Backgrounder - New federal investment will help improve women’s economic security in Labrador

Status of Women Canada – Women’s Program 

One of the ways Status of Women Canada advances gender equality 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 participation and equality in Canadian society 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 close to $5 million in funding through this call for proposals. 

Funded Projects

The Mokami Status of Women Council is a frontline equality-seeking feminist organization working to empower women to help themselves, their families and their communities to build safer and healthier lifestyles. They support women across Labrador who are facing economic and other challenges with the sharing of ideas, resources, skills, experience and knowledge, as well as assisting with housing needs. 

Incorporated in 1985, the NunatuKavut Community Council Inc. (NCC), a not-for-profit organization, is the representative governing body for approximately 6,000 Inuit of south and central Labrador, collectively known as the Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut. The organization is devoted to honouring its Inuit history, culture and traditions. The organization provides support related to employment, skills and training. 

Project Descriptions

The Mokami Status of Women Council will receive $236,880 in funding for their project, “Pathways to economic prosperity for women in transition.” Over the next 36 months, they will work to address institutional barriers and other factors that limit local efforts to advance the financial security and prosperity of women fleeing domestic violence in rural and remote regions of Labrador by developing an action plan with wrap-around support services. The project will result in a series of recommendations and best practices that can be adapted and used by other community-serving organizations to enhance support to women fleeing domestic violence in similar geographic locations.

The NCC will receive $465,000 in funding for their project, “Pathways to Economic Security for Indigenous Women in NunatuKavut and Northern Ontario.” Over the next 36 months, NCC and its partners will work to break down the systemic barriers that prevent Indigenous women from securing meaningful work in non-traditional sectors, specifically in the mining sector of Labrador. This project will help bridge the gaps that exist in policy implementation with respect to provincially-mandated women’s employment plans and will adapt and pilot an Inuit and Labrador-specific version of the successful Aboriginal Women in Mining Program, to prepare Indigenous women for greater employment in the sector.