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

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.