News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


December 22, 1998
(Executive Council)


Funding announced for provincial women's centres

Julie Bettney, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, announced today that government will continue its partnership with Status of Women Councils in the next fiscal year. Status of Women Councils' Women's Centres in St. John's, Corner Brook, Gander, Stephenville, Port aux Basques, Labrador West, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay will each receive $30,000 for the provision of core services.

"The women's centres provide a valuable service to the women of this province, and I am delighted that we can continue to support their work through this funding today," said Minister Bettney. "These centres provide safe and supportive environments for women in particular for victims of violence." She added that women's centres also work for change by promoting women's individual and collective empowerment and advancing the status of women.

This funding is a continuation of the Multi-department Agreement to fund the core services of women's centres announced last December. The Departments of Health and Community Services, Human Resources and Employment, Education, Justice, Development and Rural Renewal, the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation and the Women's Policy Office, contracted with Status of Women Councils' Women's Centres to provide core services related to their mandates. The initial funding was provided when the Status of Women Councils were no longer eligible for sustaining funding from Status of Women Canada. This funding will also allow Status of Women Councils to seek funding from the federal government and negotiate contracts for specific services with departments, community health boards, school boards and regional economic development boards.

Joyce Hancock, president of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women and someone who has worked in the women's centres for more than a decade, said that, "these dollars are critical to sustaining the presence of women's centres working toward women's social and economic equality in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Minister Bettney indicated that an evaluation of the services provided with funding from the provincial government is under way and an interim report shows that women's centres do provide a significant contribution to communities. In particular, a unique feature of the women's centres is the focus on issues and concerns specific to women. The value of this service is the availability, accessibility and ease of interaction with the staff of the women's centers.

Media contact:

Donna Meade Joyce Hancock
Women's Policy Office Provincial Advisory Council
(709) 729-5730 (709) 753-6124

1998 12 22 3:05 p.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement