Mr. Chairperson (Ben Sveinson): Good afternoon. Will the Committee of Supply please come to order. This afternoon, this section of the Committee of Supply meeting in Room 255 will resume consideration of the Estimates for the Status of Women. We are on page 142 of the Main Estimates book. It had previously been agreed that questioning would be conducted in a global manner with all of the items to be passed once questioning had been completed. So we will now proceed with the questioning.

Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister responsible for the Status of Women): Mr. Chair, just in relation to my opening statement yesterday, I obviously misspoke myself in one sentence. I would just like to put a correction on the record. The page number in the Hansard of yesterday is 1992. It is in the first column, the second paragraph, and it is the second sentence. The sentence should read: Manitoba Health will see a 10.1 percent increase in spending for the 1999-2000 fiscal year for a total budget increase, is the corrected word, of $194 million. I had omitted the word "increase" budget, and I would just like to correct that today. Thank you very much.

Mr. Chairperson: Thank you.

Ms. Diane McGifford (Osborne): I thank the minister for her corrections.

When we entered yesterday, I was asking the minister some questions that arose from her introductory remarks. We were discussing the Power Smart program, and she had told me about the programs across the province and about the numbers of women enrolled in those programs. One of the questions I had asked her that she did not have time to answer was whether any women had graduated from the program. If the answer is yes, I am wondering if the department is monitoring whether these women are able to obtain employment through this program and what the numbers might be.

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Chair, the program is Power Up, and I only mention that because Power Smart was the Hydro program that I know the member would also be familiar with. Power Up is the program for women. The program is in its third of five weeks, so there have not yet been any graduates. But when there are graduates, we do intend to track those graduates.

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Ms. McGifford: Is the intention that this program will prepare women for employment, or is this providing women with an additional skill, which perhaps, along with another set of skills, may allow those women to obtain employment? My experience with computers is that the course–and I cannot remember the length of time, but I think it is 15 hours–that 15 hours probably is not enough computer training to prepare a person to obtain a position in operating a computer.

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Chair, the program has a workbook which allows women to also do tutorial work for themselves and to practise for themselves the skills, as well. At the end of the five-week, 15-hour program, the formal part of the program, the expected results are that women should be able to use the Internet, should be able to do e-mail, and should be able to do word processing. There is also a segment in the program where women can also learn to write a resume. So it certainly enhances their opportunities for employability at the completion of the project.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder how women who do not have computers in their own homes can really use this program, because there would not be the opportunity for practising unless, of course, the program accommodates those women by providing an opportunity for that sort of homework.

Mrs. Vodrey: It does anticipate that women will need the opportunity to practise, and it does not anticipate that they will all have computers in their own homes. So there are 150 practice sites throughout the province. We also have Taking Charge!, which is co-operating with this project. By the end of this year, by the end of 1999 going into 2000, there will be 50 more practice sites as well.

Ms. McGifford: Is there any opportunity for women living in remote, northern communities to participate in this program?

Mrs. Vodrey: We currently have four pilot projects running in Winnipeg. We have pilots scheduled for June in the rural areas of Swan River, Thompson, Rossburn, Selkirk, and Ashern. We are finalizing plans for Brandon, Gimli, Arborg, Flin Flon, and Dauphin, and also one in St. James. It takes a core group of 12 women to express an interest. Where those 12 women will express an interest, if they would be in another area, then we certainly could look at providing the training to those women in those areas. With the workbooks it allows them some other availability to practise also.

Ms. McGifford: I appreciate the breadth of the program's offering. However, I was thinking more of reserves in the North. I am not sure that the women in these communities would necessarily know about this program unless there was some outreach or some effort to make them aware. Sometimes, as I am sure the minister knows and I am sure her staff know, outreach is the only way to go, especially with women and especially with women in remote communities. I wonder if anything has been done or if there are any plans to do something along that line.

Mrs. Vodrey: I appreciate the comments the member has made. We do want this program to be successful for women, wherever they live across the province. So I am informed that of the 150 practice sites throughout the province, some of these are in fact on reserves. We also have another 116 communities where there has been an interest expressed. We are looking at, in the fall, an outreach program. At the moment, as I said yesterday in my opening remarks, even without the outreach program, we already have such a response to deal with, we have 1,185 women on the list at the moment. In looking at some orderly progression we certainly want to be inclusive and have some availability. We will look at increasing that availability in the fall.

Ms. McGifford: What is the design of the outreach program?

Mrs. Vodrey: The outreach in the fall will consist of some radio spots, and also the 50-plus community newspapers that are around the province will also carry information about the program. I should also mention that there will be courses in French, which are beginning in the fall.

Ms. McGifford: So I suppose this is something that we as MLAs could help facilitate through our newsletters or mailings and let communities know that this is happening.

I think I will move on and ask a couple of questions about the Training for Tomorrow program. I know that the minister tabled a video yesterday, but I am assuming that, in order for me to get a video, the minister would have had to table two because I did not get a video. I would like to have one.

Mrs. Vodrey: Absolutely, you were intended to have that opportunity. Sorry, I should have understood the process better after all these years. However, absolutely, we will make one available to you. It is very good.

Mr. Chairperson: Before we go on, it was decided in the Assembly that each committee, be it in the Assembly, in Room 254 or Room 255, would have the opportunity to decide when they would finish, if they would choose to quit at five o'clock or go on till six o'clock. How and when would you like to do this? It is up to the committee. Would you like to decide now?

Mrs. Vodrey: Well, I just would like to put on the record that I am certainly prepared to go till six o'clock if that is suitable to my critic this afternoon.

Ms. McGifford: Well, I am certainly prepared to go till six. I am assuming that the reason for this is because of the visit of the British High Commissioner.

Mr. Chairperson: That is right.

Ms. McGifford: That visit, the reception begins at 5:30 p.m., but I believe it continues till 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Chairperson: Then it is the will the committee to go on till six o'clock. Agreed? [agreed]

Ms. McGifford: I was sure that the minister did intend me to have the opportunity to view the video, and I do not need my personal copy. I can certainly return it, but I would like to view it.

I do have a question about the Training for Tomorrow programs because I understand that the scholarships involved with the Training for Tomorrow are confined to community colleges and they do not apply to university students. Is that correct? If it is correct, I wonder why that decision was made.

Mrs. Vodrey: The decision was made when this was announced several years ago. At that time, there were really not programs able to assist students who were in community colleges. There were, in fact, a number of scholarship programs which were available to people studying at the university, and this was an effort to enhance the choices for students who might choose community colleges.

