Minister Monsef announces funding for women's economic empowerment on International Women's Day

OTTAWA, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Investing in women advances gender equality and helps build a more competitive, inclusive and prosperous world. That's why the federal government has made women's economic empowerment an important priority in Canada, internationally, and for the duration its G7 Presidency this year.  

Today the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, joined by Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier, celebrated International Women's Day (IWD) by announcing $858,500 in funding to Global Compact Network Canada for a project that will engage the private sector to eliminate barriers facing women in the workplace.

This three-year project is entitled Gender Equality Leadership in the Canadian Private Sector. It will focus on engaging corporate partners to develop, test, and implement a set of tools leading to a blueprint for gender equality in the corporate community, as well as a certification system. Similar to the LEED certification for environmentally-friendly building design, consumers will then be able to identify companies certified as supportive of gender equality,

This project complements the measures announced in Budget 2018: Equality + Growth: Strong Middle Class. Budget 2018 supports the federal government's people-centred approach, and is guided by a new Gender Results Framework. It proposes measures to ensure that every Canadian has a real and fair chance at success, including by creating a new Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, introducing proactive pay equity legislation, strengthening the Canada Child Benefit, and introducing a new EI Parental Sharing Benefit.

The Minister's announcement highlighted this year's theme for International Women's Day #MyFeminism, which celebrates feminism as a powerful global movement that has helped create a society defined by freedom and equality for people of all genders.

Quotes

"#MyFeminism is about equality, inclusivity, and opportunity for every Canadian, regardless of gender. This project with Global Compact Network recognizes that when we invest in women, we strengthen the economy for everyone. More women on corporate boards translates into a significant competitive advantage for Canadian business. This International Women's Day, let's celebrate those who act as positive catalysts for change, such as Global Compact Network Canada."

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

"This project is significant. It is much more than a project. It is a movement. With the help of the remarkable companies and advisory partners, we are to change the Future of the Workplace so that Gender Equality is a core value for all successful businesses. In the future, we will be able to recognize those companies, as they will have better financial results, better reputation, better products, better innovation, happier employees and yes, the place that future talent wants to work. The Future Workplace will be better for us all, men and women. If we do it right - the future looks bright for Canadians."

Helle Bank Jorgensen, President
Global Compact Network Canada

Quick Facts

• International Women's Day is celebrated around the world, as a day to recognize women's achievements, and a call to action to advance gender equality.
• This year, Canadians are encouraged to participate in community events, join the conversation online by using the hashtag #MyFeminism, and make their voices heard by answering the question: what does feminism mean to you?
• Advancing gender equality and women's empowerment is a key theme of Canada's G7 Presidency this year.
• The United Nations (UN) began celebrating International Women's Day on March 8 in 1975. The theme for this year is "Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women's lives".
• The Global Compact Network Canada is dedicated to empowering more than 150 Canadian organizations to advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, and Principles of the UN Global Compact.

Associated Links

• Status of Women Canada – International Women's Day
• Global Compact Network Canada
• UN Sustainable Development Goals
• UN Women – International Women's Day

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Backgrounder

Global Compact Network Canada

The Government of Canada is investing $858,500 in Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC) to carry out a 36-month project that will engage the private sector to eliminate barriers to gender equality faced by women in the workplace. This project is funded by Status of Women Canada's Women's Program, a priority area of which is to support women's economic empowerment.

Global Compact Network Canada is dedicated to empowering Canadian organizations to advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and Principles of the UN Global Compact. This project, entitled Gender Equality Leadership in the Canadian Private Sector, will engage participating companies and advisory partners to prepare and test an effective blueprint and create a certification system (similar to the LEED certification for environmentally-friendly building design) that will allow consumers to identify companies certified as supportive of gender equality.

To do this, the project will help define a vision for gender equality in the workplace and work to identify and address the challenges that companies currently face in achieving gender equality. The project will also create a set of tools by identifying best practices, existing tools, guidelines and business cases, and making them accessible to the public through an online platform. Finally, the project will identify options for a gender equality certification system and its applicability to Canadian companies.

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.

SOURCE Status of Women Canada

Célia Canon, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Status of Women, 613-862-3270; Nanci-Jean Waugh, Director General, Communications and Public Affairs, Status of Women Canada, 819-420-6810