Advisory Council on the Status of Women
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2011-06-22: Government Earns a B- on 2011 Equality Report Card
STRATFORD, PEI %u2014 June is the season for school report cards, a time of angst or excitement for Island students as they await a record of their achievements. June is also the season for the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women to release its Equality Report Card assessing the provincial government%u2019s progress on equality work. The Advisory Council released its 2011 Equality Report Card today, and the Report Card awards the PEI government a grade of B%u2013 for its progress on women%u2019s equality goals. This grade is an improvement over the results when the last Equality Report Card was released in June 2009.
%u201CThe B%u2013 grade shows that government is taking some important and concrete steps to meet needs that women have identified,%u201D says Isabelle Christian, the outgoing Chairperson of the Advisory Council. %u201CGovernment%u2019s grade has risen from a C in 2009 to a B- in 2011. This is a substantial improvement in just two years.%u201D The Equality Report Card grades government on 22 areas in seven categories, including Supports for Caregiving, Access to Justice, and Women's Health.
%u201CWhen we began the Equality Report Card, the Advisory Council made a commitment to work collaboratively with government to support them to achieve A and B grades,%u201D says Christian. %u201CWe are very pleased that they have accepted that collaborative spirit and achieved a B%u2013.%u201D
Government%u2019s landmark investment in early childhood care and education in the past two years is an example of what has earned government higher grades from the Status of Women. %u201CSupporting pre-school and kindergarten-age children and their educators will have benefits for all Island families, now and into the future,%u201D Christian says.
The Status of Women has noted some areas that still require attention. %u201CMental health and addictions were two areas the Advisory Council members saw a need for more action,%u201D says Council Executive Director Lisa Murphy. %u201CIt is clear to members of our Advisory Council that many Island women and men are experiencing hardship as a result of mental illness and addictions. We need to do better to support and help them.%u201D
%u201CI have recently completed my term as Chairperson of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women,%u201D says Isabelle Christian, %u201Cand it has been a source of pride to lead the Advisory Council as we developed the Equality Report Card. I hope the Report Card will continue to be a tool to collaborate with government and to advocate for vulnerable women and others in the community who rely on public services to make their lives better and their situations more equitable.%u201D
Copies of the 2011 Equality Report Card are available through the Advisory Council on the Status of Women website, http://www.gov.pe.ca/acsw or by calling 902-368-4510.
Summary of Category Grades:
- Making Equality a Priority : B
- Women in Decision-Making: C
- Family Violence Prevention: B
- Access to Justice: C
- Supports for Caregiving: B
- Women%u2019s Health: C%u2013
- Women%u2019s Economic Status: B%u2013
