Part III - Measures Adopted by the Governments of the Provinces - Newfoundland and Labrador

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

Article 2: Anti-Discrimination Measures

Legal aid

135. The Government's 2006 budget provided an increase in funding for legal aid to allow additional lawyers and support persons in certain areas of the province.

136. Statistics on female applications to legal aid and approved applications are as follows:

Applications Received

Type of law	2003-2004	2004-2005	2005-2006
Civil	2,686	2,682	2,522
Criminal	670	690	579
Youth	197	144	135
Immigration	15	9	10
Total Received	3,568	3,525	3,246

Applications Approved

Type of law	2003-2004	2004-2005	2005-2006
Civil	1,173 (43%)	1,282 (47%)	1,147 (45%)
Criminal	388 (57%)	420 (60%)	361 (62%)
Youth	177 (89%)	112 (77%)	102 (75%)
Immigration	10 (66%)	4 (44%)	6 (40%)
Total Received	1,748 (48%)	1,818 (51%)	1,676 (51%)

Complaints related to gender discrimination

137. For the period of January 2003 to May 2006, the Human Rights Commission accepted 71 gender related complaints. There were 32 complaints of sex discrimination: nine complaints related specifically to pregnancy, 15 complaints of sexual harassment and 15 complaints based on marital status.

Aboriginal women

138. In March 2006, the first province-wide Aboriginal women's conference took place. The conference, The Path to the Good Life, helped participants identify the steps necessary to improve the quality of life in their communities. Issues identified included: culture, health care, governance, violence, justice, education and training, housing, access to programs and funding, and employment.

Aboriginal women in custody

139. Between 2003-2006, approximately 10 percent of the women admitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Centre for Women were Aboriginal. It should be noted that the total Aboriginal population in Newfoundland and Labrador is less that one percent of the overall adult and youth population and, therefore, even though the absolute number of Aboriginal women detainees is low, the number of such admissions is disproportionate to the general population composition.

140. However, the number of women Aboriginal detainees in Newfoundland and Labrador has continued to decline over time. The decline in this number may be attributed to a number of factors: a change in sentencing patterns adopted by local judges in the Labrador Region; and more community-based support being afforded to Aboriginal women, such as community safe houses, victim services, addictions programming and women's advocacy groups. The Government is consulting Aboriginal organizations in Labrador to identify the types of community-based programming that would be most effective in preventing criminal activity, minimize the rate of re-offending and ensure the safer reintegration of offenders back into the community. Such programs will be developed in collaboration with Aboriginal organizations, including women's advocacy groups.

Article 3: Measures to Ensure the Advancement of Women

Violence against women and girls

141. The Violence Prevention Act came into effect on July 1, 2006. The legislation provides for new justice system responses in the form of Emergency Protection Orders to help adult victims of family violence and their children in emergency situations. The legislation fills a gap in the justice process for victims by providing for a broader range of more immediate responses than those available through the Criminal Code; note, however, that all criminal justice responses to family violence will remain in place.

142. In April 2006, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador launched a new six-year violence prevention plan. Taking Action Against Violence focuses on preventing violence against women, children and youth, Aboriginal women and children, seniors, persons with disabilities and others who are victims of violence because of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or economic status. The plan will implement those action items committed through the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI).

143. In 2003-2005, funding was provided to six regional coordinating committees and two provincial committees to coordinate services and promote violence awareness. In addition to improved coordination of regional services, this funding resulted in several conferences, workshops, and other special events engaging the community in violence prevention awareness.

144. A formative evaluation of the VPI was completed in March 2004 by an external evaluator. The overall conclusion was that the VPI is an encouraging initiative that brings government departments together and forges meaningful links between government and the community in addressing this key social policy issue. However, the report said both short- and long-term reform is required to fulfill the mandate and vision of the VPI. The Government continues to work with stakeholders of the VPI on the suggested improvements from the evaluation report.

145. In 2003-2004, the advisory committee to ministers responsible for the VPI, with a membership of 20 government and community representatives, collaborated on the goals and objectives of the VPI and the evaluation of the Initiative.