Women do tend to be underrepresented in the high-technology community college training, and I understand in the early '90s that they represented only about 3 percent. So, from the document Framework for Economic Growth and also the Roblin report, it was pointed out that this high-skills training is available at our community colleges. It is a strength of our community colleges, and it is one of the keys to long-term employment and economic growth. So these scholarships were then focused on our community colleges quite specifically at the announcement.

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Ms. McGifford: The minister said in the early '90s, approximately 3 percent of students enrolled in these highly complex technological programs were women. I wonder if it has changed, if the minister has that statistic, and if it has, whether she sees the Training for Tomorrow scholarships as being important in that change.

Mrs. Vodrey: I do not have a number, but I understand that there has been an increase. I am not sure that I can directly say that the reason for the increase is, in fact, the Training for Tomorrow scholarships, although the uptake for the Training for Tomorrow scholarships has been very good.

But one of the efforts that the Women's Directorate, the advisory council for women, have been making through Education and Training, through our own community work, is, again, to help young women focus on their educational choices which will lead them to economic choices which hopefully will add to their own economic security. The more that we are able to highlight these kinds of high demand in the labour force market kinds of programs that young women then may choose with the added incentive of the Training for Tomorrow scholarship, then I think it certainly adds to what the choices are for women.

Ms. McGifford: I think the minister in her introductory remarks made reference to the regional health authorities, and I wonder if the minister could tell me how many women are sitting on regional health authority boards, what the percentage would be, and also whether there are any women who chair these boards.

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Chair, I understand and I am informed that the percentage of women on the regional health boards is 34 percent, that it is an increase, a continuing increase from approximately 30 percent at one point. I am also informed that one woman was the chair of a regional health authority but that she has since resigned, and I do not have any information about her reasoning for that.

Ms. McGifford: I wanted to ask the minister if she or her department have been involved in seeking women for these regional health authority boards. Is it part of their work?

Mrs. Vodrey: My colleague from Portage la Prairie gives me even further updated information. Thank you very much, colleague, for that.

The information that I have just received is that in Central Region it is Eileen Kroeker, who is the chair, and Dianne Moon is the vice-chair of the Central Region. That is two women in the leadership responsibilities of that particular health authority.

I also know that the directorate has been working with the health care reform working group, as has the Advisory Council on the Status of Women. They have and council has helped facilitate the nomination process by assisting the women in the health care reform working group identify and put forward nominations on behalf of qualified women. As a result, one of the working group members, Mary Scott, was named to the Winnipeg Community and Long Term Care Authority.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder what the qualities and work experience or other kinds of professional experience or perhaps volunteer experience members of the advisory council and the directorate look for when they put forth a woman's name.

Mrs. Vodrey: I should clarify and I beg your pardon. I guess it is a bit of a difficulty in trying to make sure I get all the information out. What I am told by both the advisory council and the directorate is to make clear in my answer that rather than specifically bringing names forward they have worked to put the word out to actually make sure that women are, through public education and information, aware of the function of the RHA board. With the more information women have, they then may say: this applies to me, I am interested. I would like to be a part of that.

The function has been one in both cases of putting information out, working with the committee through public education.

Ms. McGifford: Yesterday the minister spoke about, I cannot remember whether it was the directorate or the advisory council, but spoke about one of these two as having developed a tool for gender analysis. I wonder if it is possible to have a copy of this tool. I am assuming it is a set of criteria that would be tested when decisions are made.

Mrs. Vodrey: This criteria was also one which was really seen as a highlight or a priority for ministers across the country, federal, provincial, and territorial. We will be piloting our tool in June. Once we have done the piloting and the workbook has been presented, then we will be happy to share it with the member for Osborne.

Ms. McGifford: When the minister says piloting the workbook–I think that is what the minister said–could she explain in a little bit more detail what that would involve?

Mrs. Vodrey: I have had the opportunity to look at what will be presented in June. I can tell the member descriptively that it is a very hands-on, intensive training opportunity. It is an opportunity aimed at those who are in the area of policy development or who are program managers. It is designed to highlight any differential experience that men or women may have then in the development of policy. It is intended to serve them then both equally. It is not intended to disadvantage either one. It is intended to highlight if in fact, because they have different experiences, to highlight the different experiences so that they can then both be served equally.

Ms. McGifford: I am curious as to whether this tool will apply to legislation, in other words, whether legislation will be tested or the process of gender analysis applied to legislation. It would seem to me, as well, that different legislation impacts the lives of men and women in different ways and that unfortunately, in some instances, we pass legislation that has not been good for women and has not considered the unequal impact on women.

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Mrs. Vodrey: I know that there has been legislation passed when the member's party was in government which clearly caused a problem for women. I do not want to make it a difficult discussion, but one of the areas was in the area of Workers Compensation and what widows were, in fact, entitled to. Our government has made an announcement yesterday as a way to rectify that in the future. We recognize that there has at times by even efforts made to be sensitive, there has not always been legislation which has impacted both men and women equally or equally fairly. This tool certainly could be used in the development of legislation to examine, recognizing the different experiences of men and women, to at least look at the impact of men and women and to see how it affects each one.

Ms. McGifford: But is the plan to use this tool to analyze legislation?

Mrs. Vodrey: There is not a legislative criterion that says this must be used. However, it is a tool which has been circulated or will be circulated, I understand, to deputy ministers for use in the development of policy which then may include the development of legislation. I think that the important issue here is that there has now been a tool developed and it is able to be used and then obviously decisions will have to be made.

Ms. McGifford: Well, I think it is important that the tool has been developed, but I think it is even more important that it will be used. So my question really is: is it the policy of the minister's government to examine its legislation in terms of gender analysis?

Mrs. Vodrey: Again, this is in its pilot phase. We will have to look at the experience of using the tool. I am sure if it does turn out to be a useful tool in the development of policy and legislation then it will be used on a regular basis. But we want to see at the moment now in a practical application how this will work.

Ms. McGifford: Yesterday in her remarks the minister pointed out that in June 1998 Manitoba passed The Domestic Violence and Stalking Prevention, Protection and Compensation and Consequential Amendments Act and referred to it as the strongest civil remedies in Canada, et cetera. I do remember the act. I remember voting for the act, and I remember being at the committee, but, as the minister learned in the House today, this has not been proclaimed. I really just want to point out that the act has not been proclaimed, so it is an example of an instance where something has been developed but it is not very useful until it is in fact being used. So that was part of my concern with regard to the gender analysis. I do not know if the minister wants to respond.

