AWCCA's political action team set up pickets and protests across ontario with many, many other women's organizations. We were present in Ottawa, at mayor Milleur's office, at Queen's park and at the House while it was in session - simultaneously. Ottawa news gave it more coverage but it barely made any presence in Toronto media due to the 17 arrests and their second hearing on the 6th.
Below is the script provided by Hansard regarding the disruption caused. Our plan was to listen for a few minutes and if she continued making false promises, start shouting until we were asked to leave. ( we=awcca. i decided not to attend at the last moment).
-=-=-=-=-=-
HANSARD Wednesday, June 7th, 2006
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is for the minister responsible for women's issues. Minister, today women from across the province came here to plead for your government's help. Too many women are forced to choose between hunger and violence. They are trapped in abusive relationships and can't afford to break free because of your McGuinty broken promises. Will you stop the clawback of the national child benefit and increase social assistance rates in Ontario like you promised, to help women and children escape a life of poverty and violence?
Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Education, minister responsible for women's issues): I will be happy in the supplementary to turn this question over to the Minister for Community and Social Services, responsible for social services.
But let me just say that about three years ago we received a report, which I believe was started under the former government, by outside groups who created a report called Walking on Eggshells. It spoke about the difficulty women face when they come from abusive situations and into the welfare system, and what we needed to do in order to change that. Since that time, we have launched significant training across the government, but especially in the Ministry of Community and Social Services, so that we better understand how we need to treat women who are coming from very dire straits. But even our funding, through our domestic violence action plan, has addressed in so many ways, across 13 different ministers who sit on this panel, to be sure that our whole government is focused on bettering services for women when they need them and where. I think this member has to acknowledge, it is a --
The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.
Ms. Horwath: Back to the minister responsible for women's issues, because the poverty of children is a women's issue and the poverty of women is a women's issue. So, Minister, notwithstanding the fact that these same women's groups say that your domestic violence action plan has been an abject failure in this province, Ontario is miles and miles behind on this particular file. In fact, in Alberta, you may want to know, a woman leaving a violent relationship can find immediate and real financial help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Alberta fund covers transportation, accommodation, the setting up of a new household, food, clothing and other basic needs for women. Women receive financial help to pay for phone, legal advice, extended health coverage for their children, even relocation costs if they have to move out of their community to escape the threat of violence.
If Ralph Klein's Alberta can get it right, why can't Dalton McGuinty's Ontario?
Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I am happy to turn this over to the Minister of Community and Social Services.
Hon. Madeleine Meilleur (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for francophone affairs): First all, let me say that I appreciate this organization's commitment to help women who are in need across Ontario. I share their commitment. This government is serious about addressing the needs of Ontario's most vulnerable. Violence against women is unacceptable. We will do what we can to help these women in situations of violence. What we have done so far, first of all, is we have raised welfare twice -- not once, but twice -- a 5% raise, and this never happened before.
Interruption.
The Speaker: Clear the west gallery.
Interjections.
The Speaker: Order. Minister of Community and Social Services.
Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Again, this government has raised the social assistance rate by 5%. Also, what we have done is we have increased minimum wage twice already, and we will increase it a third time in 2007.
The question that was asked about the national child care benefit supplement: We are permanently flowing through the 2004, 2005 and 2006 increases. We know there is more to do and we will continue to support those in situations of violence.
Below is the script provided by Hansard regarding the disruption caused. Our plan was to listen for a few minutes and if she continued making false promises, start shouting until we were asked to leave. ( we=awcca. i decided not to attend at the last moment).
-=-=-=-=-=-
HANSARD Wednesday, June 7th, 2006
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Ms. Andrea Horwath (Hamilton East): My question is for the minister responsible for women's issues. Minister, today women from across the province came here to plead for your government's help. Too many women are forced to choose between hunger and violence. They are trapped in abusive relationships and can't afford to break free because of your McGuinty broken promises. Will you stop the clawback of the national child benefit and increase social assistance rates in Ontario like you promised, to help women and children escape a life of poverty and violence?
Hon. Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Education, minister responsible for women's issues): I will be happy in the supplementary to turn this question over to the Minister for Community and Social Services, responsible for social services.
But let me just say that about three years ago we received a report, which I believe was started under the former government, by outside groups who created a report called Walking on Eggshells. It spoke about the difficulty women face when they come from abusive situations and into the welfare system, and what we needed to do in order to change that. Since that time, we have launched significant training across the government, but especially in the Ministry of Community and Social Services, so that we better understand how we need to treat women who are coming from very dire straits. But even our funding, through our domestic violence action plan, has addressed in so many ways, across 13 different ministers who sit on this panel, to be sure that our whole government is focused on bettering services for women when they need them and where. I think this member has to acknowledge, it is a --
The Speaker (Hon. Michael A. Brown): Thank you. Supplementary.
Ms. Horwath: Back to the minister responsible for women's issues, because the poverty of children is a women's issue and the poverty of women is a women's issue. So, Minister, notwithstanding the fact that these same women's groups say that your domestic violence action plan has been an abject failure in this province, Ontario is miles and miles behind on this particular file. In fact, in Alberta, you may want to know, a woman leaving a violent relationship can find immediate and real financial help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Alberta fund covers transportation, accommodation, the setting up of a new household, food, clothing and other basic needs for women. Women receive financial help to pay for phone, legal advice, extended health coverage for their children, even relocation costs if they have to move out of their community to escape the threat of violence.
If Ralph Klein's Alberta can get it right, why can't Dalton McGuinty's Ontario?
Hon. Ms. Pupatello: I am happy to turn this over to the Minister of Community and Social Services.
Hon. Madeleine Meilleur (Minister of Community and Social Services, minister responsible for francophone affairs): First all, let me say that I appreciate this organization's commitment to help women who are in need across Ontario. I share their commitment. This government is serious about addressing the needs of Ontario's most vulnerable. Violence against women is unacceptable. We will do what we can to help these women in situations of violence. What we have done so far, first of all, is we have raised welfare twice -- not once, but twice -- a 5% raise, and this never happened before.
Interruption.
The Speaker: Clear the west gallery.
Interjections.
The Speaker: Order. Minister of Community and Social Services.
Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: Again, this government has raised the social assistance rate by 5%. Also, what we have done is we have increased minimum wage twice already, and we will increase it a third time in 2007.
The question that was asked about the national child care benefit supplement: We are permanently flowing through the 2004, 2005 and 2006 increases. We know there is more to do and we will continue to support those in situations of violence.
posted by Shezalldat @ 12:27 p.m.
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