New federal funding will help improve women's economic security in Prince Edward Island

Project will help find daycare solutions for women who work irregular hours

CHARLOTTETOWN, July 25, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government is committed to advancing gender equality and understands the important role that creating more opportunities for women in all aspects of Canadian life can play in promoting women's empowerment. By investing in projects that improve women's economic security, we are helping to ensure that women, their families and communities can prosper.

Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women, today announced Government of Canada funding for a project that will increase women's economic security in Prince Edward Island. 

The Adventure Group of PEI will receive $305,750 in funding for their project, "Working Together ? Planting Seeds for Change". This project will help vulnerable women with children who are obliged to work irregular hours in different areas of the economy. Through this 36-month project, the Adventure Group will collaborate with key partners to identify gaps, priorities and opportunities to implement childcare solutions for women in the agriculture, health and retail sectors. The Adventure Group has been an active supporter of women's social and economic inclusion for many years, and they have been particularly effective in providing opportunities for women to learn and develop the skills they need to find employment and build economic security.

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 child care responsibilities as their reason for working part-time.

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 childcare, unequal pay 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. These projects will unfold over a period of three years, and funding builds on our ongoing efforts to support women's economic empowerment and advance gender equality for all Canadians.

Quotes

"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

"I am pleased to announce federal funding to the Adventure Group for this very innovative project. This is going to help women who have precarious work hours ensure that their children are taken care of. In so doing, they can provide opportunity and security for their children. Our government is firmly dedicated to making sure that everyone in this country is able to live up to their full potential, and I am confident that this project will help many more women do just that."

Terry Duguid
Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women and
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South

"It is my pleasure to be on hand to announce support for the Adventure Group. This organization has been a strong supporter of women's social and economic social inclusion and their new project will have a very positive impact on the people and communities across Prince Edward Island."

Sean Casey
Parliamentary Secretary for Canadian Heritage and
Member of Parliament for Charlottetown

"We are delighted that the Government of Canada is supporting this project and is supporting our efforts to help improve the economic security of vulnerable women and their children in this province. We believe that each individual is a gift to their community, and we believe it is important to work with young people and their parents to help our citizens and our communities flourish and grow."

Roxanna Carter-Thompson
Executive Director
The Adventure Group

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 childcare, 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

• The Adventure Group
• 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 Project

The Adventure Group was incorporated in 1992, and is a trusted organization that works to support women's social and economic inclusion. The organization provides supports and opportunities for women to learn and develop the necessary skills to find employment and become financially independent. They use an experiential, educational and training approach with vulnerable women and their children which fully involves participants in the experience.

Project description

During this 36-month project the organization will collaborate with key partners to identify gaps, priorities and opportunities to implement childcare solutions for women in PEI working in the agriculture, health and retail sectors. It will specifically address the challenges of women who pursue jobs beyond the regular working hours.  In order to enhance the economic security of their clientele, and women across the province, the organization will also pilot a model of alternative and accessible childcare practices for women working in these sectors.

Statistics ? Women's Economic Security 

• In 2015, 82.0% of women in the core working ages of 25 to 54 years (6 million) participated in the labour market.
• In 2015, women represented 47.2% of the labour force, up from 45.7% in 1999 and 37.1% in 1976.
• In 2015, the national employment rate for women was 77.5% compared to 85.3% for men.
• On average women work 5.6 hours per week less than men (35.5 hours/week compared to 41.1 hours/week).
• Currently, 19% of employed women work part-time (compared with 5.5% of employed men).
• The average net worth of lone mothers was less than half of that of lone fathers: $240,000 versus $540,000. Unattached women and men had similar average net worth at $250,000 and $230,000, respectively.
• Lone mothers had the lowest average adjusted income ($25,300), followed by those who were unattached ($33,700). The average adjusted incomes of lone fathers and unattached men were similar (around $40,300). Notably, the average adjusted income of lone mothers was $15,000 less than that of lone fathers.

SOURCE Status of Women Canada