2. The CEIC has established a strict non-sexist policy which is outlined in the Women's Employment Section Plan of Action (see Appendix A). The major objectives of this policy are described as:

"to actively promote the development of labour market conditions in which the economic potential of the female labour market is fully tapped and to support women workers in their pursuit of economically viable and self-fulfilling employment."

Each year the Plan of Action is updated to include specific plans which are designed to meet specific objectives. The 1975 report of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women outlines a number of these plans which have already been implemented. For example: ^l

• the program called "Employment Orientation for Women" is designed to upgrade the basic skills of those women who require such skills to be assured a better position in the labour market.

• the Creative Job Search Technique trains women in methods of identifying suitable job openings and familiarizing them with application forms, resumes, and other techniques.

• the filmstrip "Women in business: A management view", encourages employers to promote and hire women in professional and technical positions.

• the Special Needs Branch of Manpower develops special Outreach Programs which are designed to extend services to women whose special needs are not being met by CMCs and for experimenting with new types of services. These programs are normally contracted out to community agencies which are better suited to this type of service delivery.

The effectiveness and extent of any of these plans of action has yet to be determined. The Outreach programs, in particular, are currently under review and women have been eliminated as a special target group. Women will still be served but only as members of other target groups, such as native people, disabled, handicapped, etc. Implementation of other plans is currently underway. Such activities take time and are greatly hampered by government cutbacks and uncertainties in budgeting. The Women's Employment Section was reluctant to allow publication of the more specific plans of action, since these are subject to change.

^1. The Hon. Marc Lalonde, Minister of Health and Welfare, "Report of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1975" (Ottawa: Advisory Council on the Status of Women, 1975).