Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development speaks at UN Habitat conference

GATINEAU, QC, March 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, delivered remarks at the event Cities for All: The Inclusive Implementation and Monitoring of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and New Urban Agenda, taking place during the 61^st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York City. 

The theme of the event is Women's economic empowerment in the changing world of work and presents a forum to discuss how sustainable urbanization can be achieved through the engagement of entire communities, including women and youth. The forum also highlighted the need for meaningful data collection and progress monitoring to ensure sustainable urban development. 

During his address, Parliamentary Secretary Vaughan said that he and Minister Duclos, as members of the Canadian delegation at the Habitat III Summit, in Quito, Ecuador last fall, were pleased that inclusion was at the center of the New Urban Agenda. He stated that empowerment of women and girls is necessary to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and reiterated the importance of gender equality as a priority of the Government of Canada. He noted that to be successful in achieving these goals, the voices and needs of all people must be taken into consideration—in particular, those of underrepresented groups that  face barriers to integration, such as youth, women, children, immigrants, people with disabilities, Indigenous people and members of the LGBTQ2 community.

He reaffirmed the Government's agenda to strengthen and grow the middle class, to create long-term social inclusion and economic growth, and to reduce poverty. The federal government is currently working on developing a Canadian Poverty Reduction Strategy and a National Housing Strategy. Parliamentary Secretary Vaughan said that through these initiatives, the Government of Canada will ensure that it has the sound data and objective criteria that are essential for developing good policy.

Also highlighted were some of the immediate measures undertaken by the Government of Canada to help improve the lives of women, such as the Canada Child Benefit that will help approximately 300,000 children get out of poverty. The Government is prioritizing more flexible and inclusive benefits and leave for parents and caregivers, many of whom are women. This, along with investments in early learning and child care, will help women to better balance their work and family lives and improve their economic security. The Government is also investing in building or renovating affordable housing for low-income seniors, who are predominantly single women, and building or renovating shelters and transition houses for women fleeing violence.

Quotes

"Our government is committed to creating strong, safe, clean and inclusive communities in Canada and abroad, where every person has a fair and real chance to succeed."
– Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

"I am proud of Canada's active participation in and meaningful contribution to the New Urban Agenda. We are committed to the development of sustainable towns, cities and human settlements, and continue to be a strong advocate for equality and the inclusion of underrepresented groups, including women."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

Associated Links

• New Urban Agenda: Adopted by the UN General Assembly
• Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
• United Nations Human Settlement Programme

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Émilie Gauduchon-Campbell, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P., Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, 819-654-5546; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]