Women and Changing Public Services in Ottawa

Changes to public service programs and policies in Canada deeply affect women as users and providers of public services. This report synthesizes findings from nine focus group discussions in Ottawa with 97 women-identified participants.

Women were recruited through a diverse cross-section of community organizations and trade unions. The Ottawa focus groups discussed four questions: 1) What are public services? 2) Which public services do you rely on most and why? 3) How have public services changed over time? What changes (if any) have you noticed in which public services are available, how good they are, how much they cost? 4) What (if any) public services are missing or inadequate?