Project will enhance pay equity across New Brunswick
MONCTON, NB, Nov. 13, 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, and the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, today announced Government of Canada funding for a project that will increase women's economic security in Moncton and across New Brunswick.
The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, Inc. will receive $335,005 for a 36-month project called "Valuing Private Care Work Offered in the Private Sector". With this project, the organization will work to address the low wages paid to women working as caregivers in private care facilities. They will evaluate wages paid in this sector and determine equitable pay levels for a range of caregiving services in the province. While doing so, they will support caregivers in advocating for equal pay for work of equal value. Their goal is to help transform the way in which caregiving is valued by society.
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. To help eliminate the gender wage gap, the Government of Canada recently introduced proactive pay equity legislation for the federally-regulated sector. The federal government is leading by example and hopes to see others in the public and private sectors follow suit.
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, like the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, Inc., 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
"For far too long, women in caregiving have been overrepresented and underpaid. That changes now, with funding from our government to help the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity evaluate wages and determine equitable pay levels. As a former member and a lifelong advocate for equal pay, I couldn't be prouder that we're supporting the Coalition's important work to level the playing field for all women."
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
"We are very pleased to receive the support of the federal government to help us in the struggle to advance pay equity in New Brunswick. We hope that with this project we will be able to change the way our society values the work of caregivers and correct an historic injustice to women who work in this important sector of our economy."
Frances LeBlanc, President
The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, Inc.
Quick Facts
- On October 29, 2018, the Government of Canada introduced an Act to Establish a Proactive Pay Equity Regime within the Federal Public and Private Sectors (Pay Equity Act). This historic legislation will ensure that more women are fairly compensated for their hard work.
- 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.
- Economic security is composed of basic social security, defined by access to basic needs such as health, education and housing.
- 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
- New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity
- Support for Women's Economic Security
- Status of Women Canada – Women's Program
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 almost $5 million in funding through this call for proposals.
Funded Project
The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, Inc. is a major advocate for gender equality and a strong supporter of women's social and economic inclusion. It is a group committed to improving the lives of working women across New Brunswick, and the Government of Canada supports their hard work and dedication.
Project Description
The government is providing $335,005 to the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity, Inc. for the project called "Valuing Private Care Work Offered in the Private Sector".
During this 36-month project, the organization will address the historically low wages paid to women working as caregivers in the private care facilities. The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity will undertake an evaluation of wages paid in this sector and determine equitable pay levels for a range of caregiving services in the province. While doing so, they will support caregivers in advocating for equal pay for work of equal value with the goal of transforming the way in which caregiving is valued by society.
Provincial Statistics – Women's Economic Security
- In 2017, the employment rate was 54.3% among women and 58.7% among men in New Brunswick.
- In 2017, 19.7% of employed women and 9.4% of employed men in New Brunswick worked part-time.
National 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.
Follow Status of Women Canada:
SOURCE Status of Women Canada
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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