Mrs. Vodrey: Well, I think in the piece of legislation that the member notes, it has been the leading piece of legislation in this area in Canada. What she would perhaps not know is that in the development of legislation there is a process of the development of regulations to actually make that piece of legislation operable in all cases where it is required. The Minister of Justice (Mr. Toews) replied in the Legislature during question period today that it is the development of the details for application that are being done. Occasionally it does take approximately a year from proclamation to in fact develop the details that are required to make the legislation operational. Listening to his answer today, that is obviously his intention.

I would say in that particular area, our government has led the way across this country in the area of stalking. It was the former minister, the member for Brandon West (Mr. McCrae), who is currently the Minister of Education, who actually got the federal government to recognize stalking as a heading in the Criminal Code. In the past, that behaviour was not recognized as a criminal act. I am very pleased that our government, during my term as Justice minister, was able to focus the stalking issue on the victim and have changes made to the Criminal Code which actually required certain events to happen, such as notification of the victim and certain matters relating to stalking. So we began to focus that on the victim as well. Then we have developed in the legislation that the member references our own provincial legislation, which offers civil remedies.

As the member knows, in trying to get the remedy through the Criminal Code, there is a certain level of proof required, there is certain evidence; it requires a full criminal procedure. This legislation, which was, in my mind, a hallmark for victims and dealing particularly with this issue, we have now a civil remedy, but that civil remedy must be operational in the easiest, most accessible way. I am pleased that our colleague the Minister of Justice is working hard to make that actually occur.

Ms. McGifford: Those are the questions that I had growing from the minister's remarks. Just to turn to some other questions now. I am interested in the meetings of the advisory council for the past year. I am wondering where the advisory council met. I am also interested in whether there was public participation at those meetings and some of the ideas and some of the themes that emerged during those meetings.

Mrs. Vodrey: The advisory council is required to meet six times during the year. The council met in a regular council meeting September 12, '98; February 23, 1999; March 6 and 7, 1999; March 26 and 27, 1999; and council had an outreach meeting, this is backing up a little bit, April 25, 1998.

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That outreach meeting was held in Beausejour. I am informed that with that meeting in Beausejour, the council has now completed outreach meetings to all parts of the province. Outreach meetings do invite the public to come and to make representation on issues within their geographical and community area so that the advisory council can then take their information and look at what additional priorities they may wish to set then or what comments they may wish to make to government.

Ms. McGifford: When the minister says that the council has now had meetings in all different geographical areas or had outreach meetings in these areas, I wonder if I could have a little bit more detail as to what that means specifically.

Mrs. Vodrey: I have lots and lots of information. It seems that that exact list I am going to have to put together and provide to the member. Rather than take any further time, I will follow up with that.

Ms. McGifford: I think last year we spoke about a meeting that took place at Souris, or maybe it was the year before, time seems to run together, but I believe at that time, there was kind of a synopsis of the issues that were presented at the meeting in Souris.

I wonder if the minister could tell me the basic issues that arose at the Beausejour meeting because I understand there was public participation, so I am assuming that there was a presentation and the women who presented outlined for the advisory council the issues that were of concern to them.

Mrs. Vodrey: The presenters to council in the Beausejour meeting included two presenters speaking about the family violence committee; a presenter focusing on violence issues; another presenter speaking from the Canadian Mental Health Association; another presenter on Education and Training opportunities; a presenter from the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba; and a presenter on community and youth correctional services.

Ms. McGifford: I understand that there are approximately 14 members in the advisory council. I wonder if I could have an updated list. It may be the same as the list in the 1997-98 annual report, which is the most recent list I have.

I also wanted to ask the minister about the duration of the appointment of the Chair. Is there a time on it or is this a fixed position? I am not sure how it works.

Mrs. Vodrey: Yes, we will provide to the member a list of the members on the advisory council. There have been some changes. Some women have moved on to other interests, so we have added women to the committee representing other interests. Actually, I have to tell you I am very impressed with the committee. I have been from the beginning. We have added some very exceptional women who have added additional dimensions to the committee most recently.

In terms of the Chair of the council, the term is a three-year term. That term is due to expire in October of 1999, and I would be very interested in having that member's term renewed.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder if the minister could give me some information about the last meeting of the provincial and federal ministers for the Status of Women. I am interested in the major issues that arose and were discussed at that meeting.

Mrs. Vodrey: While we are getting those details, I can perhaps offer some highlights of that meeting. The meeting focused on, No. 1, the issue of violence against women and our commitment to reduce violence. Ultimately, the goal would be a violence-free society. Particular concern was expressed in the area of family violence or violence which occurs within intimate relationships.

The ministerial meeting focused a great deal of its time on developing the declaration. We had had working groups working on that declaration, finally bringing us to what we were able to see, ultimately amend and then approve at that meeting.

We had full participation of the Province of Quebec. We were dealing in three languages. We were dealing in English, French, and also Inuktitut, and our colleague from the new territory of Nunavut had hosted us in that meeting and made it clear that the language issues, as did our colleague from Quebec, had to be considered carefully in terms of the shades of difference, and so the wording had to be such that direct translation was reasonable and that we were not in any way offending any community or saying something that we did not want to say, so we worked significantly long.

There was also a commitment on that day that this declaration would be read by ministers across the country at the time when each province recognized the Montreal massacre, and that there would be an effort to then make a statement, a powerful statement, which was the same all across the country, and it is a significant feat when ministers of all political stripes and all governments of all levels of experience are able to actually develop a document with complete agreement.

We also then have worked on, began working on and have worked on since a more comprehensive document beyond the declaration which will look at some of the best practices across the country. That document is not yet released and is in the stages of being finalized, and ministers will then be looking at an appropriate time to release that document which should provide reference points from projects all across the country.

The issue of women's economic security was also dealt with, the issue particularly of training. Accessibility to training was dealt with. Also, support to entrepreneurs was discussed, and the development of our entrepreneurial guide then followed that. The issue of CPP reform was also raised, and we asked the federal minister for the status of the Track II Reforms for CPP, and we also wanted for, our next meeting, a comprehensive piece of information on the effects of taxation on women. That was part of the issue that we dealt with in economic security, but it was seen as a separate issue. Then we also dealt with the issues of women's health.

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Ms. McGifford: The minister said that for the next meeting, one of the issues that is on the table is taxation. I do not know whether the minister meant income tax and its impacts on women, or whether she was referring to stay-at-home moms. I am curious as to what is intended here.

Also, I am interested in when the next meeting will take place.

