Programme Cuts Uses Funding
Effects cm Womens Training Programmes
(as of May, 1992)

British Columbia:
♦

On March 16, 1992 the Counselling Resource Centre (that includes the
Special Needs Team), the Women’s Employment and Counselling Unit, and
Career Action for Youth (in Vancouver) were told that their services will be
completely phased out over the next three to six months.

*

Two outreach programmes in British Columbia, Experience Unlimited (for
older women) and the Surrey Job Centre (for youth) were told this year that
they had to reorient their services entirely for individuals receiving
Unemployment Insurance if they wanted to receive core funding. Prior to
this over 80% of their participants were people who were not eligible for UI.

*

Mosaic, an immigrant serving agency in Vancouver was told that 75% of
their client base must now be people on Unemployment Insurance.

*

Learning Resources, a community based training organization for women,
will not be funded by EIC in 1992-93. Learning Resources was receiving
funding for a bridging programme for Women into Construction, as well as
several Job Clubs. EIC considers the mandate of Learning Resources
beyond their jurisdiction.

*

Delta Continuing Education had a CJS funded programme in 1989 where
approximatley 20% of participants were UI recipients. By 1992, Delta is
required to provide programmes with 85% of their clients on UI, and no
women’s programme.

*

From 1982 to 1992 Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society provided services
to all women who requested assistance. In October 1991, they we^e told
that two-thirds of their clients had to be women on UI.

*

In Nelson 35 women were turned away from a re-entry programme because
they were not on Unemployment Insurance.

*

At Malaspina College, in Nanaimo, all programmes for women have been
discontinued.
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OASIS, a pre-employment programme for Indo-Canadian women, is now
required to have 60% women on UI. Their office automation programme
must have 82% on Unemployment Insurance. The vast majority of women
seeking services at OASIS are not on UI.

Manitoba:
*

Evolution, the only re-entry programme for francophone women in
Manitoba, was directed to shift in 1992 to 50% UI recipients in preparation
for 100% UI eligibility criteria if their programme is renewed in 1993. They
estimate 64% of women would be screened out of training, barring access to
women SAR’s, women who have been out of the workforce over one year,
and those women most in need.

New Brunswick:
*

In Moncton, New Brunswick, funding for New Options for Women, an
exploratory/bridging programme is being terminated. The programme aims
to introduce women on socialassistance to non-traditional occupations.

Ontario:
*

Seneca College’s "Women into Trades and Technology Programme" was told,
verbally, that the number of intakes into their programme will be cut from
three to one in the coming fiscal year.

*

Working Skills for Women, a Toronto based YWCA upgrading and
exploration programme for women living in poverty, (most of whom are
receiving some form of social assistance) were told that their funding will be
cut if they do not switch to participants on UI. At the same time they were
offered fewer seats...all this makes it questionable if they can continue with
the programme at all.

*

Rumour has it that all direct purchase seats in the Ontario region in 199293 will be for people on Unemployment Insurance (in 1991-92, 60% was for
people on UI and 40% was for other "client" groups).

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*

PATH, a bridging programme for women in London (providing women with
skills in computer literacy, identifying paths to career goals) has had direct
purchase funding pulled out. They have been informed that they will only
be able to continue if some "leftover local purchase funding can be found".

*

WITT (Women into Trades and Technology) programmes in London, St.
Thomas, Woodstack and Strathroy have been cut from direct purchase CEIC
funding...they are still negotiating their future with CEIC.

*

Focus for Change, a highly successful pre-employment bridging programme
(of the YWCA of Metro. Toronto and affiliated with George Brown College)
for low income women (primarally sole support mothers) has been informed
that their contract with CJS will be renewed only if they move to 100% UI.
Presently, this programme’s participants are 85% social assistance
recipients. 40 women already processed by CEIC to start up the May
programme are no longer eligible. Focus for Change will be shut down
unless funding can be found from other sources.

*

There is a general trend (policy??) that all affiliate projects with the colleges
move to 100% UI recipients. As well as Focus for Change of George Brown
College (mentioned above) we know that Humber College’s "Career Planning
for Women", "Job Readiness Training", and "Career Planning for Immigrant
Women" will be effected.

*

Dixon Hall’s S.T.E.P. programme for sole support mothers (integrating ESL,
micro-computer operation, job search and life skills) was 50% UI recipient/
50% SAR in 1991-92. They have been informed that they must move to
100% participants receiving UI.

*

Two of Working Skills Centre of Toronto’s programmes have been cut 100%.
First Step to Employment is an information, referral and counselling service
serving 35 immigrant women each week) and the Bridging Programme is a
6 month basic upgrading programme for immigrant women on social
assistance. This programme links ESL, literacy, math, lifeskills with career
planning, work skills and referral to further skills training.

*

African Bridging Programme, whose ESL component was supported by CJS,
has been cut totally from CJS.

*

In Metro Toronto, Canada Employment Centres are turning away
individuals saying that CEC’s can not serve non-UI eligible people!

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♦

Women Growing, a bridging programme for women who have experienced,
conflict with the law, has been cut 100%.

*

New Experiences for Refugee Women (NEW), a bridging programme for
Latin American Refugee women, has been forced to stop intakes after May
1992. (They have been granted salaries through August and funds to hire a
consultant to assist them to transfer to LINC funding!)

*

The Kingston Women’s Self-Employment Centre was cut 100% in 1992.

In General:

*

Apparently, there are no equity guidelines for the disbursement of
Developmental Uses money!!

AND THE LIST GOES ON....
If you have any corrections to make or hear of any other cuts to funding
for women’s training programmes please inform:

Barbara Anderson
Women’s Reference Group
47 Main St.
Toronto, Ontario
M4E 2V6
FAX: 416-699-2145

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