Friday, December 22, 2006
Pre-LMDA Survey of Employment and Training Services in Ontario
ACTEW’s baseline survey is open until December 31, 2006, and I’m pleased to report that we already have over 70 surveys submitted.
I’ve heard through the grapevine that the survey is taking longer than 20 minutes to complete. Sorry for our underestimation and thanks for your patience to see it through.
Did you know that you can come back to your survey where you left off? If you can’t complete your survey in one sitting, be sure to drop back again. Simply click on the survey link and you will be taken to the page where you left off, as long as you return to the survey on the same computer where you began.
We’re collected some fantastic success stories through the survey and are looking forward to sharing them through spotlights on the Putting Women in the Picture web site and our new policy e-bulletin, In Focus.
If you are a direct service agency, please take some time to fill out the survey.
Want more information about why we’re doing the survey?
Download the survey - fax your completed copy to (416) 599-2043.
We’re excited to get you the analysis in January.
I’ve heard through the grapevine that the survey is taking longer than 20 minutes to complete. Sorry for our underestimation and thanks for your patience to see it through.
Did you know that you can come back to your survey where you left off? If you can’t complete your survey in one sitting, be sure to drop back again. Simply click on the survey link and you will be taken to the page where you left off, as long as you return to the survey on the same computer where you began.
We’re collected some fantastic success stories through the survey and are looking forward to sharing them through spotlights on the Putting Women in the Picture web site and our new policy e-bulletin, In Focus.
If you are a direct service agency, please take some time to fill out the survey.
Want more information about why we’re doing the survey?
Download the survey - fax your completed copy to (416) 599-2043.
We’re excited to get you the analysis in January.
Labels: ACTEW_Activities
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Why Ending Gender Discrimination Benefits Everyone
Empowering women and eliminating gender discrimination is key to improving the survival and well-being of children worldwide, according to a new UNICEF report.
UNICEF has just released its flagship report “The State of the World’s Children 2007”. It concludes that an end to gender discrimination would produce the ‘double dividend’ of benefiting both women and children – which, in turn, has a positive impact on the health and development of societies everywhere.
The report documents the ways in which eliminating gender discrimination improves society. It finds that when women are key decision-makers in the family, more resources are devoted to the well-being of children and therefore, children have better health and get a better education.
The report makes several concrete recommendations, including:
• Invest government funding in gender equality,
• Enact legislation to create a level playing field for women, and to prevent and respond to domestic violence as well as gender-based violence in conflict,
• Ensure women’s participation in politics,
• Involve women’s grassroots organizations early on in policy development,
• Engage men and boys so the importance of gender equality can be understood by all, and
• Improve research and data on gender issues, which are critical if progress is to be made.
UNICEF is clear that gender discrimination continues throughout all parts of the world in all areas of women’s lives, from experiences of physical and sexual violence to limited work and education opportunities for women.
Canada is no exception:
• Canadian women’s incomes are just 62% of men’s (Statistics Canada, 2006).
• Canadian women still earn 71 cents for every dollar men earn for work of equal value (Pay Equity Task Force, 2006).
• Women are five times more likely than men to be the victims in spousal homicide (Juristat, 2006).
• Women make up only 20% of the seats in the House of Commons (Parliament of Canada, 2006).
The UNICEF report is available at: http://www.unicef.org/sowc/index_37436.html.
For more information on Canadian's women's equality, visit this fact sheet from CRIAW.
UNICEF has just released its flagship report “The State of the World’s Children 2007”. It concludes that an end to gender discrimination would produce the ‘double dividend’ of benefiting both women and children – which, in turn, has a positive impact on the health and development of societies everywhere.
The report documents the ways in which eliminating gender discrimination improves society. It finds that when women are key decision-makers in the family, more resources are devoted to the well-being of children and therefore, children have better health and get a better education.
The report makes several concrete recommendations, including:
• Invest government funding in gender equality,
• Enact legislation to create a level playing field for women, and to prevent and respond to domestic violence as well as gender-based violence in conflict,
• Ensure women’s participation in politics,
• Involve women’s grassroots organizations early on in policy development,
• Engage men and boys so the importance of gender equality can be understood by all, and
• Improve research and data on gender issues, which are critical if progress is to be made.
UNICEF is clear that gender discrimination continues throughout all parts of the world in all areas of women’s lives, from experiences of physical and sexual violence to limited work and education opportunities for women.
Canada is no exception:
• Canadian women’s incomes are just 62% of men’s (Statistics Canada, 2006).
• Canadian women still earn 71 cents for every dollar men earn for work of equal value (Pay Equity Task Force, 2006).
• Women are five times more likely than men to be the victims in spousal homicide (Juristat, 2006).
• Women make up only 20% of the seats in the House of Commons (Parliament of Canada, 2006).
The UNICEF report is available at: http://www.unicef.org/sowc/index_37436.html.
For more information on Canadian's women's equality, visit this fact sheet from CRIAW.