Mrs. Vodrey: We asked for information to cover wide-ranging types of information of the effect of Canada's income tax system on women. We also wanted to include in that information, to be given to ministers, unpaid work, and that has actually been a part of our discussion for at least the past three years, and so we have asked for further information to be considered at that time.

The next meeting of ministers responsible for the Status of Women will take place July 8, 1999, and it will be in Prince Edward Island.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder if the minister could define unpaid work for me, because I am wondering if that includes volunteer work and caring for one's parents, or if it is confined to women staying at home with their children. My thought is, we contribute in so many ways to the economy which are not necessarily acknowledged. I am quite interested in the definition.

Mrs. Vodrey: Yes, those issues were recognized in the discussion and also in the direction that ministers gave for further follow-up: women who may be at home with children, women who may be at home with other types of dependants, or women who are doing unpaid work with other types of dependants, often parents or it might be a spouse, and also the effect of volunteer work and unpaid work, which is volunteer work.

Ms. McGifford: So the definition appears to be quite broad. I also wanted to ask the minister if the issue of child care arose, because I think it was in the 1993 election that the federal government promised a national child care program. There has been no movement at all in that program that I am aware of. I am wondering if the issue came up.

Mrs. Vodrey: No, not to my knowledge and memory. The issue of the federal government and their national child care program was not discussed.

Ms. McGifford: Yesterday, Mr. Chair, I was reading the publication of the Manitoba Action Committee on the Status of Women. I do not know if the minister has had the opportunity to read it or whether her staff have. I am sure, as the minister knows, it is a publication that comes out from time to time. I think that the minister does know that the funding for the Manitoba Action Committee on the Status of Women is now project funding rather than stable, ongoing funding, and that no sooner had this organization received its funding–I believe it finally got its funding in November–it appeared that no sooner had the organization got its funding, done its work, then the organization is forced to close down and lay off staff once again because this funding has run out and because it is project funding.

Really the changes in funding by the federal government to women's programs have pretty well crippled an advocacy group like the Manitoba Action Committee and, I could add, the National Action Committee on the Status of Women here too. I think that the importance of an advocacy group to the status of women, an advocacy group that really has nothing to do with government is extremely important. I think the minister has written in the past on behalf of groups like MACSW. I wonder, first of all, if that is accurate; secondly, if the minister plans to take any action; and, thirdly, was this an issue at the meeting of ministers.

Mrs. Vodrey: Yes, I am reminded that some jurisdictions did raise this with the federal minister and the federal minister again replied, as the member rightly says, that it is now project funding, that that project funding is almost at the same level as before. I believe last year we did provide you with the federal government criteria for that project funding. If you do not have it, we can send you another one.

In addition to that, the advisory council also was informed of this issue. They took it forward to their provincial counterparts at their annual meeting in June 1998, and they did forward a letter to Hedy Fry. Individual councils sent a letter to the Honourable Hedy Fry, the Secretary of State, and Dr. Fry then did reply to council of her approval of a contribution agreement with the national action committee and gave the amount, $281,000. These funds are reported to support the first phase of a major research program on the influence of globalization on the government's economic policy choices, and the resulting implications for the status of women.

Dr. Fry clarified to the advisory council at that time that at no time was funding withdrawn from the national action committee, but, instead, as the member rightly says, now it is through proposals and it is project funding. Dr. Fry also replied to our advisory council of her awareness of the importance of women's program resources to hundreds of women, and she acknowledged the campaign which was going on at that time.

Ms. McGifford: To move from the national to the local for a minute, monies may not have been withdrawn from NAC at any time, but they have been withdrawn from the Manitoba Action Committee on the Status of Women from time to time, and I think even as we sit here that MACSW has been forced to close its doors.

In fact, if I might quote from this newsletter, on page 2: Due to the funding situation, it is with a sad heart that I tell you that as of May 1999, all the staff at MACSW have been laid off for the second year running. As last year, our volunteers will staff the offices. However, this year we have an added stress that we have not had in previous years. This year MACSW has no money left to use as a cushion against hard times. Hard times have come around again and our purse is empty.

Now, I do not mean to suggest that it is the minister's responsibility, because it certainly has not been the provincial responsibility to fund this. It was a national initiative, and now it appears the federal government wants to pull the plug, as the federal government has done on other programs. But I am wondering what action or if there is any other action we as a provincial government can do to advocate for a different arrangement, even if it were a two-year arrangement for project funding because, and the minister knows this, when an organization has to close its doors in May, hoping to reopen perhaps in September, it is impossible to do any planning, to get on with its work in a planned, consistent, and well-thought-out manner.

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Mrs. Vodrey: Well, I think, first of all, it was important that our advisory council reflected the concerns of the community and did write a letter and did receive a response, so, certainly, that is one piece of action from our province.

But for the funding that the federal government has determined, this appears to be a decision which they have made and does not appear to be subject to any changes. To my knowledge, again, it is project funding. The project funding does involve an administrative component. They recognize that there has to be some kind of an infrastructure to run any kind of a project, and they have made the decision not to provide core funding. It was clear to us at the meeting, the last meeting of ministers. It appears to be clear through the letter of reply that the advisory council also received.

Ms. McGifford: I am interpreting the minister to say, then, from her point of view, it appears the decision is written in stone, and nobody is going to change his or her mind.

Mrs. Vodrey: Yes, Mr. Chair, that is my impression. The federal government has determined now how they will be doing this funding and what the terms are. I think that groups now have to know that that is the way the funding is administered and then to make every effort to deal with the project funding that is now available.

Ms. McGifford: I just want to comment again that I think it is a loss for women in Manitoba. This year is the International Year of Older Persons. I am sure the minister and her staff are aware of the really staggering rates of poverty among seniors, particularly senior women. I cannot remember what the rate is. I used to have the statistics, but it seems to be eluding me today. I have two questions. First of all, I wonder if the minister's department is planning to do anything to acknowledge the Year of Older Persons, if any festivities or what have been planned. Also, I am interested in any work the minister's department or her government might be doing to alleviate poverty among seniors, senior women in this case.

Mrs. Vodrey: The directorate is working with the Seniors Directorate for the health of older women. Then in our fall newsletter there will also be an article which focuses on a senior woman. In terms of the poverty issue, our main focus has been the CPP and the pension reforms, which really would have an impact on older women in particular. From the advisory council, the advisory council held a wellness workshop for seniors on October 29, 1998. I spoke about it in my opening remarks. It was sponsored by council, and they partnered with Age and Opportunity and Manitoba Council on Aging, the army, navy and air force veterans. There were about 120 people in attendance. They plan to host another wellness workshop for seniors in the upcoming year. The advisory council also tells me that they enjoy a strong working relationship with the Seniors Directorate. One of the staff of the Seniors Directorate, Motria Koltek is currently briefing the advisory council on some of the issues relating to seniors and the International Year of Older Persons.

