Backgrounder – New federal funding will help improve women’s economic security in Prince Edward Island
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 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.
Funded Project
The Adventure Group was incorporated in 1992, and is a trusted organization that works to support women’s social and economic inclusion. The organization provides supports and opportunities for women to learn and develop the necessary skills to find employment and become financially independent. They use an experiential, educational and training approach with vulnerable women and their children which fully involves participants in the experience.
Project description
During this 36-month project the organization will collaborate with key partners to identify gaps, priorities and opportunities to implement childcare solutions for women in PEI working in the agriculture, health and retail sectors. It will specifically address the challenges of women who pursue jobs beyond the regular working hours. In order to enhance the economic security of their clientele, and women across the province, the organization will also pilot a model of alternative and accessible childcare practices for women working in these sectors.
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.