146. An annual action plan for the VPI was completed in 2003 through to 2005 that included department-specific objectives and broad process objectives for all partners.

147. Partner departments use the Interdepartmental Anti-Violence Policy Framework, implemented in 2000, which fosters the use of a “ violence prevention lens" in developing social policy. The Framework outlines each department's commitment to strengthening policy related to violence prevention. The 2003 document Collaborating with Community: Introduction, Rationale and a Guide for Government, an adjunct to the Anti-Violence Policy Framework, led to the formation of a Department of Justice-community collaboration working group on the justice system's response to violence against women. This group developed a long-term strategy as well as short-term solution focused approaches.

148. A community strategy was developed in 2005 to increase public awareness on violence prevention. A wide variety of activities were undertaken by government and community partners.

149. In 2005, a Ministerial Committee on Violence against Women was launched to review issues relating to violence against women and advise the Government on several issues, such as needed changes to family legislation.

Aboriginal women

150. In December 2005, the Government announced funding for a Special Violence Prevention Fund for Aboriginal women and children in Newfoundland and Labrador to help prevent violence and provide services to victims of violence in their communities. The projects included:

• The Labrador Inuit Health Commission, Hopedale Community Day Treatment Program – Funding enabled the group to facilitate a five-week addictions program within the community. In the past, individuals had to leave the community to receive treatment.
  
  
• Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, Aboriginal Women's Retreat on Violence Prevention – This project aimed to increase awareness of violence among Innu women. The retreat trained frontline workers, Band employees and other women from the community on the different kinds of violence, signs and symptoms of violence and how and where to get help when in a violent situation.
  
  
• Federation of Newfoundland Indians, Walking the Prevention Circle for Aboriginal Women and Children – Eighteen participants from local Bands received the three-day training on types of abuse and neglect, the indicators and effects on children, and the actions that can work to prevent abuse and neglect at individual, organizational and community levels.
  
  
• Conne River Health and Social Services – Miawpukek First Nation, Creating a Place to Hear our Women and Children – With the support from the Violence Prevention Initiative, this group was able to create an accessible space to implement programming to support violence prevention of Aboriginal women and children, which provided a place for a community support worker to meet with youth, providing programming and support for victims of abuse or violent crimes.

151. In addition, the Government is working towards improving translation services for Aboriginal people in the justice system.

Shelters for victims of violence

152. In the 2006 Budget, the Government announced an increase in funding to support the operation of eight Women Centers across the province.

153. In 2004, the Government supported the opening of Hope Haven, a new shelter and resource centre for women and their children fleeing abusive situations in Western Labrador.

154. In 2005, funding was announced to support the Hopedale Women's Shelter to provide a full-time staff person, emergency support such as food, bedding, toiletries and other basic needs, as well as to ensure connections were made with appropriate community agencies to assist women in crisis.

Article 7: Women in Politics and Public Life

155. The Government confirmed its commitment to gender equality in the hiring and appointment practices for all departments, agencies, boards and commissions.

156. In 2005, the Government partnered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities to deliver a province-wide seminar series with local equality seeking women's organizations to encourage women to run in the 2005 municipal election. The 2005 municipal election resulted in women being elected to 29 percent of municipal positions.

157. In 2006, expressions of interest were invited for the positions of president and board members to serve on the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women. A public competition was held to fill the position of President to increase transparency and to ensure that the appointment was based on merit. The new board appointees all have strong feminist and social perspectives and include diverse representation.

Aboriginal women

158. With respect to Aboriginal women in leadership roles, there are numerous cases where Aboriginal women represent their members in leadership roles, including but not limited to Nunatsiavut's Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Chief of the Sheshatshiu Innu Band Council and the General Manager of the Miawpukek First Nation.

