Minister for Women and Gender Equality's appearance at the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) (November 24, 2020)

Opening

Madam Chair,

Thank you for inviting me to join you today.

First of all, I would like to acknowledge that I am joining you from the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin people.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious public health crisis Canada has ever faced and it has the potential to roll back hard-won gains on gender equality in this country. The pandemic has highlighted fundamental gaps in our society. It has been hard for everyone, but has been most difficult for those who were already struggling, including women, who lost jobs at twice the rate of men early in the pandemic, and particularly young women, whose employment remains well below pre-pandemic levels.

Women have taken on even more unpaid care responsibilities for their children and sick or elderly relatives. They are the majority of those working on the frontlines of the crisis: personal support workers, child care workers, food sector workers, nurses and other health and social care workers.

Madam Chair, in these difficult times we must not let the pandemic roll back the clock on women's participation in the workforce, nor make us backtrack on the social and political gains women and allies have fought so hard to secure.

Right from the start, our government took decisive action. Putting people at the centre of our response, we have applied an intersectional, feminist lens to everything we have done, helping to ensure we were supporting those who needed it most, in the ways they needed us to.

We applied an intersectional feminist lens to every action we took. According to CARE, Canada is the only country that fully accounted for gender in its response. This includes funding and policy commitments for gender-based violence prevention and response services, sexual and reproductive health care, childcare support, and funding that specifically recognizes the economic effect of the pandemic on women.

While we asked Canadians to stay home, we also recognized that home is not safe for everyone. We heard from front-line workers about the increased demands for help from shelters and sexual assault centres.

We acted quickly to ensure they could continue to provide their life-saving services, providing $100 million to organizations to ensure they could keep their doors open to some of the most vulnerable Canadians. Dedicated funding was provided to Indigenous organizations both off and on reserve.

While addressing these immediate needs, we continued to make progress towards addressing and preventing gender-based violence. We working with provincial/territorial governments to advance a National Action Plan to end GBV and to ensure that survivors have access to supports no matter where they are. I'm grateful to my colleagues across the country for their willingness to collaborate, to the experts and organisations who have shared their wisdom and to those with lived experience who have shared their stories. Together we are working towards a future where gender-based violence is a thing of the past.

The National Action Plan will build on actions we have already taken to address GVB. In the past four years, we've created a more responsive criminal justice system. We've taken important steps to enshrine a clear definition of consent; we've strengthened laws against gender-based violence and intimate partner violence; we've toughened bail eligibility for repeat offenders; we've supported legislation to ensure judges receive training on gender-based violence to combat common biases, myths and stereotypes about sexual assault; and we've introduced five days paid leave for survivors of family violence, helping them access the supports they need.

Across government, we have invested over $1 billion in programs and services that will help keep women safe.

COVID is also impacting women's financial health and livelihoods and we have taken action to address this. In addition to emergency supports like the CERB, the wage subsidy and financial assistance for small businesses, we are providing targeted support to help women and women-owned businesses recover. 

We provided additional funding through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy to ensure that women entrepreneurs, including those in rural and remote regions of Canada, can continue growing their business in spite of setbacks posed by the pandemic.

We're also creating an Action Plan for Women in the Economy to help women get back into the workforce and ensure a feminist, intersectional response to this pandemic and recovery. This Plan will be guided by a task force of experts whose diverse voices will power a whole of government approach.

Access to high-quality, affordable child care is critical to advancing women's equality, ensuring that Canada can benefit from the full participation of women in the work force. This will be especially important as we work to ensure that women are able to participate and benefit from the economic recovery.

In July 2020, we announced $625 million in federal support for Canada's child care sector to help ensure that safe and sufficient child care spaces are available to support parents' gradual return to work. Along with the agreements under the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework, this investment means the Government of Canada will invest almost $1.2 billion to support child care this year, a 67% increase over the next highest year in history.

Because of our investments, 40,000 child care spaces have been created since we came into office and we have committed to creating an additional 250,000 before and after-school child care spaces. In the recent Speech from the Throne we committed to making a significant, long-term investment to ensure universal childcare for every Canadian family.

These are just a few of the actions we are taking to support women during this challenging time. We are now in the midst of a second wave of the pandemic in many parts of this country. For this Government and for all our partners, this means we still have much work to do. We will get through this as we always do, by working together and taking care of those who need it most.

As we continue to manage the pandemic and turn towards recovery, we are building on strong foundations and significant accomplishments in recent years.

Women's and equality-seeking organizations in this country will play a critical role in creating a stronger, fairer, and more equal Canada as we recover. The investments we have made over the past five year will help ensure they are ready and able to support an inclusive recovery. Year over year we have increased our support of these organizations, providing the stable, predictable, long-term funding they need to empower women and create positive change in communities across the country.

