Osborne House working on action plan with province

Board members from Osborne House are meeting with the Manitoba government, after the Winnipeg women's shelter got a sharply worded request from a cabinet minister.

Jennifer Howard, the minister responsible for the status of women, has sent a letter to the shelter, asking the board to develop a plan of action in the next seven days.

The letter outlines numerous points to be addressed, including the quality of counselling there and claims regarding a hostile work environment.

The minister's letter also scolds Osborne House for failing to provide the province with child abuse registry checks and other documentation.

"An immediate plan of action to Manitoba's satisfaction must be developed within the next 7 days by Osborne House to address these serious issues and concerns, and to ensure that the services are being provided in accordance with the Service Purchase Agreement," Howard's letter states in part.

Osborne House CEO Barbara Judt told CBC Newsmany of the province's points of concern are fabrications.

"It's very easy to sit back and point fingers and point out what's being done wrong but, you know, when you're on the front lines of of everything real life is a lot different," she said.

Provincial officials and Osborne House's voting board members met late Friday afternoon to begin working on the action plan.

Judt said the board of directors is co-operating fully with the province, and she is confident a plan of action will be complete within the prescribed seven-day period.

Letter to Osborne House

Below is the letter sent to Osborne House by Jennifer Howard, the minister responsible for the status of women.