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Submission to the British Columbia Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
Written by: Trish Archibald and Dodie Goldney, Kamloops Women's Resource Group Society
Prepared for the BC Coalition of Women's Centres
October 12, 2005

Read the BCCWC Submission to the Select Standing Committee


Have your say on the BC Budget 2006!

The BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services is holding public consultations.  (Link will open in a new window.)

The Committee has been "empowered to 'examine, inquire into and make recommendations with respect to the pre-budget consultation report'  by conducting 'public consultations across British Columbia on proposals and recommendations regarding the provincial budget and fiscal policy for the coming fiscal year.'"

***THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2005***


What can you do? 

You can participate in the Online Consultation (link will open in a new window), write your own submission, or submit the Submission of the BC Coalition of Women's Centres as your own. 

SEND IT BY MAIL:
The BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
Blair Lekstrom, Chairperson
c/o: Office of the Clerk of Committees
Room 224, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC  V8V 1X4

SEND IT BY FAX:
(250) 356-8172

SEND IT BY E-MAIL:
FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca
(Don't forget to include the attachment - more info below!) 

There are two ways for you to send the BCCWC's Submission to the Select Standing Committee:

Option 1

You can send the SHORT VERSION of the Submission, which is only five pages. 
Click here to get the short version as a PDF document!
(Link will open in a new window.)

Save the file to your hard drive (someplace where you'll be able to find it, such as your "My Documents" file or your Desktop), and then e-mail it as an attachment, or print it and fax or mail it to the Select Standing Committee.

We have also included a cover letter, which you can print and sign, OR you can copy the text and paste it into your own word processing program or e-mail program.  You can personalize this letter if you like. 
Click here to get the cover letter!
(Link will open in a new window.)

Option 2

You can send the LONG VERSION of the Submission.  The text of the Long Version is the same as the Short Version; however, the Long Version includes four important appendices.  This is important because there are several newly MLAs who are participating in the Select Standing Committee, and who may not have read the appendices when they came out.  It is up to you which version you'd like to send. 

If you choose the Long Version, please remember to print or attach all FIVE PDF documents:
Part One:  Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
Part Two:  Appendix A - UN CEDAW Text
Part Three:  Appendix B - British Columbia Moves Backwards on Women's Equality
Part Four:  Appendix C - Draft Report of the UN CEDAW Committee
Part Five:  Appendix D - The Losing Ground Report
(Links will open in a new window.)

Don't forget the cover letter!
Click here to get the cover letter!
(Link will open in a new window.)

REMEMBER: THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2005


Why would you want to do this? 

Every time a person or a group makes a submission to the Select Standing Committee, it must be recorded in the public record. 

If you would make the same recommendations as we are making, then you can send ours and have them recorded as a new submission. 


What are the recommendations of the BC Coalition of Women's Centres?

~ that the Government of British Columbia abide by the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, and in future respect all International Human Rights Treaties to which Canada, and therefore British Columbia, are legal signatories;

~ that the Government of British Columbia will increase its outreach to public interest advocacy groups, and provide the resources necessary to ensure that a diversity of voices are heard at all future budget and policy consultations;

~ that the Government of British Columbia respect and acknowledge the hard work of public interest advocates and advocacy organizations, and the role they have played in shaping a more inclusive British Columbia, by providing adequate and appropriate resources, including financial support, to advocates and advocacy organizations in British Columbia; 

~ that the Government of British Columbia restore and enhance funding to the Legal Services Society of BC for the purpose of providing family law, poverty law, and immigration law assistance to those in need;

~ that the Government of British Columbia restore and enhance funding to Women’s Centres across BC, so that Women’s Centres can continue to advocate for and on behalf of women and girls as citizens of this province;

~ that the Government of British Columbia restore the BC Human Rights Commission, the Provincial Mental Health Advocate, and the Minister’s Advocacy Council on Women’s Health, or create their equivalents; and,

~ that the Government of British Columbia restore the BC Ministry of Women's Equality, or create a new and equitable body, expressly for the purpose of working towards women's equality in BC.


Where can you get more information? 

Visit the BC Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services BC Budget Consultation Home Page.

Select Standing Committee Budget Consultation Page
(Link will open in a new window.)
     


Read the BCCWC Submission to the Select Standing Committee
If you have questions/comments for BCCWC, please e-mail us at bcwomen@telus.net  For other contact information, please go to our Information Page

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This page last updated:  October 18, 2005
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