Backgrounder -  Government of Canada announces investment for women’s organization in Toronto

Department for Women and Gender Equality – Women’s Program

One of the ways the Department for Women and Gender Equality 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.

Capacity-building Call for Proposals

In October 2018, Minister Monsef announced a Call for Proposals under the Capacity-building Fund of the Women’s Program. Projects at the local, provincial, and national level were eligible for different amounts of funding, based on their specific internal needs and reach.

On March 8, 2019, International Women’s Day, Minister Monsef announced that over 250 women’s organizations across the country would receive funding from the Capacity-building Fund.

The objective is to fund proposals that will increase the capacity of eligible women’s organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women, whose initiatives contribute to a viable women’s movement in Canada that advances gender equality. Funding will increase the ability of organizations to grow, meet the increasing demands for their services, and continue to work collectively to address gender equality issues. The fund stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to help support a viable and sustainable women’s movement across Canada.

Today’s announcement in Toronto, Ontario profiled one of the projects selected for federal funding through the Capacity-building Fund:

Working Skills Centre

Project title: Building Innovation and Growth – Women Empowerment (BIG-WE)
Funding amount: $200,000

This two-year project will help the Centre create social and systemic change to empower newcomer women. By building community partnerships with both the private and non-profit sectors, the Centre will help women gain skills, professional experience, and ultimately employment.

The Working Skills Centre provides a holistic program to help individuals overcome barriers to employment and move towards economic self-sufficiency. While mandated to serve the Greater Toronto Area, their mission statement reflects the emphasis on programs for immigrant women geared towards improving their skills, self-esteem and employment prospects.