Women’s organizations provide vital services in our communities, supporting women and girls to be financially secure, free from violence, and able to fully participate in all aspects of our economy and society.

“In making these historic investments, we recognize the women and women’s organizations that have long been breaking through barriers, and we express our gratitude to them for what has often been decades of important work, on little more than a shoestring budget. The women’s movement across Canada has been asking for too long for a reliable, predictable and accessible source of funds to ensure the sustainability of their work: our government listened. With stable and flexible funding, we are helping organizations in Montréal and the surrounding area grow and endure, because we know that investing in women’s organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women is the most effective way to advance gender equality. By supporting a movement that has achieved amazing results, we are growing the middle class, strengthening families and communities and creating lasting change that benefits everyone.”

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality

“Today’s funding is an important step forward in advancing gender equality. Supporting the many women’s organizations in and around Montréal will affirm the values of diversity, equality and co-operation – all essential elements of a fair, progressive culture. The communities benefitting from today’s federal investment will be well-served by a more equal society where women and people of all genders have no need to struggle for the rights and freedoms we all deserve.”

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie
Member of Parliament for Ahuntsic-Cartierville

• Budget 2018 announced $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women’s movement across Canada. Adding to this historic investment, Budget 2019 invests a further $160 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, in Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Women’s Program. This means that in 2023–24, the Women’s Program, which supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance gender equality by addressing systemic barriers, will total $100 million.

• This funding will enable women’s organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women to tackle systemic barriers impeding women’s progress, while recognizing and addressing the diverse experiences of gender and inequality across the country.

Related products

• Backgrounder

Associated links

• Action des femmes handicapées (Montréal)
• L’alliance des maisons d’hébergement de 2e étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale
• CALACS - Laurentides
• CALACS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île
• Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs
• Collectif des femmes immigrantes du Québec
• Conseil d’intervention pour l’accès des femmes au travail
• La Marie Debout, Centre d’éducation des femmes
• Partance, centre d’emploi pour femmes
• Regroupement québécois des centres d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel
• Réseau des lesbiennes du Québec
• Société Elizabeth Fry du Québec
• Table de concertation des groupes de femmes de Lanaudière
• Table des groupes de femmes de Montréal
• Capacity-Building Fund Call for Proposals

Braeson Holland
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality
343-549-8825

Valérie Haché
Senior Communications Advisor
Department for Women and Gender Equality
819-420-8684