Between 2015 and 2019, our government increased the funding to women's and gender equality seeking organizations from under $20,000,000 per year to over $65,000,000 per year. This year we will make over $100 million available to support them.

We have provided long-term funding to over 500 organizations – 70 percent more than were funded over the previous five years. Six million people benefit every year from the important work of these organizations.

Closing

Madam Chair, in the weeks and months ahead, the Government of Canada will continue to build on its efforts to alleviate the difficulties experienced by those most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has made us think about what really matters in our communities, to engage in meaningful conversations about taking care of those around us, and to reflect on the kind of future we want to build.

Seeing the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must not get complacent in the face of adversity. Our work will not get easier, but we will overcome these challenges by working together. And together we will build a fairer and more resilient Canada that works for everyone.

Thank you.

Issue: Gendered impacts of COVID-19

Recommended response

Gendered Impacts:

• COVID-19 does not discriminate who it infects, yet different groups are disproportionately affected by the virus and the public health measures being implemented.
• At the start of the pandemic in March, women lost jobs at about twice the rate of men. In May, when the economy started to reopen, increases in employment for men were more than double that of women. In October, job recovery for core-aged women saw an increase driven entirely by gains in full-time work for the first time, bringing women's employment closer to pre-COVID levels than other demographic groups.
• However, young women continue to see the most significant employment losses, putting them the furthest from pre-pandemic levels out of all other age groups.
• Women who shoulder increased care responsibilities at home due to the pandemic, whether due to caring for elderly parents who have been removed from care facilities, or caring for children when schools, classrooms, or daycares are closed, face additional hurdles to joining or rejoining the labour force.
• People in Canada have been asked to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19, yet home is not a safe place for everyone. We have seen a "shadow pandemic" emerge for those isolated at home with their abusers.
• Indigenous women, recent immigrant women, female lone parents, senior women, and LGBTQ2 people, who are already disproportionately impacted by poverty and face core housing needs, are more financially vulnerable to the economic impacts of the pandemic.

Government of Canada Response to COVID:

• In an effort to address these disproportionate impacts, Women and Gender Equality Canada has worked with with its federal partners to ensure that the Government's response is informed by Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+).
• Through the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government has announced a number of initiatives to support those most impacted:
  • $200M for essential food support to organizations to purchase, transport and distribute food and other basic necessities.
  • $157.5M to the Reaching Home initiative to address the needs of people in Canada experiencing homelessness.
  • $685M for a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address food insecurity, educational and other support for children, mental health assistance and preparedness measures for COVID-19.
  • Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting the Canada Child Benefit, delivering almost $2B in extra support.
  • Up to $100M to support organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence.
    • Up to $50M has already been provided to over 1000 organizations, allowing thousands of women and children to benefit from the continuation and timely adaptation of essential services and supports.
• The Government has committed to create an Action Plan for Women in the Economy to help more women get back into the workforce and to ensure a feminist, intersectional response to this pandemic and recovery. This Plan will be guided by a task force of experts whose diverse voices will power a whole-of-government approach.

Background

GBA+ and the COVID-19 Response

• Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, WAGE has worked with partners across departments to ensure that GBA+ has been considered in the response measures. To date, WAGE has:
  • Established an internal Task Team to focus on the pandemic's gendered and intersectional impacts;
  • Completed a knowledge synthesis and comprehensive analysis of the gendered and intersectional impacts of COVID-19;
  • Co-chaired (with Canadian Heritage) the Equity-Seeking Communities and COVID-19 Task Force;
  • Worked with provincial/territorial officials on the application of the GBA+ lens to COVID-19;
  • Hosted a special session of the GBA+ Interdepartmental Committee to facilitate sharing of information and best practices; and
  • Hosted a panel discussion, in collaboration with the Canada School of Public Service, entitled Achieving an Inclusive Pandemic Response with GBA+, attended by 1,500 public servants.

