Backgrounder : Government of Canada announces investment in women’s organizations in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and in the Gaspésie-Les Îles regions

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.

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/territorial, 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 working to advance women’s equality, whose initiatives contribute to a viable women’s movement in Canada that advances gender equality. Funding will help to increase organizational capacity and help organizations work collectively to address gender equality issues. This funding provided the flexibility for organizations to apply for funding to address their specific capacity needs. 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.

Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie-Les Îles regions’ Projects

Today’s announcement profiles three projects in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and in the Gaspésie-Les Îles regions for federal funding through the Capacity-building Fund:

Centre-femmes Catherine-Leblond Inc.

Project title: Looking to the Future
Funding amount: $133,579

This 45-month project increases organizational capacity to allow them to continue to promote social and systemic change towards gender equality. Organizational capacity is being enhanced through greater strategic planning and improved management and communication skills.

The Centre-femmes Catherine-Leblond is a non-profit organization based in Trois-Pistoles that works to improve women's living conditions. The organization offers women a place to belong and a place to transition, an alternative to isolation, as well as an education and action network. The organization proposes activities to promote egalitarian relationships between men and women, supports women in their efforts to achieve autonomy and denounces all forms of violence, prejudice and injustice against women.

Centre-Femmes du Grand-Portage

Project title: Developing our Funding
Funding amount: $5,212

This 12-month project increases organizational capacity to allow them to continue to promote social and systemic change towards gender equality. Organizational capacity is being enhanced through the diversification of their funding sources.

The Centre-Femmes du Grand-Portage is a non-profit organization based in Rivière‑du‑Loup. The organization aims to provide a place where women can meet and give each other the means to become independent, according to their individual needs. The organization aims to educate, raise awareness, prevent violence, mobilize and provide information on the status of women.

Table de concertation des groupes de femmes de la Gaspésie et des Îles-de-la-Madeleine 

Project title: Equality, a shared responsibility
Funding amount: $261,896

This 45-month project addresses organizational capacity needs to allow them to continue promoting social and systemic changes towards gender equality. Organizational capacity is being enhanced through the following activities: human resources management, strategic planning, partnership development, collaboration and networking, development of an advocacy strategy, implementation of results-based management, as well as the development of a mechanism for knowledge transfer.

The Table de concertation des groupes de femmes de la Gaspésie et des Îles-de-la-Madeleine acts politically to ensure that women's rights and interests are concretely respected in various fields such as health, education and the social and economic development of the region. Their action is non-partisan. The organization carries out actions that characterize the collective defence of women's rights, namely popular education activities focused on rights and democratic life, and mobilization and representation activities.