Project will help women access good middle class jobs by creating more inclusive workplaces
OTTAWA, Nov. 29, 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 to the Minister of Status of Women, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, Government of Canada funding for a project that will increase women's economic security in Ontario and across Canada.
The Canadian Institute of Forestry will receive $467,000 for a 36-month project entitled "Gender Equality in Forestry National Action Plan" that will work to remove the barriers that prevent or discourage women from pursuing rewarding middle class jobs and careers in the forestry industry. These obstacles include pay equity issues and child care, unequal access to training and trades, lack of management opportunities and misconceptions about the sector in general.
Women are underrepresented at all levels within the forestry sector. The project will bring women already working in different areas in the forestry sector together with industry stakeholders, NGOs, Indigenous groups, professional associations and women who are interested in working in the sector, and will develop and implement a strategic national plan to promote more opportunities for women in forestry.
Last week the Government of Canada introduced the 2018 Fall Economic Statement. It includes a number of proposals to grow the economy by investing in good quality middle class jobs. This includes providing a further $800 million over five years in the Strategic Innovation Fund to support innovation across the country in all economic sectors. Of this amount: $100 million will focus on providing support to the forestry sector.
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 like the Canadian Institute of Forestry that work to eliminate 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
"The Canadian Institute of Forestry has a long and proven track record for supporting and growing Canada's forestry sector through research excellence and collaborative partnerships. Today, they are again leading the way and breaking new ground with the launch of an action plan to recruit, retain and advance more women so that we can ensure that women have equal access to the rewarding middle class jobs in the industry. Our government is pleased to support this important work."
Terry Duguid
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South
"We are very pleased to receive the support of the federal government to help us remove barriers for women who want to work in the forestry industry. Developing a plan through Gender-based Analysis Plus will help create a workplace that encourages more women to pursue employment in forestry and our bioeconomy, where STEM expertise is in heavy demand."
Dana Collins
Executive Director, Canadian Institute of Forestry
Quick Facts
- Women have low representation in the skilled trades and other traditionally male-dominated professions. For example, in 2016, of those who worked in the forestry sector labour force, 83% were male, and only 17% were female. This ratio is similar to other natural resource sub-sectors.
- 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.
- 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.
- Economic security is composed of basic social security, defined by access to basic needs such as health, education and housing.
- 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 calls for proposals, entitled Support for Women's Economic Security and Addressing the Economic Security and Prosperity of Indigenous Women, more than 45 projects have been approved for a total of $15 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.
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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 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.
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. Fifteen projects across the country will receive nearly $5 million in funding through this call for proposals.
Funded Project
Established in 1908, the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) is the oldest forest society in Canada. The CIF serves as the voice of forest practitioners representing foresters, forest technologists and technicians, ecologists, biologists, educators and many others with a professional interest in forestry. The CIF is dedicated to providing national leadership in forestry, promoting competency among forestry professionals, and fostering public awareness of forestry issues.
Project Description
The CIF will receive $467,000 for a 36-month project entitled "Gender Equality in Forestry National Action Plan" that will work to remove the barriers that prevent or discourage women from pursing rewarding middle class jobs and careers in the forestry industry. These obstacles include pay equity issues and child care, unequal access to training and trades, lack of management opportunities and misconceptions about the sector in general.
The project will bring women already working in different areas in the forestry sector together with industry stakeholders, including FPInnovations, the Council of Forest Industries, EACOM, TOLKO, Resolute Forest Products, National Aboriginal Forestry Association, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, the City of Ottawa Forestry Services, Association of BC Forest Professionals, FedNor, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, Women in Wood, Lakehead University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Centre for Social Intelligence. The CIF will also work with Forestry Products Association Canada, as partners in a Gender Equality in Forestry Steering Committee, to develop a series of pilot projects to enhance opportunities for women which can then be improved and replicated across Canada.
A Gender-based Analysis Plus will be applied to identify gaps in existing policies, programs and services, and with the identification of gaps, industry partners will propose needed reforms in the forestry industry. Five sector-specific action plans (public, private, not-for-profit, academic, and Indigenous) will be developed and piloted in various locations by stakeholders, and will be reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis.
National Statistics – Women's Economic Security
- In 2016, only 17% of people employed in the forest industry were women. Of the total percentage of women who worked in the forestry sector, 23% worked in the forest—in logging, forestry, and forestry support activities, while 77% of women worked in wood product manufacturing, and the pulp and paper industry.
- 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.
Associated Links
- Canadian Institute of Forestry
- Natural Resources Canada Forest Report
- Status of Women Canada – Women's Program
Follow Status of Women Canada:
SOURCE Status of Women Canada
Contacts: Braeson Holland, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Status of Women, 343-549-8825; Valérie Haché, Communications Officer, Status of Women Canada, 819-420-8684
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