FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: COUNCILLOR CALLS ON PROVINCE TO CONSIDER GENDER IN ECONOMIC STABILIZATION & RECOVERY
Winnipeg, MB - Sherri Rollins Councillor for Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry called upon the provincial government to ensure the work of economic stabilization and recovery supports the essential care workforce and in particular women’s needs.
“Women make up and important part of our workforce, and tend to work in more precarious work. Said Rollins, “The Province needs to lay the foundation of economic stabilization and recovery now.”
The essential care sectors includes non-profits, early childhood educators, health care, personal support workers, cleaners, food preparation, social work, food banks, mental health and addictions workforce, municipal services jobs, and nursing and primary healthcare.
“Families are and will continue to rely on childcare, healthcare, food banks, and social service workers that make up the essential service economy.” Said Rollins, “The job of the Province should be to help – not hurt – this part of our economy.”
Rollins called on Pallister to pivot from the current approach and instead support the work of women retailers and service sector businesses, public sector workers and seniors in Manitoba with the following measures:
- Reverse the attack on public sector employment and wages, including keeping all civil service, crown corporation and education workers employed, so that Winnipeggers are not scared to spend.
- Reverse contemplated cuts to non-profits and provide them with assistance.
- Assist with space conversion for non-profits serving the vulnerable sector, build capacity to combat homelessness, and cease moves to vacate its role in housing.
- Increase transfers to and revenue sharing arrangements with municipalities to support property tax deferrals and keep municipal workers on the payroll.
- Support home care and personal care home workers and the seniors they serve with needed PPE, a maintained homecare workforce, funded transit and presumptive WCB eligibility.
- Cease rental evictions, and provide financial assistance to pay for rent and mortgages.
- Quickly acknowledge that its ECE measures are failed policy and re-focus on sustaining licensed childcare which will be a key part to any return-to-work plan of economic recovery.
For information contact:
Sherri Rollins
Councillor Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry
204 986-5878
-30-