Backgrounder -  Government of Canada announces investment that will help improve women’s economic security in Prince Edward Island

Women and Gender Equality Canada – Women’s Program

One of the ways Women and Gender Equality 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 Minister launched two calls for proposals. The first call for proposals, 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 first call for proposals is divided into two themes. The first theme is Building Partnerships to Address Systemic Barriers, which provides funding to address major barriers that limit women’s economic security. This theme includes, but is 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 nearly $5 million in funding through this call for proposals.

Prince Edward Island Project

Today’s announcement in Summerside, Prince Edward Island profiled an organization selected for federal funding through the Support for Women’s Economic Security call for proposals:

Project title: Go the Extra Mile
Funding amount: $242,393

Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI will help get Indigenous women and girls on boards and programs of community-based and economic development organizations in the province. It will also work with the private sector to develop a toolbox of resources including guidelines, targets, and information to help Indigenous women and girls improve their career prospects and develop leadership skills.

Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI is a common forum for PEI First Nations to address outstanding issues related to Aboriginal and treaty rights. It promotes knowledge and understanding of Mi’kmaq rights by conducting research, developing and implementing initiatives, and building relationships necessary to resolve issues in a cooperative manner.