Government of Canada announces funding to advance gender equality in Saskatchewan

PRINCE ALBERT, SK, June 12, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to advancing gender equality because everyone benefits when women, girls and people of all gender identities and expressions are free to live their lives to the fullest.

That is why today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality announced funding of over $630,000 for two projects that advance gender equality in Saskatchewan.                                                                                                                       

Catholic Family Services of Prince Albert is receiving $334,000 to improve how community organizations work together to provide vital support services to women who have experienced violence. By working together, community organizations can more effectively identify gaps in their services and better address gender-based violence in Prince Albert.

La Fédération provinciale des Fransaskoises is receiving $296,573 in funding to improve the economic security and working conditions of Francophone caregivers, and will develop a framework to make provincial and federal support programs and services in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta more accessible. A pilot will be tested in Saskatoon, based on a model developed and used in Quebec.

These two projects come from Funding to Advance Gender Equality, an $18 million investment which supports grassroots organizations, and Support for Women's Economic Security, a $10 million investment which builds on ongoing efforts to support women's economic empowerment and advance gender equality for all Canadians, respectively.

Quotes

"These projects, which address gender-based violence and the economic security of caregivers, deal with issues that are important to women and their families and will make a positive difference in Prince Albert and Saskatoon. We know that investing in and working with women's organizations are the most effective ways to advance gender equality, and our government will continue to support the great work that they do across the country."

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality

"Women make up 80% of victims of police-reported intimate partner violence. We all need to work together to end this and other forms of gender-based violence in Canada, which persist to this day. That's why the federal government has invested nearly $200 million in the first national strategy working to address this preventable form of violence—including supporting victims so that their healing process can begin."

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"We welcome the Government of Canada's support to help our community address the very troubling issue of gender-based violence. We believe that the work we will be doing will dramatically advance the cause of gender equality by helping to remove one of its most serious impediments."

Louise Zurowski, Executive Director
Catholic Family Services of Prince Albert

"To increase support for the caregivers of today is to help set the course for a more prosperous tomorrow. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity provided by the Government of Canada's funding commitment to continue to pursue our efforts in increasing and improving the economic security and working conditions of Francophone caregivers throughout Saskatchewan."

Stéphanie Gaudet, President
Fédération provinciale des Fransaskoises

Quick Facts

• To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $200 million to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and create more responsive legal and justice systems.
• Some populations are more likely to experience violence and may face unique barriers and challenges that put them at particular risk. According to the 2014 General Social Survey on Victimization, women are at a 20% higher risk of violent victimization than men when all other risk factors are taken into account. Indigenous women are more likely to experience violence and reported having been the victim of a violent crime at a rate 2.7 times higher than that reported by non-Indigenous women (219 incidents per 1,000 population versus 81 incidents per 1,000). Women living in the territories were also at a higher risk of violent victimization than women living in the provinces (182 versus 85 per 1,000 population).
• Gender-based violence can have lifelong impacts on an individual's physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health. Additionally, the effects can be serious and costly. Annually, the economic impact of intimate partner violence and sexual assault is estimated to be over $12 billion.
• McKinsey Global Institute estimates that by taking steps to advance equality for women—such as employing more women in technology and boosting women's participation in the workforce—Canada could add $150 billion to its economy by 2026.
• Women continue to be disproportionately affected by economic insecurity. In 2015, women in Canada earned on average just 88 cents for every dollar earned by men. They are also much more likely to work on a part-time basis, making up 76% of all part-time workers, with 25% of women reporting childcare responsibilities as their reason for working part-time.
• Economic security is composed of basic social security, defined by access to basic needs such as health, education and housing.

Associated Links

• Catholic Family Services of Prince Albert 
• Fédération provinciale des Fransaskoises
• Department for Women and Gender Equality – Women's Program
• Funding to Advance Gender Equality in Canada 
• Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

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Backgrounder

Department for Women and Gender Equality – Women's Program

One of the ways the Department for Women and Gender Equality advances gender equality in Canada is by providing funding to eligible organizations through the Women's Program. Projects are selected via calls for proposals on specific themes, as well as through a continuous intake process that allows the Women's Program to address emerging issues as they arise.

The Women's Program funds projects that address systemic barriers to women's participation and equality in Canadian society in three priority areas: ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles.

Call for proposals: Funding to Advance Gender Equality in Canada

In October 2016, the Department for Women and Gender Equality (formerly Status of Women Canada) invited organizations to propose projects that advance gender equality across Canada. As of June 2017, 50 projects were approved for over $18 million in Funding to Advance Gender Equality.

Over the course of 36-months, the projects will address systemic barriers in the department's three areas of focus: increasing women's economic security and prosperity; encouraging women and girls to be better represented in leadership and decision-making roles; and ending violence against women and girls.

The Canadian Women's Foundation will convene a strong, independent, pan-Canadian network of women leaders to support the women's movement for gender equality at the national level. These leaders have been chosen for their remarkable efforts at the local level to advance gender equality with women, girls and gender non-conforming people. By creating a network of visionary women, we will broaden the reach of their efforts beyond their communities – inspiring others from across the country to add their voices and contribute their ideas towards achieving real progress.

Prince Albert Project

Today's announcement highlighted one project from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, selected through Funding to Advance Gender Equality:

Catholic Family Services of Prince Albert

Project title: Before It Happens: A community effort to build risk-driven collaboration to reduce violence against women and girls in Prince Albert and area
Funding amount: $334,000

Catholic Family Services of Prince Albert will help improve how community organizations work together to provide vital support services to women who have experience violence. By working together, community organizations can more effectively identify gaps in their services and better address gender-based violence in Prince Albert. The results of this initiative will be shared with partners and stakeholders to improve community response to gender-based violence.

Catholic Family Services is a non-profit charitable organization serving Prince Albert and area for over 30 years. Its purpose is to assist individuals and families to build on their strengths and find positive ways to understand and act when faced with challenges in their lives.

Calls for Proposals – Support for Women's Economic Security

In October 2017, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, launched a call for proposals entitled Support for Women's Economic Security, which invited organizations to apply for funding for projects to address the economic security of women and help advance gender equality in Canada. More than 30 projects will receive a total of $10 million in funding through this call for proposals.

This call for proposals is divided into two themes. The first theme is Building Partnerships to Address Systemic Barriers, which provides funding to address major barriers that limit women's economic security. This theme includes, but is not limited to, the accessibility of childcare, the gender wage gap and pay inequity. The second theme, Increasing Private Sector Leadership and Investments in Women, encourages organizations to partner with the private sector to find innovative solutions that will help advance women's economic security.

Saskatoon Project

Today's announcement profiled one project from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, selected through Support for Women's Economic Security:

Fédération provinciale des Fransaskoises (FPF)

Project title: Improving caregivers' work status and conditions
Funding amount: $296,573

The FPF will improve the economic security and working conditions of Francophone caregivers and will develop a framework to make provincial and federal support programs and services in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta more accessible. A pilot will be tested in Saskatoon, based on a model developed and used in Quebec.

La FPF represents Francophone women from across Saskatchewan. It was founded in 1989 with the goal of improving their wellbeing and is the voice of Francophone women at the provincial and federal levels.

SOURCE Department for Women and Gender Equality

For further information: Braeson Holland, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, 343-549-8825; Valérie Haché, Senior Communications Advisor, Department for Women and Gender Equality, 819-420-8684

Related Links

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/