159. The representation of Aboriginal women on negotiating teams varies by Aboriginal group. For example, the negotiating team of the Miawpukek First Nation self-government agreement is primarily Mi'kmaq women; the Labrador Inuit Association land claims negotiation team had a slim majority of male negotiators; and there are no Innu women on the Innu Nation land claims negotiating team. A small minority of Innu women are on Innu negotiating teams regarding the devolution of Child, Youth and Family Services, Income Support, and Education.

Article 10: Education

Aboriginal women and girls

160. The Government collaborates, supports and is working with Aboriginal groups, local school districts and Band Council members to implement a balanced education for all Aboriginal learners, including females. The entire prescribed curriculum, resources and associated teacher support is made available to improve and support successful completion of high school for Aboriginal students. It is hoped that this comprehensive approach of focusing on the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, career and physical needs will help female Aboriginal learners to become more self-confident to complete high school and access and experience success in post-secondary education.

161. The provincial Social Studies and Religious education programs in particular ensure that female Aboriginal learners in the province will have the opportunity to learn about their Aboriginal heritage and traditional culture, while acquiring the skills necessary to survive in the global economy and thus pursue post-secondary education. These programs make a concerted effort to include a study of empowered female Aboriginals as role models.

162. Two program specialists, one Aboriginal Education Program Development Specialist responsible for assisting in the development of culturally relevant curriculum and one Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Consultant, have been hired by the Department of Education. They are engaged in various professional development activities including collaborating and consulting with all Aboriginal groups in the province regarding issues related to Aboriginal education and FASD programming and prevention initiatives.

163. The Government, in collaboration with the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, provides professional development to empower and enable female Aboriginal teachers and teacher assistants to provide culturally relevant and academically rigorous instruction in their classrooms.

164. In collaboration with Aboriginal groups, the Government is developing culturally appropriate resources and materials to support the provincially prescribed curriculum that eliminates stereotypes and fosters academic achievement of Aboriginal learners.

165. As a result of the funded provincial Fine Arts Strategy (called Cultural Connections), a specific resource containing cultural profiles of provincial Aboriginal females as role models has been developed and is being distributed to all provincial schools during the 2006-2007 school year.

166. The Government has made provision to help hire Innu Community-School Liaisons in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish whose role is to encourage and support school attendance and foster better relationships between the school and community. These positions are cost shared with the Government of Canada.

167. Various workshops and professional development in collaboration with the Innu in the areas of language, curriculum development and the provision of special services have been provided. As well, there have been meetings with stakeholders to explore options for certification of Innu teachers.

168. Discussions to broaden the Native and Northern Education program at Memorial University to include Innu as well as Inuit are ongoing.

Article 11: Employment

Employment measures

169. While women's increasing participation has accounted for virtually all labour market growth since the 1970s, women still lag behind men on a number of key labour market indicators, including participation, employment and wages. Furthermore, despite increasing opportunities in traditionally male-dominated occupations, women's participation in some of these occupations, particularly in the skilled trades, has been extremely low.

170. Having relevant and current information about the provincial labour markets is essential to understanding the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the province in the coming years. To that end, in May 2006, the Government established a Labour Market Development Division to gather and disseminate labour market information. This critical information will complement the efforts of the Government and other community partners to help increase participation among under-represented groups in the labour market, including women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal populations, older workers and youth.

171. Pilot projects have been established that provide single parents with income supplements and employment and career supports.

172. The Government provides funding to Women in Resource Development, which offers an Orientation to Trades and Technology Program and provides women the opportunity to explore non-traditional trades.

173. The participation of women in employment programs is monitored. Approximately 50 percent of all employment program placements sponsored by the Government were filled by women. Career counseling services are provided to clients including women in non-traditional occupations.

174. The Income and Employment Support Act and Regulations, proclaimed in November 2004, modernizes the approaches to providing benefits and the provision of supports to find, attain and monitor employment. The process for developing the legislation included gender-based analysis. The Act and Regulation ensure there is no discrimination against women; allow for the provision of income support benefits with no distinction for persons with disabilities with the exception of higher earning exemptions which is provided to both men and women who receive supplements to earnings; no requirement for specific residential address, for example, rural versus urban, which could address differently the economic security for women living in rural areas of the province.

