Womanspace Resource Centre (April 20)
Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For over 25 years the Womanspace Resource Centre in Lethbridge has helped destitute women.
Provincial agencies, service providers, including my office, have referred clients to Womanspace for assistance in free ID clinics, interim rent, and, certainly, interim damage deposits, teaching financial literacy and management. The closure has triggered a shortfall of services to Lethbridge citizens.
To the Minister of Seniors and Community Supports: given that Alberta has not much more than a . . .
The Speaker: The hon. minister. [interjection] The hon. minister has the floor.
Mrs. Jablonski: Mr. Speaker, I know that our ministry has offices located in Lethbridge that are there specifically to help people out. We have offices there that will help people out with their AISH with their PDD and with the office of the public guardian. I know that we provide these services. I’m not quite sure what that question was, but I do want to assure people that if there is a gap because of the closing of an agency that has done wonderful work in Lethbridge, we are there to help and support the people of Alberta.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Pastoor: Thank you. One of the points that I didn’t get out was that Alberta doesn’t have much more than a desk and a chair for the status of women.
My next question would be to the Minister of Service Alberta. Will the minister explain how her ministry plans to deal with the fallout of the closure of Womanspace Resource Centre since photo ID is issued through her ministry?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mrs. Klimchuk: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the hon. member for bringing this to the House’s attention. While Service Alberta does not provide grants or funding to community organizations, one of the things that we are working very hard on with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is the whole issue of identification cards for homeless and transient Albertans. We also have a wealth of resources to assist individuals in the area of renting, so we’re there to assist when we can.
The Speaker: Don’t look surprised, hon. member. Thirty-five seconds, no preambles. Proceed.
Ms Pastoor: Oh. To the Minister of Children and Youth Services: how is your ministry prepared to fill in the gaps left by the closure of Womanspace as a helping partner for your parent link family violence prevention and family and community support services in southern Alberta?
Mrs. Fritz: Well, Mr. Speaker, first of all, what a loss for your community, hon. member, and I know you’re a strong advocate for women. The Womanspace Resource Centre in Lethbridge has been known, as you said, for 25 years to empower woman through the provision of workshops and forums providing information referrals and resources for women. What I will do as the minister responsible for woman’s issues in our government is write to my federal counterpart on behalf of the agency to ask that they reinstate the funding that you’re inquiring about.
Alberta Hansard, April 20, 2010