Government of New Brunswick

April 2, 2015 

Fredericton – The Voices of New Brunswick Women Consensus Building Forum welcomes the Government of New Brunswick’s budget announcement of $418 000 for the agency. The announcement of funding comes as the Forum hires its first Executive Director, Beth Lyons, and prepares its first five-year action plan. 

The Forum’s Co-Chairs Phylomène Zangio and Kim Nash-McKinley say this funding will enable the Forum to fulfill its mandate. “With this level of funding, we have the resources to engage in crucial research to inform decision-making and advocate for gender equity in New Brunswick,” says Ms. Zangio. 

Other items in the 2015-2016 budget that the Forum is pleased to see include a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to addressing pay equity and to increasing child care spaces in the province, as well as to appointing more women to positions of influence. “We look forward to playing our role in making progress on all these fronts that are key to both social justice and to the province’s economic growth,” says Ms. Nash-McKinley. 

The Forum was established in 2014 to promote the equality of women and girls in New Brunswick, and to provide advice to government on matters of importance to women and to bring to the attention of the public issues of interest and concern to women. In addition to the Co-Chairs, the Forum is comprised of nine members representing equity-seeking organizations, as well as three individual members. 

Ms. Lyons joins the Forum from YWCA Moncton, where she served as Associate Director and contributed significantly to the agency’s renewal and expansion. Prior to YWCA Moncton, Ms. Lyons worked for the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women. “This budget provides adequate resources and independence. I look forward to working with the Forum to now move to action—to educate and advocate—on gender-based issues in New Brunswick.” 

Ms. Zangio and Ms. Nash-McKinley are confident that Ms. Lyons’ expertise will invigorate the Forum at this critical time. “She is a proven advocate for women and a passionate leader committed to challenging entrenched attitudes, policies, systems, and institutions that uphold gender-based inequality," says Ms. Nash-McKinley. 

For further information contact: Beth Lyons, Executive Director