Also, there was a lunch-and-learn session, May 12, 1998. It was on safety issues for seniors. It was held at the Lorette seniors centre. The purpose was to address safety issues experienced by seniors in rural communities. There was a representative of Age and Opportunity, Older Victim Services, was a guest speaker, and council was represented at that particular event also. I am also informed by council that some topics for future presentations where council would be involved are examining the pharmaceutical use of older Manitobans; seniors and gambling. I believe those are the two additional ones focused on seniors for this year.

Ms. McGifford: The minister spoke about a briefing which I believe was done by a member of the Seniors Directorate, and I believe this person spoke with the council. I wonder if the minister could comment on what those issues were. I think she said there was a briefing on issues which were of importance to women and to seniors.

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Chair, I am informed that she briefed council on the up-and-coming events for the International Year of Older Persons.

Ms. McGifford: The minister also said that council was working on the health issues of older women, and I wonder if I could have some details on this work.

Mrs. Vodrey: This was actually the directorate who would be working on the issue of health with older Manitobans, and it is in co-operation with the Seniors Directorate. I am informed that it is in co-operation with Seniors Directorates across this country who are wanting to engage Status of Women ministries across this country to actually examine on a national basis the health of senior women.

So the project, I am told, is in its formative stages. It is being developed, and they are looking to report to ministers responsible at the meeting not this July, but next July.

Ms. McGifford: So the representatives from the various directorates meet at times in various locations in the country and are pursuing this project.

Mrs. Vodrey: The answer is yes. If I could add just one more comment from the advisory council in terms of their work with seniors, council did a Lunch and Learn on osteoporosis as well.

Ms. McGifford: Yes, I remember that event.

So I am assuming the issues that might arise regarding older women and their health would include issues like osteoporosis, menopausal issues, and, I suppose, health and well-being. Depression, I think, is probably something that quite affects some elderly people.

Mrs. Vodrey: The focus is on postmenopausal women, postmenopausal issues in that we have our own initiatives dealing with health in mid-life.

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Ms. McGifford: Well, speaking of health issues, I spent some time earlier speaking with the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) on women's health issues, and one of the issues that I discussed with him was breast screening. I knew that the breast screening unit across the street from Misericordia did not see women after they turned 70. It sees women, I believe, from 50 to 69. I understand there are some good clinical reasons for that, and I understand that a woman living in Winnipeg can seek alternate services if she needs to have a mammogram.

I understand, as well, at least I think this is the case, that if a woman is symptomatic, that that breast screening unit will see her, but that might not be quite correct.

What upset me was learning from the minister that the breast screening mobile unit that went out of town and went to some relatively remote areas, although I do understand there are areas without roads and obviously the mobile screening unit cannot access an area if it does not have a road–I was disturbed to find out that in these fairly remote communities that, when a woman turns 69, she cannot be tested or examined or screened–I suppose that is the correct word–by this mobile screening unit. The Health minister's response, when I brought this up, was that, well, this woman could seek an alternate service, but in many cases alternative service simply is not available.

The minister talked about seeing a physician and getting a referral and all this sort of thing, but in many of our remote communities there are not any physicians, let alone alternative places for women to have this screening. If a woman needs to have this screening or chooses to have this screening, and if we believe in accessibility, a person should have the right to choose to have this screening, then a woman may have to travel to another community at some expense and have the service there.

I am not expert, as you can tell, on breast screening, but it would seem to me that one of the considerable costs is actually getting that screening unit up north, and the per-incident cost of simply having two or three extra women tested who happen to be over 69 would be kind of minimal. I am bringing this issue to the attention of the minister in the hope that she will bring it to the attention or speak about it with the Minister of Health (Mr. Stefanson), because I think it is a problem. I think there is a gap in service, and I think that it needs to be addressed.

Mrs. Vodrey: Maybe I will work backwards on the member's comments. First of all, I am informed from the directorate, who has had some information about this, that the test does not seem to be as reliable for senior women. It is not that it is an arbitrary number of women who are in fact only able to be tested; it is, in fact, the reliability of the test and whether or not women then would have a sense of getting perhaps a clean bill of health or a false negative. My understanding, then, is that the decision has been made more on the reliability of the test, and again, it is reliability for senior women.

The member, by bringing up our enhanced Breast Screening Program, I think, really does raise an important initiative which was brought forward by this government, an expanded initiative brought forward by this government, and there has been a recognition that for women who do live in Manitoba there is the screening program. They are able to attend women, 50 to 69, with or without a physician's referral, and for women younger, they do require a physician's referral. Usually it is a symptomatic or a risk factor and there are alternatives.

I also am very pleased that this government has recognized the importance of that mobile screening unit and to enhance across the province the Breast Screening Program. I do believe it is a move by this government that will save the lives of women.

Ms. McGifford: I wanted to point out that the member for Swan River (Ms. Wowchuk) was quite instrumental as well in promoting the mobile breast screening unit, because she was upset that her community of Swan River and other areas that she serves had not really had this service, so I know that she promoted it quite tirelessly. Here she is, so she could actually speak for herself.

I still do want to bring the matter, and I underline, bring that matter to the attention of the minister because, yes, breast screening may be less effective for women who are over 70, but it is still something that is used. It is still something that the women who are over 70 cannot have in these remote communities unless there are the kinds of alternatives that they do not always have the opportunity to seek out, so I do think it is a gap in service. I want to make that point.

Related to the breast screening–not related to the breast screening, I am reminded by the breast screening of the need for a cervical cancer registry, and I have asked the Minister of Health about this twice in the House recently. We debated a private member's resolution about a week ago on the matter of a central cervical cancer screening registry, and that resolution was not really supported. The minister has, I think, said that he is going to soon announce a program, but I do want to point out that the ministers, various ministers, have been announcing cervical cancer screening registries since 1994 in all kinds of places, in throne speeches, in budgets, on the doorstep perhaps. I would not know about that.

I am wondering if either the directorate or the Women's Advisory Council has participated in developing this program, and whether the minister has some information that she would like to share.

