Government of Canada announces investment in women's organizations in Québec's Eastern Townships Français
SHERBROOKE, QC, May 3, 2019 /CNW/ - Women's organizations provide vital community services that allow women and girls to be financially secure, free from violence, and able to fully participate in all aspects of our economy and society. Yet for far too long these organizations have been chronically underfunded, underestimated and undermined. The Government of Canada recognizes that women's organizations are the lifeblood of the women's movement, and that maintaining and growing their ability to do this important work is the most effective way to advance gender equality.
That's why today, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced that the Government of Canada is investing close to $450,000 in two women's organizations in Québec's Eastern Townships:
- ConcertAction Femmes Estrie (CAFE)
- Promotion des Estriennes pour initier une nouvelle équité sociale (P.É.P.I.N.E.S)
These organizations are two of the more than 250 women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women across Canada receiving funding under the Government of Canada's Capacity-building Fund. This investment stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada.
Quotes
"With our historic investment, we recognize the women and women's organizations breaking through barriers, and express our gratitude to those who have been doing this work for decades on little more than a shoestring budget. The women's movement across Canada has been asking for a reliable, predictable and accessible source of funds to ensure the sustainability of their work. With stable and flexible funding, we are helping these organizations in Québec's Eastern Townships grow and thrive, because we know that investing in women's organizations is the most effective way to advance gender equality. By supporting a movement that has achieved amazing results, we are growing the middle class, strengthening families and communities, and creating lasting change that benefits everyone."
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality
"Gender equality continues to be advanced in Canada thanks to women's organizations like ConcertAction Femmes Estrie et Pépines, which work day-by-day to improve the quality of life for women and to promote their full participation in leadership roles."
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau P.C., M.P.
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead
"We welcome today's investment from the Government of Canada. This financial support from the federal government will benefit our network in many ways. Most importantly, this will allow us to stay focused on defending the rights of women throughout the Eastern Townships by intervening in areas like health, education and social development."
Viviane Doré-Nadeau, Director
ConcertAction Femmes Estrie (CAFE)
"Since its creation, P.É.P.I.N.E.S has been carrying out projects that contribute to the participation of women at the highest levels of decision-making. We thank the Government of Canada for this critical investment in our organization and the women of the Eastern Townships so we can better carry-out our important work."
Solange Masson, Director General
Promotion des Estriennes pour initier une nouvelle équité sociale (P.É.P.I.N.E.S)
Quick Facts
- Budget 2018 announced $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada. Adding to this historic investment, Budget 2019 proposes to invest a further $160 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, in the Department for Women and Gender Equality's Women's Program. This means that by 2023–24, the Women's Program, which supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance equality by addressing systemic barriers, will total $100 million a year.
- This funding will enable women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress, while recognizing and addressing the diverse experiences of gender and inequality across the country.
- 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.
- Some populations are more likely to experience violence and may face unique barriers and challenges that put them at particular risk (Statistics Canada, 2015).
- Canada will host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference from June 3 to 6, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Held every three years, it is the world's largest gathering on gender equality and the health, rights and well-being of women and girls.
- The conference is part of a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide that gives voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and those living in conflict and crisis settings. It will bring together more than 6,000 individuals—world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, youth and journalists—from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people joining virtually.
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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 equality 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.
Capacity-building Call for Proposals
In October 2018, Minister Monsef announced a Call for Proposals under the Capacity-building Fund of the Women's Program. Projects at the local, provincial, and national level were eligible for different amounts of funding, based on their specific internal needs and reach.
On March 8, 2019, International Women's Day, Minister Monsef announced that over 250 women's organizations across the country would receive funding from the Capacity-building Fund.
The objective is to fund proposals that will increase the capacity of eligible women's organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women, whose initiatives contribute to a viable women's movement in Canada that advances gender equality. Funding will increase the ability of organizations to grow, meet the increasing demands for their services, and continue to work collectively to address gender equality issues. The fund stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to help support a viable and sustainable women's movement across Canada.
Québec Projects
Today's announcement in Sherbrooke, Québec, profiled two of the projects selected for federal funding through the Capacity-building Fund:
ConcertAction Femmes Estrie
Project title: For Active and Strong Dialogue for Equality!
Funding amount: $249,797
Through this project, ConcertAction Femmes Estrie (CAFE) will grow its operations to better serve women in the Eastern Townships and develop a strategic plan for the coming years in order to advance equality between women and men and between women themselves in the Eastern Townships. It will also help them create new partnerships, invest in staff training for expertise Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+), and develop an advocacy and communication strategy.
ConcertAction Femmes Estrie is a regional feminist network created to meet the needs of women through liaison, consultation and solidarity. With its member groups, CAFE intervenes in a variety of areas such as health, education, the fight against poverty and violence, social development and access to decision-making bodies.
Promotion des Estriennes pour initier une nouvelle équité sociale (P.É.P.I.N.E.S)
Project title: Female Entrepreneurship
Funding amount: $196,820
Promotion des Estriennes pour initier une nouvelle équité sociale (P.É.P.I.N.E.S) will improve the financial health of the organization by developing a social economy enterprise, the mission of which will be to sell products promoting gender equality.
Established in 1992, P.É.P.I.N.E.S is a non-profit organization that empowers women to fully participate in socio-economic development and decision-making in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The organization highlights the professional and volunteer achievements of women who have improved the living conditions and well-being of women in the community. It also works to increase women's representation in positions of leadership.
Associated Links
- Capacity-building Fund Call for Proposals
- ConcertAction Femmes Estrie (CAFE) (only available in French)
- Promotion des Estriennes pour initier une nouvelle équité sociale (P.É.P.I.N.E.S) (only available in French)
- Women Deliver 2019
Follow the Department for Women and Gender Equality:
SOURCE Department for Women and Gender Equality
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
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