Backgrounder - New federal funding will help improve women’s economic security in Saskatchewan

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 up to five years 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.

Call for Proposals – Economic Security and Prosperity of Indigenous Women

On October 2, 2017, the Minister launched a call for proposals entitled Addressing the Economic Security and Prosperity of Indigenous Women for projects to address the economic security and prosperity of Indigenous women and advance gender equality in Canada. Fourteen projects across the country will receive more than $4.3 million in funding through this call for proposals.

With this call for proposals, Indigenous organizations and governments were invited to implement projects designed to advance economic security and prosperity for Indigenous women by engaging them, their communities and the private sector to build on their strengths, identify opportunities and address issues affecting their economic security or limiting their economic success.

Saskatchewan Projects

The Government of Canada is investing $304,950 in the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing the quality of life for urban Indigenous people, for a project entitled “Indigenous Women's Economic Saskatchewan Collaboration”. Throughout this 36-month project, the Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan will engage Indigenous women and key stakeholders to develop an Indigenous Women's Economic Framework that will respond to the needs of and increase Indigenous women’s economic security and prosperity in Saskatchewan. The framework will be shared with local business and economic partners.

The Prince Albert Métis Women Association Inc., a non-profit organization that administers numerous programs and services focused on support and education for Métis women, was awarded $255,844 for their project, “Multi-Sector Collaboration for Economic Security Among Indigenous Women in Saskatchewan”. Through this 36-month project, the Prince Albert Métis Women Association Inc. will seek to identify and respond to barriers affecting the economic security of vulnerable women in Central and Northern Saskatchewan. Working with stakeholders such as community supports organizations, education and training organizations, employment services and industry, they will put in place planning processes that ensure the sustainability of systemic barriers reporting and implement solutions using research, best practices and capacity building.