Mrs. Vodrey: The Minister of Health (Mr. Stefanson) answered in the Legislature, I believe it was yesterday during Question Period, that he will have an announcement quite soon on this, so I would not want to, in any way, pre-empt the Minister of Health's announcement. I can tell you that I certainly am well informed about the program, about the proposal, but it, again, is the Minister of Health's announcement that he will make. He is on the record as saying that it will be very, very soon.

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Ms. McGifford: Well, I hope it will be more than an announcement. As I have said, we have had several of those already and no programs, so I think this will be the third Minister of Health. I hope, contrary to what the Minister of Justice is suggesting, it is not merely teasing, but in fact it will be an actual program at the end of the day.

I also wanted to ask the minister and, by way of the minister, her staff, whether they have dealt at all with women who are interested in opening alternate addiction treatment facilities.

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Chair, I may have to ask the member to clarify. The directorate has been working on the FAS strategy with the Child and Youth Secretariat. Again, the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson) is the lead minister on that, and the directorate has participated.

Ms. McGifford: It may or may not relate to what I am talking about. I understand that there are many women in our community who feel that the kinds of services that are available for women with addictions are not really working for women. I had a meeting with a group of women who were concerned about the centre at St. Norbert and felt that it really was not serving the interests of women. In fact, there was one woman there for treatment for addictions at the same–it is a mixed facility, as I am sure the minister knows, and because it is a mixed facility, it can be quite intimidating and threatening for women.

At the same time, I believe, it is the only facility that allows women to take their children with them. Some women simply cannot seek treatment unless they are able to take their children. I think there might even be some evidence that treatment is more effective for women if they undergo the treatment and their children are with them, but that I am not certain of. So this may be related to the FAS work because quite clearly if the number of addicted women is reduced, then the number of children born with FAS will be reduced.

Mrs. Vodrey: I am informed from the directorate that they have information from Family Services that Family Services has funded 12 beds, I believe, in a second-stage housing where women can, in fact, attend with their children, but it is most likely a question that should be asked to the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson).

Ms. McGifford: Perhaps I could just ask the minister about this second-stage housing. Which organization is sponsoring it?

Mrs. Vodrey: I am hesitant to suggest a name. We think we know the group, but it is probably best for the member to in fact ask the question of the Minister of Family Services (Mrs. Mitchelson).

Ms. McGifford: One of the other concerns I have, and I did not actually have time to speak to the Minister of Health (Mr. McCrae) about it, is smoking, particularly the growing numbers of young women who are smoking. I think there is some evidence that death among women from lung cancer–I am talking about premature death here–is almost rivalling premature death from breast cancer, and I believe there is some evidence that women may be more susceptible to lung cancer than men.

I am sure the minister is concerned about it. I am sure everybody in government, and many out of government, are concerned about it.

I am wondering if the Women's Directorate or the advisory council has any statistics on Manitoba girls and their smoking habits or numbers. I am also wondering if there are any plans to take an initiative on smoking cessation, or if it has happened.

Mrs. Vodrey: I can tell the member that the directorate is doing research in this area of smoking cessation and young women. They are sharing this information with Health and they are, I understand, now working with Health on their project.

The department informs me that the statistics are approximately 28 percent of young women are smoking, which is really high and leads to some real long-term health difficulties. We do have programs such as On the Move, as well, where we are trying to involve young women in physical activity. By involving them in physical activity in a positive way, there has been shown to be a reduction in the smoking of young women, a reduction in teenage pregnancies.

The advisory council informs me that, as the member probably knows, the Women's Health Clinic has programs on smoking cessation and the advisory council then advertises those programs for them.

Ms. McGifford: I do know about the Women's Health Clinic program because I was on the advisory board when that program was created. The minister said 28 percent of young Manitoba women are smoking. I am wondering about the age, how we define young. I think I am young.

Mrs. Vodrey: The age range is teenagers 12 years old and up. I just wanted to check with the director and the statistics are Manitoba statistics which mirror the national statistics.

Ms. McGifford: So our teenage girls neither smoke more nor less than the average percentage of teenage girls in Canada.

Mrs. Vodrey: That is correct.

Ms. McGifford: The minister spoke about a project. I wonder if it is possible to have any details about that project.

Mrs. Vodrey: The Department of Health would like to work on a smoking cessation strategy. There have been smoking cessation strategies which have worked with adults and have also worked with boys but have not been successful with girls. What the directorate is doing is they are doing some research working with Health to come up with the right strategy that would assist in smoking cessation programs for young women.

Ms. McGifford: Would this program be delivered in schools, or am I jumping the gun? Is it not advanced enough to consider those kinds of issues as of yet?

Mrs. Vodrey: It is a little bit premature in terms of how the program would be delivered, what part would be public education and so on. I think the important part is the issue has been raised, is being worked on, and has been recognized and needed to meet a targeted approach for girls.

Ms. McGifford: I wanted to ask a question, a couple of questions actually based on information in the annual 1997-1998 report for the Status of Women. I had a lot more questions, but I know that we are running out of time.

On page 9 there is mention of economic gender equality indicators and their development and publication. I have not seen them. I wonder if I might have a copy of this material.

Mrs. Vodrey: We actually thought we had sent copies over. In the event that we did not, we are happy to make those copies available.

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Ms. McGifford: No, I know we had discussed it. I do not believe I got them, but I would definitely like to see them.

The other question I wanted to ask from the annual general report was some information on university statistics which is toward the end of the publication, and it is not paginated. Anyway, we have some statistics. Have people found the table? Yes. First of all, university degrees granted in Canada, male and female. Then we have some statistics on university education in Manitoba, some statistics from Brandon University, and some statistics from engineering at the University of Manitoba.

When I spoke with the Minister of Health (Mr. Stefanson), one of the health issues that I brought up then and I have not brought up here but I am going to bring up, at least indirectly now, one of the concerns I had were the numbers of women enrolled in medicine. The minister suggested to me that the numbers of women enrolled in medicine are beginning to fall, and I believe that to be true of engineering as well, that there was a little bit of a bump, and now that it has begun to reverse itself. I cannot speak of law. I know that a lot of women who graduate in fact leave the profession–

An Honourable Member: I do not blame them.

Ms. McGifford: –and the Minister of Justice (Mr. Toews) does not blame them, but I am interested in the medical stats here. I wonder if there is any information on those statistics.

Mrs. Vodrey: I am informed that the directorate has last year's statistics in medicine which, I understand, are slightly less than half the class. I do not know that we have any statistics from this academic year, though we can try and find those.

