This past May the MLA communicated to Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan our frustration and disapproval regarding the omission of libraries in the Province’s guide for new immigrant women.  For background and MLA’s letter to the Minister, see:

MLA action in response to oversight re: new immigrant women

I am happy to report that MLA action has resulted in some improvement to the information about libraries being disseminated to new immigrant women in Manitoba.  After consultations with the Status of Women Office, MLA produced and had posted to the Office’s website an appendix to the Guide.  A hardcopy of this document was also included in the Office’s continuing distribution of the Guide to immigrant stakeholder groups.

See:  http://www.gov.mb.ca/msw/publications/index.html

In addition, the MLA submitted numerous edits/additions to the Guide, effectively embedding mentions of libraries and their value throughout the document.  The Office is currently undertaking the French translation of the Guide (which is to include some amendments) and we are hopeful a number of our suggestions will be included.  We have strongly suggested that the changes we submitted be used to inform future English-language editions of the Guide.

Many thanks to those of you who responded to our request regarding the services you currently offer immigrant women and their communities.  We hope that this result demonstrates the value of your feedback, as well as that of your communication with MLA.

Monique Woroniak
MLA Advocacy Director