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Dear Members,

As many of you know, YWCA Muskoka is part of a broader movement of YWCAs across the country and around the world. As members of our movement for women and girls, we wanted to keep you informed about our latest advocacy efforts and our involvement in YWCA Ontario.

YWCA Ontario is a provincial coalition of YWCA Member Associations (including Muskoka). As a coalition, we engage in systemic advocacy to advance gender and racial equality in our province. We know we’re more effective when we speak together on social issues and rally for policy change. 

Most recently, the Coalition presented a submission to the Province of Ontario around the Covid-19 pandemic. While the Province has made efforts to support Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters, families, and businesses, we have not seen the kinds of additional funds required to support people to safely stay at home and to help working women with school age children remain in the workforce. We also continue to be concerned about the situation facing women fleeing violence, as well as the lack of affordable housing in Ontario to help survivors of violence rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

To support an equitable, gender-responsive 2021 budget, the YWCA Ontario Coalition recommends the Province:

1. Mandate 10 paid sick days immediately.

2. Institute a $4 per hour pandemic pay premium for child care, shelter and other front-line workers during the pandemic.

3. Invest in the child care sector including increasing base-funding and additional investments to prevent nonprofit child care closures.

4. Enhance income security by raising OW and ODSP rates to $2000 per month and properly staff Ontario’s Social Tribunal System.

5. Support women’s labour market participation by taking a multi-year funding approach for preapprentice training programs, creating a specific category for women in Employment Ontario, and targeting women in a concerted manner with the new $115 million Skills Training Fund.

6. Prioritize housing investments to meet Ontario’s affordable and supportive housing needs and offer rent relief provisions.

7. Invest in girls’ programming. Currently, there is no provincial funding for girls’ programming at all.

8. Stabilize enhanced funding for VAW shelters and create a provincewide strategy on gender based violence.

9. Help nonprofits at risk of closure through a sector stabilization fund and through greater access to existing funding.

READ THE FULL SUBMISSION HERE

Passionate about making a difference?
YWCA Muskoka is currently seeking diverse volunteers to join our Board of Directors and Committees. YWCA Muskoka is a thriving local community organization that is developing services and providing programs for women and youth across Muskoka. 
 
We are looking for expertise in any of the following: 
  • Human Resources
  • Governance
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Community Development
  • Fund Development
  • Health
  • Law and Risk Management
 We welcome applicants of all genders, ages, ethnic backgrounds and abilities. 
 
To learn more or to submit your application, please visit our webpage. You can also email us at office@ywcamuskoka or call 705-645-9827.

Our YW team wishes you all a warm winter. Stay tuned for our e-newsletter next week, which will highlight our end-of-winter programming and initiatives.

Sincerely,

Laura Sundy
Community Relations Coordinator


p.s. March is #HopeMoves! United Way Simcoe Muskoka is inviting all of us to stretch out our quarantine-weary limbs and get moving to support Simcoe Muskoka residents living in poverty.  All YWCA Muskoka Members are welcome to join or support our YWCA Muskoka team. Our team name is: Muskoka YWCA Moves! From March 8-21, teams are encouraged to get moving and aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Let's get moving!

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205 Manitoba Street, Unit 4
Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1S3

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The Community YWCA of Muskoka · 205 Manitoba St Unit 4 · Bracebridge, ON P1L 1S3 · Canada

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