Affordable childcare

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175. The Child Care Services Subsidy Program provides financial support to lower and middle income families who require childcare in order to access work or training. In 2005 and 2006, the minimum income level to receive this benefit was raised to allow thousands more families access to the program.

Article 12: Health

Access to health care

176. In 2004, a review of the provincial health care system resulted in reorganization of the 14 health boards into four Regional Health Authorities to provide for better coordination and planning for the health needs of regions and reduce duplication of service.

Specific health issues

177. All women in the province can avail of pregnancy and postnatal services through the Regional Health Authorities. High-risk antenatal care and birthing care is provided through inpatient and outpatient support from regional hospitals. Family physicians, regional nurses and nurse practioners in primary health care centres also provide care for pregnant and postnatal women. In addition community health nurses provide educational support to women during pregnancy and in the postnatal period.

178. The province provides prenatal educational support to all women in the province though a series of parent booklets, A New Life, available free of charge in print and on the Web site of the Department of Health & Community Services.

179. Education and Support Standards for Pregnancy, Birth and Early Parenting , introduced in 2005, promotes provincial consistency in the goals, indicators, and targets for the provision of education and support to all women in the province during pregnancy, birth, and early parenting.

180. Efforts are continuing to increase the rate and duration of breastfeeding in the province with the acceptance of standardized definitions of breastfeeding and the recommendations related to exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months.

181. Healthy Baby Clubs, as part of the Family Resource Centre programming, provide additional support to women and families at greater risk of pregnancy.

182. Since 2003, the Cervical Screening Initiatives program has expanded to reach all health regions. This program serves to educate the public and health professionals on the importance of screening and risks related to cervical cancer.

183. In 2006, the Government announced a new breast-screening centre in central Newfoundland and expansions to the existing breast screening centre in St. John's as well as new funding for in vitro fertilization procedures, which, for the first time, allows patients to receive treatment in the province.

184. A new provincial strategy for HIV/AIDS is in the development stages.

Aboriginal women

185. Since 2005, the Government has provided funding to address the issues surrounding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the province. This has been identified as a top health priority in the province's Aboriginal communities.

186. To address the high rate of suicides in Aboriginal communities, the Government will cost share a two-year suicide prevention initiative with the Government of Canada commencing in 2006.

Article 13: Economic and Social Life

Measures to fight poverty

187. As part of the Government-wide poverty reduction strategy, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has committed to strengthening the province's social safety net. This has included increases to the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Tax Benefit and the Low-Income Seniors' Benefit through indexation and a series of investments made in the 2006 Budget. Budget initiatives include a five percent increase in Income Support rates for 2006-2007 as well as the indexation of Income Support rates (commencing in July 2007), funding to address specific needs of Income Support clients which result in higher rent allowance (e.g. disability, large family), changes in the way rent is calculated for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation tenants who have employment earnings, expansion of prescription drug coverage to an additional 97,000 individuals, increase in supports for children and adults with disabilities and enhanced civil legal aid and family justice services.

188. Women's vulnerability to poverty is often masked in standard statistics. Using any of the standard measures, the overall poverty levels for men and women are very similar – that is the percentage falling below any particular cut off (such as Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Offs) is about the same. To have a better understanding of gender differences and the reality of women's poverty, the depth and persistence of poverty must be analyzed as well other factors such as family type. The Background Report and Workbook, Reducing Poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador: Working Towards a Solution, published in 2005, gives an overview of some of the results of such an analysis.

189. Data available for 2004 shows 12.8 percent of women compared with 11.5 percent of men falling below the after-tax Low-Income Cut Offs. While this is a slight reduction from the last reporting period, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to ensuring poverty levels are reduced. Particularly alarming is the percentage for single women between 18 and 64 (57.5 percent in 2004), female led single parent families (46.3 percent of individuals – mothers and children – living in families led by single mothers fall below LICO) and those aged 55 to 64 (sex breakdown not available, but overall it is 20 percent for this age group). While LICO data are not available at the provincial level for persons with disabilities, other information such as the 2001 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey confirm evidence of high poverty levels among this group.

190. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has a poverty reduction strategy, which was developed with input from women's groups, with a guiding principle the consideration of gender. The 2006 Budget made a series of investments to reduce poverty, increase self-reliance and strengthen the social safety net in the province. As part of the integrated and comprehensive approach and focus on prevention, 20 initiatives were funded representing an annual ongoing commitment of $64 million to reduce poverty. In addition, in May 2006, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced an additional $5.5 million for regulated early learning and childcare. Initial focus areas include:

• supporting low wage workers and their families;
• supporting the development of employment skills;
• supporting Income Support clients to work both through removing financial barriers and providing other needed supports;
• supporting the education system to be more responsive;
• strengthening the social safety net;
• supporting early learning and childcare;
• improving access to post-secondary education.

191. Key initiatives include an annual investment to provide prescription drug coverage to more low-income residents, funding to eliminate most school fees charged to parents, expansion of adult literacy and transition programs, increase in Income Support rates by five percent and additional funds to index Income Support rates.

192. Several 2006 Budget initiatives are focused on vulnerable groups. These include:

• increased supports for children and adults with disabilities;
• funding for a second annual Aboriginal Women's Conference;
• through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement funding was provided for the development of a provincial Immigration Strategy, which includes a focus on the needs of immigrant women;
• expansion of prescription drug coverage to a wider range of low-income individuals, including women aged 55 to 64, a group identified as particularly vulnerable, and single parents, single people and other families working for low wages.

193. These initiatives build on other investments made between 2003 and 2005 to reduce poverty. These include:

• The Low-Income Tax Reduction Program, which began in the 2005 taxation year and eliminates provincial income tax for individuals with net income up to $12,000, and for families with net income up to $19,000. Partial tax reductions are received by individuals with net income up to $14,600 and for families with net income up to $21,900.
• The implementation of the Department of Education's White Paper on Post-Secondary Education, including initiatives to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary educational opportunities, such as a tuition freeze and increase in grants to post-secondary institutions.
• The 2005-2006 Home Heating Fuel Rebate Program, which is available to residents of the province whose household income is $30,000 or less and whose primary heat source is home heating fuel.
• The Federal/Provincial Affordable Housing Agreements Phase 1 and 2 will provide funding from 2006-2007 to 2009-2010 ($5.31 million provincial funds) to create new affordable rental housing for low-to-moderate income households.
• Between June 2005 and January 2006, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador raised the minimum wage from $6.00 to $6.50 per hour as part of scheduled increases, which will bring the minimum wage to $7 per hour in January 2007.

194. Many of these initiatives are new or not fully implemented by May 2006 so quantitative data is not yet available. A commitment has been made to monitor impacts, including a breakdown by gender and to make adjustments as necessary.

195. Minimum wage increases have been important to women, who are more likely to work for low wages than men.

Support programs and services

196. The Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities, which provides federal cost-sharing for a range of employment supports and services, continues to support the preparation, attainment and retention of employment for persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities. This program supports access to post-secondary training, supported employment and community-based employment support services.

197. As part of the 2006 budget, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador increased access to the Special Child Welfare Allowance, which offsets some of the costs of additional services/supports incurred in the at-home maintenance of children with development and/or physical disabilities. The intent of the program is to help minimize additional financial costs, which may be present when a family cares for a child with a disability at home.

Women's access to housing

198. It is the policy of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) that victims of family violence have priority within the non-profit housing program and are therefore considered a priority for available housing above regular approved applicants. NLHC has been successfully implementing the Victims of Family Violence Policy and helps approximately 150 families each year regain control and rebuild their lives.

199. In the development of new policy or analysis of existing programs, NLHC uses a gender inclusive lens. However, a full gender-based analysis of social housing programs has not been undertaken.

200. The Women's Policy Office participates in two community and government working groups concerning housing: a Housing Policy Working Group; and a Supportive Housing Working Group.

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