'Breaking down barriers to advance gender equality demands collective action that values diverse voices and experiences'
The Canadian government has announced a $40-million investment aimed at boosting women’s participation in the workforce and addressing systemic barriers that limit economic opportunities.
The funding will support 170 women’s and Indigenous women’s organizations across the country, helping them build capacity to better assist women in overcoming employment challenges and advancing gender equality.
"Breaking down barriers to advance gender equality demands collective action that values diverse voices and experiences,” said Marci Ien, minister for women and gender equality and youth.
“Women's and Indigenous women's organizations are at the forefront of this work, driving transformative change. By giving them the support they need, they can tackle systemic barriers so that everyone can meaningfully participate in Canada's economic and social growth. "
The funding looks to fill a huge gap in providing the services of equality-focused groups. According to the federal government, 86% of gender-equality seeking organizations in Canada experienced an increased demand for programming and/or services between 2015 and 2020, but 57% had to cancel programming or services, or shut down for a period over the same time frame due to a lack of resources.
And 67% of women's organizations in Canada launched new programs or services in response to the pandemic.
Many women feel that not enough is being done to forward gender equality in the workplace, according to a previous report from Randstad Canada and The Brand is Female.
The funding will help women’s organizations expand their capacity to provide culturally relevant, inclusive, and accessible services, according to Women and Gender Equality Canada. The aim is to equip more women with tools and resources to secure jobs, grow their careers, and contribute to the economy.
Key areas of focus include:
By increasing these organizations’ ability to deliver effective programs, the government hopes to create more pathways for women to participate in the labour market.
"This funding announced today will support women, girls, and gender-diverse people enables them to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and help women fully participate in society,” says Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth. “The Government of Canada is proud to support organizations that advance gender equality and build a more equitable, inclusive, and accessible country.”
Women continue to hold the shorter end of the stick in gender inequality.
In fact, while women's wages have grown steadily since the 1990s, disparities persist. In 2023, women in Canada earned 0.88 cents for every dollar earned by men, suggesting a gap of 12%, according to the federal government. And the pay gap is wider for racialized, Indigenous and immigrant women.
Also, women's labour force participation reached a record high of 85.7% in July 2023. However, women are concentrated in low-wage occupations – 28.2% of women work in the five lowest paid occupations.
Women occupy only 30% of senior management positions and just 35% of other management positions, and women were majority owners of just 17% of small and medium-sized businesses in 2020.
Female representation in company boards has increased from 11% in 2015 to 29% in 2024, according to a previous report from the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA).
