New federal funding of over $650,000 will help improve women's economic security in Québec

Projects will help secure a better future for women by removing major barriers to economic stability in the region

QUÉBEC CITY, May 18, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government is committed to advancing gender equality and creating more opportunities for women in all aspects of Canadian life. By investing in projects that improve women's economic security, we are helping to ensure that women, their families and communities can prosper.

Women continue to be disproportionately affected by economic insecurity. In 2015, women in Canada earned just 87 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.

On behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Québec, today announced Government of Canada funding for projects that will increase women's economic security in Québec.

The Corporation de développement économique communautaire (CDÉC) de Québec will receive $325,972 in funding for their project, "Women in Business", which will address the systemic barriers facing women entrepreneurs in Québec City, such as sexism and unequal access to investors, market opportunities, and business networks. Through this project, CDÉC de Québec will work with three main organizations ? Québec City's entrepreneur division, Fonds d'emprunt Québec and Entrepreneuriat Laval ? to integrate Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in their programs and policies to identify and close the gaps between women and men entrepreneurs.

The Regroupement des groupes de femmes de la région de la Capitale-Nationale (RGF-CN) will receive $325,810 in funding for their project, "Advocating for Women Outside the Workforce". Working with partners, RGF-CN will conduct a needs assessment of diverse women excluded from the job market because of issues such as housing access and job integration in the Québec City-Portneuf-Charlevoix region. This project will identify priorities and provide recommendations for concrete solutions to improve the economic security of women in the region.

In October 2017, Status of Women Canada invited organizations to propose projects that support women's economic security across Canada by addressing some of the root causes of inequality, including barriers such as access to child care, pay inequity and the gender wage gap. Through this call for proposals, entitled Support for Women's Economic Security, more than 30 projects have been approved for a total of $10 million in funding. Approved projects will unfold over a period of three years.This funding builds on our ongoing efforts to support women's economic empowerment and advance gender equality for all Canadians

Quotes

"When women are without good jobs and stable incomes, we all bear the costs and consequences. Investing in the middle class and those working hard to join it means investing in women's economic security so they, their families, and their communities can prosper. Our government knows that when we invest in women, we strengthen the economy for everyone, and that's why these projects are so important: they are creating the right conditions for women to thrive in their careers ? and their lives. By funding organizations that will target the barriers holding women back, we are ensuring that all Canadians ? regardless of gender ? have a real and fair chance at success."

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Status of Women

"We are unwavering in our commitment to advancing gender equality, and these projects are an example of how community-level action can lead to significant changes for women in Canada. These new projects will address the barriers women face in achieving economic stability, creating a brighter future for the women, their families and their community of Québec and helping them achieve their full potential."

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Member of Parliament for Québec

"Business support structures like CDEC increase a business's chance of survival. Although women are becoming entrepreneurs in greater numbers than men, they remain under-represented in the supply chain. This new funding will allow us to help break down the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in Québec, so that they may take advantage of opportunities that exist and create successful, thriving businesses."

Rosie Belley, Board member
Corporation de développement économique communautaire (CDÉC) de Québec

"When structures and institutions take into account the needs and experiences of women who are distanced or excluded from the job market, there is greater potential for improving their economic security. With this funding, we will be able to assess the needs of women in our region and develop recommendations for concrete solutions that address existing barriers, from housing access to job integration."

Nancy Beauseigle, Executive Director
Regroupement des groupes de femmes de la région de la Capitale-Nationale

Quick Facts

• RBC Economics estimates that adding more women to the workforce could boost the level of Canada's GDP by as much as 4 per cent.
• 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.
• Projects are being funded through the call for proposals, Support for Women's Economic Security, which was announced in October 2017.
• Economic security is composed of basic social security, defined by access to basic needs such as health, education and housing.
• More than 30 projects will receive a total of approximately $10 million in funding under this call for proposals.
• Funded projects address institutional barriers to women's economic security including access to child care, pay inequity and the gender wage gap.
• The Women's Program at Status of Women Canada supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance equality by addressing systemic barriers.

Associated Links

• CDÉC de Québec
• Regroupement des groupes de femmes de la région de la Capitale-Nationale
• Support for Women's Economic Security
• Call for Proposals Application Guide
• General Eligibility Requirements for Women's Program Funding
• Guidelines for Eligible Expenses
• Status of Women Canada ? Women's Program

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Backgrounder

Status of Women Canada ? Women's Program

One of the ways Status of Women Canada 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 accept applications on an ongoing basis.

The Women's Program funds projects of 36 months or less that address systemic barriers to women's equality in three priority areas: ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles.

Calls for Proposals ? Support for Women's Economic Security and Addressing the Economic Security and Prosperity of Indigenous Women

On October 2, 2017, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, launched two calls for proposals. The first call, entitled Support for Women's Economic Security, 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 is Building Partnerships to Address Systemic Barriers, which provides funding to address major barriers that limit women's economic security, including, but 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.

The second call for proposals, entitled Addressing the Economic Security and Prosperity of Indigenous Women, invited organizations to foster collaboration between Indigenous women, Indigenous organizations, their communities, and the private sector to support the economic security and prosperity of Indigenous women across Canada. The results of this call for proposals will be announced at a later date.

Funded Projects

Established in 1994, Corporation de développement économique communautaire (CDÉC) de Québec is a not-for-profit organization based in Québec City that provides services to entrepreneurs across the Québec City region. The organization offers training, information workshops, business growth support, and peer networking opportunities, as well as access to financing resources.

CDÉC de Québec is receiving $325,972 in funding for their project, "Women in Business" to increase women's economic security. Through this 36-month project, CDÉC de Québec will work with key entrepreneurial stakeholders to identify and address the barriers and gaps facing women entrepreneurs in Québec City. This will be achieved through the development of strategic plans, including recommendations and best practices to support women entrepreneurs. CDÉC de Québec will work with three main organizations, Québec City's entrepreneur division, Fonds d'emprunt Québec and Entreprenariat Laval, to integrate Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in their programs and policies to identify and close the gaps between women and men entrepreneurs. All four organizations will then implement context-specific strategies to ensure that the project and related new practices are sustainable.

Created in 1990, the Regroupement des groupes de femmes de la région de la Capitale-Nationale (RGF-CN) is an umbrella organization that represents 36 women's groups, including women's shelters, women's centres, committees and unions. It carries out various activities in support of the rights of women and girls by collaborating with a broad network of organizations in the greater Québec City area. One of their key priorities is undertaking activities that increase women's economic security.

RGF-CN is receiving $325,810 for their project, "Advocating for Women Outside the Workforce".  This 36-month project aims to mobilize partners to take into account the needs of women excluded from the job market because of issues like housing access and job integration in the Québec City-Portneuf-Charlevoix region. A diverse group of women will participate in focus groups as part of a needs assessment that will build on current knowledge, identify priorities and put forward recommendations for concrete solutions. A range of partners will use their expertise to create an advocacy kit that will include training materials and recommendations for sustainable solutions. By including partner institutions, the project will foster the implementation of solutions that use an intersectional lens.

SOURCE Status of Women Canada