Labels: Resources_and_Research
Thursday, December 07, 2006
MTCU Announces Regional Directors and Job Openings
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) has announced some appointments, hirings, and job postings. The LMDA comes into effect as of January 1, 2007, which includes the transfer of 600 Service Canada staff positions to MTCU. Here are a few hiring announcements that have been released over the past few months:
Kevin French has been appointed to the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of the Labour Market and Training Division.
He will oversee the change process associated with the Labour Market Development Agreement implementation, as well as the longer-term goal of the One Stop integrated training and employment system, now called Employment Ontario.
Four Regional Directors were hired in the Spring of 2006. They are:
Central Region, Toronto - Barb Simmons
Western Region, London - Sherree Mahood
Northern Region, Sudbury - Peter Armstrong
Eastern Region, Ottawa - Robert Dupuis
And MTCU just recently posted 30 Program Officer positions at the Government of Ontario Jobs site. The posting is available online at www.gojobs.gov.on.ca.
Most of the 600 positions being transferred from Service Canada will transfer employees, but there will be many vacant positions to fill.
Kevin French has been appointed to the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of the Labour Market and Training Division.
He will oversee the change process associated with the Labour Market Development Agreement implementation, as well as the longer-term goal of the One Stop integrated training and employment system, now called Employment Ontario.
Four Regional Directors were hired in the Spring of 2006. They are:
Central Region, Toronto - Barb Simmons
Western Region, London - Sherree Mahood
Northern Region, Sudbury - Peter Armstrong
Eastern Region, Ottawa - Robert Dupuis
And MTCU just recently posted 30 Program Officer positions at the Government of Ontario Jobs site. The posting is available online at www.gojobs.gov.on.ca.
Most of the 600 positions being transferred from Service Canada will transfer employees, but there will be many vacant positions to fill.
Labels: MTCU_Updates
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
On December 6, 1989, 14 women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal were murdered because they were women. I want to recognize the significance of today for women whose lives have been affected by violence.
There are and will be many annual events happening today throughout the province in remembrance and I encourage you to join one happening in your community. In particular, this year the Ontario Federation of Labour is participating an initiative that makes the direct links between violence and work for women called Step it Up. OFL frames the links this way:
There are and will be many annual events happening today throughout the province in remembrance and I encourage you to join one happening in your community. In particular, this year the Ontario Federation of Labour is participating an initiative that makes the direct links between violence and work for women called Step it Up. OFL frames the links this way:
“Women make up almost half the work force and much more in some sectors. An abused woman is often a working woman. Not surprisingly…domestic violence can interfere with a woman’s ability to get, perform or keep a job… Home can be a danger zone, but for some women the workplace is no sanctuary as stalking, threats and violence follow them to work.”
The web site talks more about the Step It Up Campaign, and talks about a Private Members Bill being introduced in Ontario that “would give all Ontario workers on-the-job protection by making workplace harassment an offence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.”
Read more on the OFL site
Labels: Meetings_and_Events, Resources_and_Research
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Brockville LMDA Update Meeting and Women’s Summit
I’m thrilled to report back from this meeting at the Employment and Education Centre in Brockville last Wednesday and Thursday, November 29 and 30.
The LMDA Update on Wednesday was an excellent opportunity for people in Eastern Ontario to hear about LMDA implementation from the MTCU and Service Canada. About fifty stakeholders from community agencies, public and private colleges, and provincial and federal government attended this session presented by Patrick Donnelly (MTCU District Manager for Eastern Region) and Cheri Crosby (Director of Eastern Ontario Service Canada Centres).
The messages weren’t any different from what we at ACTEW have been hearing.
The Employment and Education Centre will share these results in meetings with their MP Gord Brown and MPP Bob Runciman.
Our thanks to the Employment and Education Centre for hosting two fantastic events!
Deanna
The LMDA Update on Wednesday was an excellent opportunity for people in Eastern Ontario to hear about LMDA implementation from the MTCU and Service Canada. About fifty stakeholders from community agencies, public and private colleges, and provincial and federal government attended this session presented by Patrick Donnelly (MTCU District Manager for Eastern Region) and Cheri Crosby (Director of Eastern Ontario Service Canada Centres).
The messages weren’t any different from what we at ACTEW have been hearing.
- Business continuity is the main focus now, meaning there will be as little disruption to agencies and clients as possible as of January 1, 2007.
- Attendees were concerned that communications would be a challenge through the transition, expressing worry that they would not receive accurate and up-to-date information.
- Many felt that keeping client-focused may be difficult through the implementation.
- Attendees also saw the integration of federal and provincial systems as an opportunity for reducing duplication, revisiting program structures, and enhancing and improving client services.
The Employment and Education Centre will share these results in meetings with their MP Gord Brown and MPP Bob Runciman.
Our thanks to the Employment and Education Centre for hosting two fantastic events!
Deanna
Labels: Meetings_and_Events, MTCU_Updates
