Part III - Measures Adopted by the Governments of the Provinces - Prince Edward Island

Article 2: Anti-Discrimination Measures

Legal aid

201. In 2003, the Family Support Orders Program, which focussed on obtaining spousal and child support orders to reduce dependence on welfare assistance, ended and the three lawyers working for that program moved to the Legal Aid office to provide family legal aid for low income clients. In 2006, the Law Foundation changed its funding for family legal aid from funding individual family cases to an annual lump sum grant to the Province for family legal aid. More than half the 2005-2006 legal aid budget of $1.2 million is allocated to family legal aid. In 2005-2006, 416 women accessed Prince Edward Island (PEI) legal aid, including 197 women who accessed family legal aid. Women were 27 percent of total legal aid clients, but 76 percent of family legal aid clients.

Complaints of gender-related discrimination

202. The following complaints to the Human Rights Commission were related to gender discrimination (including complaints related to harassment, pregnancy and general discrimination):

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
9 15 13 10 15 20 22

Some cases were dismissed because they lacked merit; others were settled, and some were given awards after a formal hearing.

Aboriginal women in custody

203. Aboriginal people represent two percent of the population of PEI, and never exceed two percent of the offenders in custody. Aboriginal women are not over-represented in prison on PEI. The PEI Female Reintegration Committee published a report in October 2005 to determine the program/service needs, gaps, and barriers for female offenders, including Aboriginal female offenders. This report is a first step towards developing more consistent and cohesive programming for female offenders on PEI.

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Article 3: Measures to Ensure the Advancement of Women

Violence against women and girls

204. The evaluation of the PEIVictims of Family Violence Act, published in 2001, concluded that Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) are effective in helping victims of family violence by providing immediate relief, removing the respondent from the residence, and providing additional benefits not available in other legislation. The majority of victims surveyed expressed satisfaction with the process of obtaining EPOs. Victims who had accessed Victim Services and Transition House Association were highly satisfied with the support they received. Recommendations included additional training for police and increased public information about the Act. A Steering Committee is actively promoting increased utilization of the Act, enhanced training, and quality assurance mechanisms for monitoring police response to family violence.

205. Victims of crime surveyed for a Victim Satisfaction Survey, conducted in 2005, included 70 percent female victims, most of whom were victims of family violence and sexual assault. Survey participants were generally very satisfied with the services provided by Victim Services and other criminal justice officials. Satisfaction with the police response had increased, compared to earlier victim surveys conducted in the 1980s. The survey report is available online at www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/Victimsurvey.pdf.

206. Policy development initiatives in 2004 included revisions to the provincial Alternative Measures Policy and the provincial Spousal Abuse Charging Policy to enhance the focus on victim safety, holding offenders accountable, and deterring spousal abuse.

207. In 2005, the PEI Victim Services Advisory Committee and the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Centre published a report entitled “ Survivors of Violence: Memory of Trauma and its Implications for the Criminal Justice System". The overall goal of the research project was to use new knowledge about how the brain stores memory of trauma to develop strategies to enable criminal justice system officials to better support survivors of violence.

208. In 2006, a status report was published on the Women Abuse Policies and Protocols Project, which had taken place between 1999 and 2003. The status report confirmed the value and success in up-take of the eight protocols (in the justice, hospital emergency, and financial assistance service sectors) developed or updated during the project. The report recommended: formalized horizontal linkages across service sectors; designated responsibility for maintaining the protocols; and ongoing training.

209. The Premier's Action Committee on Family Violence Prevention is in its second five-year term and is responsible for implementing the current Five Year Strategy on Family Violence Prevention (2002-2007).

210. The annual Purple Ribbon Campaign Against Violence includes a focus on vulnerable groups. The Campaign distributes 30,000 information cards and ribbons, including 2,000 cards in French. The focus of the 2006 campaign is on youth: girl/girl violence, the impact of witnessing violence during the teen years, “ hooking up" (casual oral sex given to boys), Internet safety, and violence in sport. In 2005, the theme was violence against senior women; in 2004, the effects on children of witnessing violence; in 2003, why women stay in abusive relationships.

Shelters for victims of violence

211. Since 2001-2002, the province has increased funding for women's shelters and outreach services by 66 percent, from $333,300 in 2001-2002 to $553,800 in 2005-2006; and to the PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Centre by 124 percent from $92,800 in 2001-2002 to $207,300 in 2005-2006.

212. PEI 's shelters, outreach services, and crisis centres are available to Aboriginal women, whether living on or off reserve. In addition, the Native Council of PEI operates a shelter for women in crisis, with priority given to Aboriginal women.

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Article 6: Trafficking of Women and Exploitation

Trafficking in women and girls

213. In 2006, PEI officials began meeting to develop a plan to respond to cases of human trafficking. No cases of trafficking have been identified in the province, but services available generally to victims of crime are available to victims of trafficking. These services include the following: Victim Services, which provides information, assistance, and support to victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process; Transition House Association, which provides emergency shelter, second stage housing, a crisis line, and outreach services to women and children who are victims of family violence; PEI Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Centre, which provides a crisis line and counselling for survivors of sexual abuse and assault; and mental health counselling and family services agencies.

Sexual exploitation of children and youth

214. The Child Protection Act, which replaced the Family and Child Services Act in 2000, added “ sexual exploitation" to the definition of “ abuse" and includes a child who “ has been harmed as a result of being sexually exploited for the purpose of prostitution" as a child in need of protection.

