Saskatchewan

CCLOW Saskatchewan has been active over the past months with activities surrounding our proposal to the Skills Grant Fund for $50,000.00 proposal development monies. The plan we will be developing is the setting up of an "institute" for women. This will use a brokerage model to access training and education of all kinds. It would have a large counseling component with vocational testing and, where necessary, funding advice for the women. Women would be helped, in one place, through the myriad hurdles that are now stopping them. Although we encountered difficulty because the project would not lead women directly to employment, we have been told that we will get the funds and are awaiting notice.

Along with the Saskatchewan Association of Lifelong Learning we sponsored a conference looking at new innovations in education and training in Saskatchewan held December 9, 1983. Representatives for CEIC, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Manpower, The Paid Skill Development Leave Task Force, Women's issues, Native issues and lab our and business all spoke about the various programs now available.

A brief was submitted to the minister of Social Services as a response to their Cay Care study. Saskatchewan is to have a new women's Secretariat responsible to the only woman minister. Its strength will only be determined by the quality of the appointments to the high level positions. We released the National Training Act Study and recommendations at a press conference in February. (Details unavailable at press time)

Quebec

Our most important event this past year was planning and holding our conference a day of talks and workshops on the subject: WOMEN AND POWER: MAKING A DIFFERENCE. After the keynote address by Chaviva Hosek, participants divided into small groups to discuss the topic from a personal point of view. The afternoon offered a variety of workshops focusing on the concrete "how to do it" factors of exercising power.

We've been involved in correspondence with the appropriate Federal ministers regarding changes in the Indian Act and in laws regarding the payment and benefits of part-time workers. Greta Nemiroff, Quebec Director, represented the Quebec CCLOW at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women in its Montreal Office. A joyous occasion.