self-Determination – an Exploration of Our Way of Being conference; funding to the Métis Women of Manitoba; financial support to Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. for the annual Keeping the Fires Burning event that recognizes and honours the leadership and contribution of Aboriginal women.

456. Information on women participating in negotiations of land claims agreements is included in the response to question 14 on the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the fourth periodic report of Canada concerning the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Article 10: Education

Aboriginal women and girls

457. Manitoba 's Aboriginal Education Action Plan was announced in October 2004 (http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/abedu/action_plan/abed_action_plan.pdf). A key objective is to increase high school graduation rates for all Aboriginal students, female and male, and to promote successful transition to post-secondary education. Specific initiatives include:

• The Making Education Work pilot research project will test a school and Aboriginal community-based, collaborative model in career development programming.
  
  
• Career Trek encourages economically and socially disadvantaged 10 and 11-year-old students to remain in school. The program has been very effective in leading to high school graduation. Approximately 40 percent of students are Aboriginal, of which many are female.
  
  
• The Council of Aboriginal Educators and Building Student Success with Aboriginal Parents fund innovative approaches to parent and family involvement.
  
  
• Funding is provided to implement Standing Tall, a three-year pilot project begun in 2005 by the Manitoba Métis Federation for Aboriginal public school students to reduce absenteeism, increase school completion rates and enhance the classroom environment with a culturally appropriate atmosphere.
  
  
• Restoring the Sacred is a three-year pilot project begun in 2004 to develop and deliver culturally relevant prevention and intervention programming to Aboriginal youth between 15 and 21 who have relocated from northern or rural communities to attend high school. About 24 youth are receiving programming, including Aboriginal girls. Two program evaluations have been completed, by an independent contractor, as part of the pilot stage. Results of the Initial Formative Evaluation, completed in March 2006, were positive, indicating that the program was on track with its developmental objectives. The Phase 2 Evaluation, in August 2006, examined youth progress through the program with an emphasis on the mentorship process. The results of the second evaluation were also positive. Future evaluations will continue to be carried out with consent of the youth involved, will be outcome-based, and will use developed relationships with educational institutions (i.e. receiving schools) to solicit progress reports on targeted youth.

458. Measures to ensure access to post-secondary education include:

• The ACCESS programs in Manitoba's post-secondary institutions provide personal and academic supports to participants. The majority of participants are in fields of study in health care, education and social services, which generally attract a large number of female students. Priority groups include Aboriginal people, immigrants and refugees, single parents and inner city residents. Over the 1999 to 2004 period, student intake into the ACCESS programs was 2,329, and the number of graduates was 884.
  
  
• Non-repayable bursaries are offered to selected students in the ACCESS programs. In 2005-2006, Aboriginal women comprised 50 percent of the recipients.
  
  
• Manitoba Student Aid has an Aboriginal Liaison Officer who works closely with the Aboriginal community, including the ACCESS program directors, in developing policies that meet the unique needs of Aboriginal students, including Aboriginal women.
  
  
• The Millennium Manitoba Opportunities Grant Program includes an Aboriginal component. In 2006-2007, it is estimated that 300 students will be eligible for that component of the grant.
  
  
• Aboriginal women represent approximately 10 percent of all students assisted through Manitoba Student Aid programs in 2005-2006.
  
  
• Satellite Licensed Practical Nurse programs are offered jointly by the Assiniboine Community College and several Métis organizations and First Nations. Forty-one Licensed Practical Nurses graduated in 2002, 13 in 2003 and 25 in 2004.
  
  
• The Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation provides awards and assistance to Aboriginal post-secondary students, many of whom are women.

Article 11: Employment

Employment measures

459. The following are examples of measures to remove barriers to standard employment.

460. A gender-based analysis of The Employment Standards Code was included as part of the review of the Code. Proposed changes that would help remove barriers to standard employment for women include the introduction of family-responsibility leaves.

461. The minimum wage has been increased each year from 1999, to bring it up to $8.00 an hour in 2007, to assist and encourage more women to enter the paid workforce.

462. YWCA of Thompson Women's Employment Resource Centre addresses the large number of women unable to complete training courses or retain employment in the service sector in Thompson, and provides the necessary supports to cope with employment related issues (childcare, interpersonal skills, budgeting, etc).

