Government of New Brunswick

Dec. 14, 2015

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The Voices of New Brunswick Women’s Consensus Building Forum is asking the provincial government to release the findings of impact analyses conducted as part of the Strategic Program Review.

Jody Dallaire and Jennifer Richard, co-chairs of the Forum, are responding to Choices To Move New Brunswick Forward, a Strategic Program Review report released by the provincial government on Nov. 27. Choices To Move New Brunswick Forward outlines options for the provincial government to reduce spending and increase revenue.

The report states that each option has undergone gender-based analysis as well as a fiscal impact analysis, economic impact analysis and a broader analysis for other possible public policy impacts. The Dec. 1 speech from the throne reiterated that options advanced by the review were analyzed for gender impacts as well as financial, economic, children’s rights and broader public policy impacts.

“Gender-based analysis is critical to good decision-making,” Richard said. “Given that the government is asking for public participation in choosing which options from the review to implement, relevant information must be made public. It is essential that the public be aware of each option’s potential gendered impact and also consider the cumulative effect that implementing multiple scenarios may have on a vulnerable or marginalized population.”

In Choices To Move New Brunswick Forward, Victor Boudreau, Minister of Health and Minister responsible for the Strategic Program Review, reaffirms the commitment of the provincial government to public participation in the decision-making process of the review.

 “The Strategic Program Review has consistently been described as an inclusive initiative requiring input from the public,” Dallaire said. “The provincial government should release the findings of the impact analyses to enable the public and stakeholders to consider fully the options presented by the review and provide meaningful feedback in advance of the 2016-17 budget.”

The Forum was established in 2014 to provide advice to the provincial government on matters of importance to women and to bring to the attention of the public issues of interest and concern to women. The forum consists of eight members representing equity-seeking organizations as well as five individual members.

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Media contact: Beth Lyons, Executive Director, Voices of NB Women Consensus-Building Forum [email protected] Tel. 506-462-5142