Ms. McGifford: The reason I bring it up is that I have been made aware lately, and the member might remember, I believe I asked a question in the House one day, that women appear to be finding it quite difficult to access female physicians. I am sure the women at this table, and probably the men, can appreciate that women often prefer, not always–for some women it is not an issue, but for some women it is an issue, to see female physicians. I believe in April there were, and I do not want to mention a number because I cannot quite remember it, but I know it was less than 40 physicians in Winnipeg, G.P.s, accepting new patients, and none of them were women. So it seems to me that we need to do something to change this. I am not expecting the minister to suddenly pluck out the solution right now and present it, but I wanted to put that on the record. I do not know if the minister wishes to respond.

Mrs. Vodrey: I do remember the question in Question Period asked of the Minister of Health. I believe his answer, because the question framed, were there more or less physicians, was that there was in fact an increase in the number of physicians. That was obviously one of the efforts of this government was to make sure that in fact our physician population was climbing.

The member asks a very specific question regarding women, and women entering medical school, the attrition rate within medical school, and the decision of some women, some men to practise part time following graduation. I do not know that we have any further information on that, but I do remember the question and the important part of the answer from the Minister of Health was, in fact, the increase in numbers of physicians who were available. We will endeavour to get the statistics of the number of women in medical school for the member.

Ms. McGifford: Well, certainly an important part of the answer was that there is an increase in the numbers of women practising medicine in our province, but an important part of the question is that there still are not enough because there are many women who are seeking services from female physicians and are not able to obtain female physicians.

That was the point that I wanted to make. I did not want to point fingers at the Minister of Health (Mr. Stefanson) or indeed the Minister of Education (Mr. McCrae) or any minister. I just think it is something that all of us in government need to be cognizant of the importance of encouraging women to practise medicine, to enter medicine and other professions.

I had a conversation recently with one of my former colleagues who is also a former Margaret Laurence Chair in Women's Studies. She was telling me that at the University of Manitoba, and this is 1999, there are still seven men for every one female instructor. Now, this is not including librarians. If you include librarians, the stat changes considerably. These are tenured positions. I do not think that this is anything for either of us to feel very pleased with.

Again, I do not think it is a government responsibility. The University of Manitoba is a self-governing body and is responsible for its employment. But I think as individuals who are concerned with the promotion of women's issues and the status of women, it is something that we should know.

Mrs. Vodrey: I appreciate the information brought forward. I understandably was anecdotal through a discussion with an individual there. I think that certainly for our government and my department, as I said clearly in my opening remarks, we want to make sure that women have and recognize all of the opportunities that are there for them, the opportunities to make academic choices which then lead them forward to professions of the best economic security. If those academic choices lead them into some of the more nontraditional professions, we would like to encourage that, too. Some of the more nontraditional professions are found, as I said, at the community colleges. Some may be found in professions such as medicine and law.

I can tell you anecdotally my law class of women–I started in 1988–was 51 percent women. So we were the year that broke the threshold and we were a very significant portion. I think that the underlying message for young women is that they have to be helped to recognize that all of these opportunities apply to them. That is the basis of a number of the programs which we are carrying out through the directorate speaking to young women, through the advisory council speaking to young woman. The point is one recognized and I think an important one.

Ms. McGifford: I wanted to tell the minister that the evidence I provided was not anecdotal. It is in fact based on hard research. The person that I spoke with has just published a book on the topic. So it is not anecdotal.

Anyway, I wanted to ask a question from the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review under the subappropriation 22-1A. I do not have very many questions left. Under the Other Expenditures items I notice that the other operating monies have increased quite significantly. I wonder if the minister could explain the increase to me.

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Mrs. Vodrey: The increase in spending is an amount of dollars to offset the government-wide program of desktop management and to make sure that the advisory council is included in that initiative.

Ms. McGifford: So the increase then, the money was spent on computers?

Mrs. Vodrey: Yes, in keeping with, as we discussed I believe it was last year even, the government-wide initiative, this includes the advisory council in that initiative.

Ms. McGifford: I believe last year we discussed it, but the costs were not reflected in the budget last year.

I also wanted to ask a question about the advisory council's library. I wonder if there is a budget line for the library.

Mrs. Vodrey: There is not a specific budget line. It is included in the operating line.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder if the minister could tell me how much money is reserved then for updating the library and maintaining the library.

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Chair, I am informed that council has allocated $1,500 in its '99-2000 budget for new library resources such as journal subscriptions, texts and videos. Included in this also, I am told is access to the Internet for people who come in.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder about the difficulties of maintaining the library, if there is a particular person who has that responsibility and if there is an updating index or how materials are kept track of.

Mrs. Vodrey: I am informed that it is professionally catalogued with help from Culture.

Ms. McGifford: So a librarian from Culture comes and assists with this library.

Mrs. Vodrey: It is a librarian from Culture, and the material is sent over to Culture, catalogued and returned.

Ms. McGifford: I would like to ask a couple of questions on subappropriation 22-1B. I notice in comparing the objective, the Activity Identification, the Expected Results to last year's, that there is quite a difference, and I wonder if this is a result of rethinking or new directions in policy. I think, for example, the specific initiatives were not listed in the same way last year.

Mrs. Vodrey: I am informed that this reflects our business plans within the new government format.

Ms. McGifford: So the Women's Directorate have devised a business plan that took as its guide a government format for business planning?

Mrs. Vodrey: Across government all departments are doing business plans now in a common format, and that common format there is also focused now on outcomes.

Ms. McGifford: I read that the objective of the directorate is as follows: the directorate furthers the achievement of equality for women and men by–and then there are some specific ways in which this work is done. I was kind of surprised, although I am not necessarily in disagreement, to see men mentioned here under the Women's Directorate, and I wonder why.

Mrs. Vodrey: As I said in my opening remarks that the directorate's effort is to make the world a more equitable place for women, but not necessarily at the expense of men. So it is somewhat of an inclusive goal as well, focused on Manitobans.

Ms. McGifford: I would hope that the directorate does not want to make it a more equitable place at the expense of men at all. I am sure that is what the minister hopes. I still am surprised to find the objective of the Women's Directorate includes men, but so be it.

Mrs. Vodrey: We spoke about unpaid work earlier. We spoke about unpaid work in relation to child care and care of elderly parents. It would be wonderful if it was a more equitable situation where men may in fact take a little bit more of the opportunity to participate in that area as well. So though we want to be equitable in our opportunities, it is all kinds of opportunities. That is simply one example in which we would be very interested in having a system where it was more equitable for men to participate in those kinds of activities as well.