463. Some settlement programs address participation barriers specific to women, including language training sessions where young children accompany their mothers, flexible hours and other supportive measures.

464. The following table indicates the percentage of women participating in various employment programs in 2005-2006.

	Women	Aboriginal Women
National Child Benefit Employment Program	80%	20%
Employment and Training Services	45%	10%
Skills Development Program	55%	11%
Self-Employment Program	40%	5%

Aboriginal women

465. Programs benefiting Aboriginal women, in addition to those described above, include:

• the Manitoba First Nations Health Human Resource Regional Strategic Framework benefits include expanded opportunities for First Nation health care workers, many of whom are women, and First Nation health care workers delivering care to First Nations communities;
• the Civil Service Renewal Strategy – Aboriginal Employment Strategy component;
• Aboriginal Employment Partnership Agreements with major private sector employers;
• funding towards Mothers of Red Nations' Journey to Success Workshop in 2004;
• funding for Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.'s Aboriginal Women's Self-Employment program.

Affordable childcare

466. New childcare initiatives in 2005-2006 included:

• a nine percent increase in wages for child care workers, increased college training seats and a forgivable loan program (tuition support);
• funding for 2,500 existing spaces, a commitment to create 750 new spaces and a capital program of $2.7 million;
• a new nursery school subsidy.

467. Additional information on childcare initiatives can be found in Canada's Fifth Report on theInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (paragraph 304) and at http://www.gov.mb.ca/childcare.

Article 12: Health

Access to health care

468. Some initiatives focussing on women and access to health care include:

• expansion of Health Links-Info Santé throughout the province;
• expansion of the Manitoba Breast Screening Program;
• 10 major construction projects in acute care, long-term care and primary health care;
• opening the first Health Access Centre, which provides one-stop access to a range of health and social services, including primary health care;
• opening the Manitoba Breast Cancer Research Centre in Winnipeg;
• opening a Sexual Assault Unit at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg;
• expanding educational and outreach efforts by the Manitoba Cervical Cancer Screening Program throughout Manitoba, focussing on access for under-served women (e.g., Aboriginal, low income, and immigrant and refugee women);
• the Aboriginal Midwifery Program, a four-year university degree program designed to train Aboriginal students, particularly those living in Northern Manitoba, and to make maternal-child services accessible to Northern Aboriginal women and children.

469. The impact of these measures and other measures on the level of access to health care has been positive. The (2003) Canadian Community Health Survey and the Health Services Access Survey included a number of questions about the perceived quality of different types of health care services, both community-based and in hospital, and patient satisfaction with these different types of care. Overall, a large proportion of Manitobans appear to be satisfied with the services they received and the quality of care provided. In 2003, an estimated 95 percent of Manitobans reported receiving some kind of health care service in the preceding 12 months. About 83 percent said that they were very or somewhat satisfied with the way health care services were provided. An estimated 85 percent of Manitobans rated the quality of care they received to be excellent or good. See Manitoba's Comparable Health Indicator Report, November 2004, pages 47 to 50 and pages 53 to 54 (http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/documents/pirc2004.pdf).

470. In November 2005, the report Sex Difference in Health Status, Health Care Use, and Quality of Care: A Population-based Analysis for Manitoba's Regional Health Authorities, funded by Manitoba, was released (http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/mchp/reports/reports_05/sexdiff.htm). The report indicates that causes of death are much the same for both sexes; physician visits and hospitalisations are comparable when rates are adjusted to exclude reproductive issues; there doesn't appear to be sex bias in treatment; overall, men and women in Manitoba appear to be similarly healthy; and on the whole, the health care system is responding.

471. Following the release of the Manitoba Women's Health Strategy in 2000 (http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/women/), a gender-based analysis project was undertaken which included funding for the document Including Gender in Health Planning: A Guide for Regional Health Authorities (http://www.pwhce.ca/pdf/gba.pdf) and workshops between 2003 and 2005, primarily with Regional Health Authorities. This contributed to a stronger emphasis on women's health issues in the 2nd Comprehensive Community Health Assessments in September 2004 (http://health.internal/cha/index.htm). The Women's Health Strategy identified the need for a Women's Health Profile to identify useful health indicators for Manitoba girls and women. The Government of Manitoba and the Government of Canada are funding a report featuring over 100 indicators of women's health.

