2003/04 -- 2005/06 Service Plan -- Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services

Women's Issues — Continued

Goal: Women’s unique social and economic needs are addressed

Planning Context

The effectiveness of the Ministry’s efforts depends largely on the cooperation of other ministries to maximize opportunities for women when developing and administering their policies and programs.

Women face significant economic challenges.

In 1999, women who worked full-time earned about 64 cents for every dollar earned by a man.
Of women working full-time in British Columbia, 5.7 per cent earned $50,000 or more in 1998, compared with 24.8 per cent of men.
In 1998, 49 per cent of female lone parents fell below Statistics Canada’s 1992 BaseLow Income Cut-off.

Violence against women remains a largely hidden problem in our society. It exacts a high economic toll and causes serious health and societal problems. Violence against women that is witnessed by children can also have long lasting negative effects on these children.

Ten per cent of British Columbia women have experienced spousal violence in the past five years. This is the second highest rate of spousal violence among Canadian provinces.

Objectives Key Strategies

1. Women experiencing abuse receive emergency shelter and counselling.
• Provide funding for counselling services for abused women and for children who witness abuse.

• Develop performance-based contracts for service providers.

• Make recommendations, including a new funding model, for the provincial inventory of transition houses, safe homes and second stage housing.

2. Government is enabled to make informed decisions on issues that affect women.
• Develop a reporting method to assess government’s progress in advancing equality.

• Implement Safer Community Strategy.

• Complete an on-line Women’s Services Directory.