New federal funding will help improve women's economic security in Manitoba

Project aims to increase the recruitment and retention of women in the ICT sector in Manitoba

WINNIPEG, July 17, 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.

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, today announced Government of Canada funding for a project that will increase women's economic security in Manitoba. 

The Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba Inc. will receive $328,750 in funding for their project, "Building Gender Parity in Manitoba's ICT sector". This project will support women as they seek careers and develop long-term commitments to the ICT sector in Manitoba. Through this project, the Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba will work to eliminate systemic workplace culture barriers impeding women's economic success by providing opportunities, resources and supports to women seeking employment in this sector. The main activities of this project include strengthening partnerships, creating a leadership council, developing and implementing a digital economy action plan, as well as marketing and communication outreach.

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. 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

"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'm very pleased with the funding the government has provided to the Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba Inc for this very innovative project to help remove the barriers and disincentives that keep more women from pursuing opportunities in the ICT sector. The Government is firmly dedicated to making sure that everyone in this country is able to live up to their full potential, and I know that this project will help many more women do just that."

Robert-Falcon Ouellette
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre

"We are delighted that the Government of Canada is supporting this project and is supporting our efforts to help more women have fulfilling careers in the ICT sector in this province. We believe that in helping more individual women find success in this industry, we are also helping our whole community grow and prosper."

Kathy Knight, CEO
Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba Inc.

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. Approved projects will unfold over a period of three years.
• Funded projects address institutional barriers to women's economic security including access to childcare, unequal pay 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

• Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba Inc.
• 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 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 child care, 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 Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba is a not-for-profit, industry-focused association representing Manitoba's Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector. Its goal is to achieve greater recognition of the sector's contribution in the province. Through collaboration, networking and presenting key events like conferences and workshops, the organization brings together government, educators, non-profits, private enterprise and consumers to promote and lead the rise of the information and communication technologies industry in Manitoba.

This 36-month project, entitled "Building Gender Parity in Manitoba's ICT Sector", will increase the recruitment and retention of women in the ICT sector by working to eliminate systemic workplace culture barriers impeding women's economic success through opportunities, resources and supports. Main activities include strengthening partnerships, creating a leadership council, developing and implementing a digital economy action plan, and marketing and communication outreach.

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

Célia Canon, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Status of Women, 613-862-3270; Valérie Haché, Communications Officer, Status of Women Canada, 819-420-8684