Specific health issues

472. Some new measures introduced to address particular women's health issues include:

• monitoring the move of emergency contraception medication from prescription to non-prescription status, including price and access issues;
• the Reproductive Health Strategy;
• initiatives to reduce wait times in key surgical and diagnostic areas (e.g., joint replacement) and initiatives with a prevention focus (e.g. falls prevention, particularly among seniors; vision screening; etc.);
• the Mental Health and Addiction Strategy;
• Healing Choices – a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevention resource for professionals, aimed at hard-to-reach populations (e.g., women with low literacy levels).

473. Efforts under the Provincial Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention and Control Strategy focus on youth, corrections, the North, and those living in low-income areas of the City of Winnipeg. Measures include:

• the Aboriginal Strategy on HIV/AIDS;
• education, testing, counselling and resources for offenders upon release;
• funding a co-ordinator position in a northern regional health authority to engage in primary prevention efforts;
• the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network – involving over 60 organizations with the goal of reducing harm associated with problematic substance abuse and high risk sexual behaviour, and aligned with mental health and addiction activities;
• funding for the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transsexual, Two-Spirited Community Coalition in 2005 to address the educational needs of at-risk populations regarding syphilis and HIV outbreaks, and related sexual health issues;
• funding for the Partners in Caring conference in 2004 and the Living Well with HIV conference in 2005.

Aboriginal women

474. New policies and programs adopted to improve the physical and psychological well-being of Aboriginal women include locating training sites for the Aboriginal Midwifery Program in Northern Manitoba and the development of a provincial framework for suicide prevention, with community partners.

475. In early 2005, Manitoba released the report As Long as the Waters Flow: An Aboriginal Strategy on HIV/AIDS (http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/aids/a224933.pdf). The Strategy is being developed in collaboration with Aboriginal communities.

Article 13: Economic and Social Life

Measures to fight poverty

476. Improvements in income assistance and support services in Manitoba are outlined in paragraphs 300 to 302 of Canada's Fifth Report on theInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Programs are targeted to assist low-income families in poverty to achieve self-sustainability. Additional examples include increases in the board and room rates for individuals requiring care and supervision or living in residential care facilities (in April 2006) and the Northern Energy Cost Benefit for employment and income assistance participants living in northern and remote Manitoba. Ongoing initiatives include the cross-sectoral government estimates process that, in 2005, focused on addressing the needs of low-income children and families.

Support programs and services

477. While not specifically targeted, women and girls benefit from programs and services for persons with disabilities. Program direction and funding is provided by Manitoba for services to children with disabilities, for supported living services for adults with a mental disability and for vocational rehabilitation services, employment and income support services to persons with disabilities.

478. The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Initiative provides funding for training, start-up loans and mentorship opportunities. The Manitoba Civil Service Commission created an internship program to raise the number of civil servants with disabilities; 65 percent of the participants are women.

479. Some provincial programs may not be available on-reserve and First Nations women and children who live off-reserve may not be eligible for federal benefits and services available for to those living on-reserve. Manitoba's Closing the Gap plan includes working in partnership with the Government of Canada, Aboriginal peoples and organizations to close these gaps, specifically in the areas of education, health, housing and economic opportunities. An Aboriginal women's perspective will be applied as needed.

Article 14: Rural Women

480. Flexible and affordable childcare in rural areas is a challenge in improving the economic security of rural women. Seven hundred and fifty new spaces will be available and priority will be given to communities with the greatest need. With the availability of nursery school subsidies and reduced fees, spaces are more accessible to low-income families.

481. The Canadian Agriculture Skills Service program began in the fall of 2005 and provides funding to farmers and their spouses, with a net family income of less than $45,000 per year, towards learning opportunities, including formal training and informal learning, that will bring more choices and sources of income. Of the 757 applicants as of July 31, 2006, approximately 210 (28 percent) were female.

482. In the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation's lending portfolio of over 4,000 clients, 62 are female clients. Joint loan applications (from a male and a female) are now in the majority, comprising 60 percent of loan applications.

483. From October 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006, the Rural Entrepreneur Assistance Program, which guarantees individual business loans between $10,000 and $100,000, issued a total of 20 loan guarantees; nine involved women entrepreneurs owning at least a 50 percent interest.

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