Ms. McGifford: Of course there are those who would argue that every other department looks after men so maybe this one could just be concerned with women. But leaving that aside, looking at the expenses for the Women's Directorate, under Other Expenditures, there are some quite considerable differences, and I wondered if the minister could explain to me the increases in Transportation, Communication and Other Operating, although I probably understand Other Operating at this point.

Mrs. Vodrey: The transportation increase is including the outreach program for Power Up, the communication includes the training materials for Power Up, and the other operating expenditures include initiatives which include the major conference, which will be occurring in July in Manitoba, the international conference for women.

In terms of looking at that expenditure as a whole, I just would like to highlight some of the initiatives. I guess the format is not exactly the same, but just to give the member an example of some of the initiatives. We have spoken about Power Up. There is a grant to the Prairieaction Foundation. There is money in our budget for the development of four initiatives including Credit Circles, Women in Business initiative Phase 2, the Opening Doors, which I spoke about in my opening remarks, the apprenticeship initiative, Trade Up to Your Future, and the website for further development on the directorate's website. Again, there are dollars within the budget for On the Edge of Tomorrow, which is the major conference, the international women's conference. Then there are, as the member would know, negotiated salary increases.

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Ms. McGifford: The July conference, On the Edge of Tomorrow.

Mrs. Vodrey: That is right.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder if the minister could speak briefly about the conference.

Mrs. Vodrey: This conference is one in which the Province of Manitoba is participating as a partner. It is being steered by a community group, co-chaired by two women, Barbara Huck and Marg O'Toole. They have formed a very comprehensive committee which has been working for almost three years on this particular initiative. The other partners are the federal government, and the City of Winnipeg is also a partner for in-kind support. The committee has a fundraising arm as well which is looking for corporate support, support from the community in general.

The conference will be a day long conference. It has attracted women of international reputation. We are hoping to attract close to 2,000 women to attend this conference. Although I have seen it advertised on WTN, which is one of our corporate sponsors and a wonderful corporate sponsor, I am not sure that the applications for the conference are yet sent out. Okay, I understand they will be sent out Friday.

Ms. McGifford: The minister said that the conference had attracted women with international reputations. I wonder if she would tell me who some of these women are.

Mrs. Vodrey: There are really a lot of very famous names that I am trying to process and as soon as the information is out I am happy to give it to the member, but Victoria Jason, who kayaked to the Arctic Circle; Margaret Catley-Carlson, the head of the world Population Council in New York; Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada; Jane Hawtin from WTN, who again as our major corporate sponsor I understand are doing their broadcast from this women's conference on that day. We are really happy also to have Ann Medina, who has again agreed to participate in the conference. There is really a wonderful line-up of women who are very accomplished and who have really been on the edge of tomorrow and opened doors for other women. Susan Auch is coming; Shannon Miller, the coach of the Canadian women's hockey team.

Ms. McGifford: Is there a tie-in with the Pan Am Games and sport?

Mrs. Vodrey: Not an official tie-in because the Pan Am Games are in fact separate but they have endorsed our event. They are advertising it. I gather that there are some very strict rules in sport around Pan Am Games, but this was a wonderful opportunity to highlight women and the role of women in our particular culture to basically an international audience. We are aware that there are people internationally who will be attending to the Pan Am Games, and we look forward to their participation in this event. However, we also want Manitoba women to have the opportunity to actually experience some of these women who are really groundbreakers.

Ms. McGifford: I wonder if the department of the Status of Women is doing anything to–I should not say anything, I am sure there is something that is happening in conjunction with the Pan Am Games. I wonder if the minister would comment, please.

Mrs. Vodrey: Mr. Chair, the directorate is not doing anything specifically as a directorate in relation to the Pan Am Games, but as I said, the Pan Am Games have endorsed this event, this women's conference, and Carole Anne Letheren from the Canadian Olympic committee has also endorsed this event. I understand she hopes to attend as well.

So, as the member knows, the directorate is relatively small in number in terms of a government department and really mighty in terms of its influence. It has really undertaken the major responsibility to basically provide the assistance in registration and more than that in actually doing a great deal of the work in terms of the planning of this whole conference. They have really been a backbone to the volunteer committee. So the directorate has been extremely busy, and as I said, this has been an event which is approximately three years in the planning. We look forward to an incredibly successful highlight for women at that time.

Ms. McGifford: I am assuming that the scholarships mentioned under the Grants line are the Training for Tomorrow scholarships, but I wonder what the project support, the $54,000 is. What project is being supported there?

Mrs. Vodrey: On project support, $4,000 is grants; $50,000 is scholarships and then under Scholarships, it is a $50,000 grant to the Prairieaction foundation.

Ms. McGifford: Could the minister tell me then if the Training for Tomorrow money comes from here?

Mrs. Vodrey: Yes, that is under Project Support. Sorry, we think it is the reverse, $50,000 for scholarships for Training for Tomorrow under Project Support; $50,000 for the Prairie Action Foundation; $4,000 in grants.

Ms. McGifford: And the $4,000 in grants goes to?

Mrs. Vodrey: It goes to a variety of community-based initiatives which basically come forward during the year. LEAF is one, Farm Women's Conference, Women of Distinction, and events that involve women in our community throughout the year.

Ms. McGifford: So this $4,000 in project support would be available to help subsidize the events that these various organizations might be holding?

Mrs. Vodrey: That is correct.

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Mr. Chairperson: 22.1. Status of Women (a) Manitoba Women's Advisory Council (1) Salaries and Employee Benefits $175,800–pass; (2) Other Expenditures $119,400–pass.

22.1.(b) Women's Directorate (1) Salaries and Employee Benefits $501,300; (2) Other Expenditures $276,200–pass (3) Grants $104,000–pass.

Resolution 22.1: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $1,176,700 for Status of Women for the fiscal year ending the 31st day of March, 2000.

Ms. McGifford: Mr. Chair, I wonder if I could request about a seven-minute recess so that we can–sorry, I will let you finish.

Mr. Chairperson: 22.2 Amortization of Capital Assets $25,600–pass.

Resolution 22.2: RESOLVED that there be granted to Her Majesty a sum not exceeding $25,600 for the Status of Women, Amortization of Capital Assets for the fiscal year ending the 31st day of March, 2000.

This completes the Estimates of the Status of Women. The next set of Estimates that will be considered by this section of the Committee of Supply are the Estimates of the Department of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship. Shall we briefly recess to allow the minister and the critics the opportunity to prepare for the commencement of the next set of Estimates? [agreed]

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