Minister's meetings with women on the Burin Peninsula a success

Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, reported today on a series of meetings held in Marystown and Fortune earlier this week to discuss issues important to women in that area of the province.

In Marystown, Minister Burke visited Grace Sparks House, a safe haven for women and children fleeing violence in the Burin Peninsula area, and met with members of the Regional Violence Prevention Coordinating Committee which is one of four new committees established as part of the Violence Prevention Initiative � Taking Action Against Violence. "I would like to acknowledge the members of the new regional coordinating committee in Marystown and their interest in violence prevention," said Minister Burke. "I look forward to working with them to address critical issues for women in the Burin region."

Meetings in Fortune were held at the Family Resource Centre and the new Transitional Support Office. The transitional office has been established by government to assist those displaced by the closure of the fish plant in Fortune. Minister Burke met with several women who have been impacted by the downturn in the fishing industry.

"I was so pleased these women took the time to meet with me and discuss how their lives have changed as a result of the plant closure and what I can do in my role as the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women to assist them," said Minister Burke. "Women make up slightly more than half of the workers within fish processing plants. It was a priority that I meet with these women and visit the transition office which I am confident will be a useful resource for the community."

The minister was joined by Leslie MacLeod, president of the Provincial Advisory Council for the Status of Women. "I am delighted that the minister invited me to accompany her on these visits," said Ms. MacLeod. "It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with community members who are involved in this important work and to hear the concerns of women displaced by the fish plant closure."

To address the needs of those women displaced by the decline of the fishery, government has provided a number of programs and initiatives to support them through the transition. Interim options seek to cooperate with municipalities and other regional stakeholders to provide short term measures while long term options are being examined. Joint initiatives between federal and provincial departments also aim to be able to provide financial support to individuals and communities faced with long term plant closures.

"Listening to the concerns of women in the area and hearing what they need to prosper is essential in working towards a solution," said Minister Burke. "There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and resourcefulness in our rural communities and the funding we are investing in such areas as violence prevention and the transition programs is money well spent."

Media contact: Michelle Hynes, Communications, (709) 729-6225

2006 08 11                                      12:25 p.m.