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Article 7: Women in Politics and Public Life

215. In 2006, representation by women was 21 percent in the Legislature; 17 percent in Executive Council; 15 percent as Provincial Deputy Ministers; 25 percent as Supreme Court Justices; 33 percent as Provincial Court Judges; 0 percent as members of the House of Commons; and 67 percent in the Senate (one vacant seat). There was a slight decrease (from 23.5 percent to 20 percent) in women holding these positions, compared to 1998.

216. The Advisory Council on the Status of Women, provincial officials, and women active in the political parties participate in the PEI Coalition for Women in Government. Activities have included consultants and workshops with women on barriers to women in government, ongoing work with political parties to support women's nominations, and a multi-partisan Campaign School for Women held in May 2006.

217. The Council has identified the importance of electoral reform as a means of increasing the numbers of women in politics and public life in PEI. The Council developed a Policy Guide on Women and Electoral Reform and jointly sponsored a workshop on Women and Electoral Reform with the Coalition for Women in Government in September 2005.

Aboriginal women

218. In 2006-2007, the Province is providing $20,000 to the Aboriginal Women's Association to assist with its core operating expenses. The Aboriginal Women's Association represents all PEI Aboriginal Women, on and off reserve, and promotes their interests and concerns at the social, economic, and political levels. The Chief of the larger of the two Mi'kmaq Bands on PEI is a woman.

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Article 10: Education

Aboriginal women and girls

219. In 2005, the province collaborated with Aboriginal organizations to launch a Career Entry Summer Job Program for post-secondary Aboriginal students, sponsor two youth leadership and community development seminars, and offer a remedial and social skills development summer program.

220. In 2006, a full-time Aboriginal and Diversity Education Specialist position was established to enhance supports for Aboriginal and immigrant students. Some measures which have been implemented to ensure the successful completion of high school and which benefit Aboriginal girls include: Alternative Education programs in the public high schools, resulting in a dramatic decrease in the dropout rate of Aboriginal students living on-reserve; and programs at the elementary and junior high levels to promote appreciation of Mi'kmaq culture and traditions, participation of Aboriginal families in school community initiatives, and transition from junior high to high school.

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Article 11: Employment

Employment measures

221. The provincial Diversity and Equity Policy, in effect since May 2002, guides departments and agencies in removing barriers faced by designated groups (including Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, women and men in non-traditional occupations), and ensures equality of treatment within the civil service.

222. In 2003, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women released a Policy Guide on Women and Unpaid Work with recommendations on the importance of valuing and measuring non-paid work and its contribution to the economy, and a Policy Guide on Early Childhood Care and Education, an area of acute interest to women in the PEI workforce; and, in 2004, a Policy Guide on Maternity and Parental Benefits, with recommendations to enhance employment and ensure equal and adequate social benefits for new parents.

223. Since January 2006, an appointed Review Panel has been holding public hearings on the Employment Standards Act. The provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women has submitted recommendations on measures for women's economic and employment equity, especially maternity and parental benefits. The Council has also collaborated with community groups on recommendations for changes to support women in non-standard work arrangements (seasonal, part-time, temporary, or contract jobs) and on supporting workers to achieve a liveable income.

224. Regulations to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, effective May 1, 2006, aim to prevent violence in the workplace and to ensure the health and safety of employees working alone.

Affordable childcare

225. In 2005-2006, the Government invested $450,000 in the Child Care Subsidy Program to increase support to parents of 630 pre‑school age children. Federal funding for the Choice in Child Care Allowance will be exempted from the income calculation for social assistance recipients.

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Article 12: Health

Specific health issues

226. Measures to address women's health issues include: the PEI Pap Screening Program, implemented in 2001 to encourage regular Pap Screening for cervical cancer (PEI's overall screening rate for women aged 20 to 69 continues at 58 percent); the PEI Reproductive Care Program, reviewed and redesigned in 1998-1989 to optimize fetal, maternal, new born and family health through prenatal and post-natal periods; and the PEI Breast Screening Clinic, established in 1998-1999 to make early detection of breast cancer available to women aged 50-69 without a doctor's referral.

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Article 13: Economic and Social Life

Measures to fight poverty

227. PEI instituted the following increases to social services rates between April, 2003 and April 2006: $6/month in travel allowance; $10/month in shelter (accommodation) ceilings; $25/month in wage exemption; $2/month for eye examinations; $35/month in healthy child allowance; $4/day in community care facility per diem. In addition, although the Province counts the National Child Benefit (NCB) as income for welfare assistance recipients, since 2001, increases in the NCB have flowed through to welfare assistance recipients as a healthy child allowance ($95 per child per month).

Support programs and services

228. Since 2001, disability support has been separated from welfare assistance support. An evaluation done in 2003 demonstrated an 80 percent client satisfaction rate with the disability support program.

Women's access to housing

229. Phase II of a federal/provincial Affordable Housing Agreement was signed in November 2005, with total funding of $4.16 million until 2009. This funding will increase the number of low income housing units in the province.

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Article 14: Rural Women

230. PEI has an economic development program to help sustain rural communities, but it is not targeted specifically to women. Challenges in ensuring economic equality for rural women include the lack of employment opportunities in administrative and management positions in rural areas. The proportion of women with university education living in rural areas is high, but the available jobs are low skill and seasonal in nature.

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