Gendered impact on employment

• In Canada, women comprise the majority of workers employed in service industries, which experienced large employment declines in response to COVID-19.
  • Women comprised the majority (62.6%) of all employment losses in March 2020; the monthly decline in employment among immigrant women (-3.4%) was twice that of immigrant men (-1.5%).
  • Job losses for men and women converged in April as additional shutdowns spread to the goods-producing sector, including construction and manufacturing. However, in May, as the economy began to reopen, employment increased more than twice as fast among men (+2.4% or +206,000) than women (+1.1% or +84,000). This is likely due to the more rapid increase in goods-producing industries, which account for a greater proportion of male employment than female employment.
  • Throughout the summer, employment rose at a faster pace among women than men. However, due to greater losses in March, women's employment recovery trailed that of men. In October women's employment grew by 0.7%, with gains focused in full-time work. With these additional gains, core-aged women's (aged 25-54) employment has recovered to within 1.4% of pre-COVID employment levels compared to 2.0% for men.
  • In October, employment among youth was little changed from September, as gains among young men (+1.4%) were offset by losses among young women (-1.2%). Losses among young women were primarily in full-time work.
    • Employment remained further from full recovery for youth than for all other major age groups. In October, employment among female youth was 11.5% below February levels, whereas for male youth, employment was 8.9% below February levels.
• Though both women and men have reported spending extra time on child care and household tasks during the pandemic, some research suggests that women continue to shoulder a greater share of these responsibilities. A recent survey revealed that half (50%) of women respondents reported that they have taken on the increased amount of time spent on unpaid domestic and childcare work during the pandemic, compared to 16% of men who reported the same. This could continue to impact women's availability to participate in the labour force.
• Among parents, employment recovery was slowest for mothers of school-aged children. Throughout the summer, employment for mothers of children aged 6 to 17 stayed around 95% of pre-COVID levels, whereas for fathers, employment recovered to pre-COVID levels (99.8% in August). Even in October, as employment returned to pre-COVID levels for both mothers and fathers, work absences remained higher among mothers for reasons likely related to COVID-19, such as caring for children or due to reduced shifts. Specifically, in October, the number of mothers who worked less than half of their usual hours for reasons most likely related to COVID-19 was 70.0% higher than in February, compared with 23.7% among fathers (numbers unchanged from September).
• Women are also over-represented in low-income occupations that have been deemed as essential and are disproportionately exposed to COVID-19.
  • In 2019, women comprised the majority of registered nurses (91%), nurse practitioners (92%), and licensed practical nurses (88%).

Response measures

• Until October 3, 2020, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provided a tax-free benefit of $2,000 a month to workers who lost their income as of result of the pandemic. It also allowed people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
  • As of October 4, 8.9 million Canadians had applied for CERB, receiving a total of $81.6 billion. Canadians report that the benefit is allowing them to cover basics such as housing, groceries, transportation and medicine.
• As of September 27, 2020, the Government of Canada has made changes to the Employment Insurance program and added new recovery benefits that will better support Canadians seeking employment.
  • For those eligible for EI benefits, they will receive a minimum taxable benefit at a rate of $500 per week, or $300 per week for extended parental benefits.
  • For those not eligible for EI, three new benefits were also announced:
    • The Canada Recovery Benefit provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks for workers who have stopped working or had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19;
    • The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks for workers who are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19, are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions or are undergoing treatments that would make them more susceptible to COVID-19;
    • The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers unable to work at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or other family members due to school and day care closures or if their child or family member is sick or required to quarantine due to COVID-19.

Other response measures include:

• Assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering almost $2 billion in extra support.
  • Approximately 3.7 million Canadian families collect the Canada Child Benefit. In the COVID-19 context, approximately 50,000 families who do not normally qualify for the Canada Child Care Benefit will receive a payment.
• Additional assistance to individuals with low and modest incomes with a top-up payment under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit, delivering $5.5 billion in support.
  • This is estimated to benefit over 12 million low- and modest-income Canadian families.
• Extra time to file income tax returns until June 1, 2020, and extension of the payment due date until September 30, 2020.
• Mortgage deferrals for Canadians impacted by COVID-19 and experiencing financial hardship.
  • This has resulted in a total of 760,000 deferred or skipped mortgage payments across the chartered banks, with the average monthly payment being approximately $1,333 in Canada.
• Up to $3 billion to the provinces and territories to increase the wages of low-income essential workers in the fight against COVID-19.
• A federal investment of more than $19 billion as part of the Safe Restart Agreement to help provinces and territories safely restart Canada's economy.
  • This investment will support measures to increase testing and contact tracing, support the capacity of our health care systems, including for people facing mental health challenges, and help procure personal protective equipment to help essential workers, and protect the most vulnerable, like seniors.

Gender-Based Violence

• Many support services have reported an increased demand for services regarding intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. Others have seen a significant decrease, raising concerns that women and children aren't able to reach out for help or don't know these services are available.
• Some police services have also reported an increase in certain types of crimes. For example, the Alberta RCMP recorded a 12% rise in calls involving domestic violence compared to 2019.
• With the increase in time spent online for school, work, socialization, etc., Canadians, especially young women and children, are at a greater risk of technology-facilitated violence; there have been reports of increases in online child sexual exploitation during the crisis.

GBV Response measures

• The Government of Canada has provided support for women and children fleeing violence, by providing up to $50 million to women's shelters and sexual assault centres, including facilities in Indigenous communities, and to organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities.
  • Through this investment, over 1000 organizations providing critical gender-based violence services and supports, such as women's shelters and sexual assault organizations, have received funding.
• On October 2nd, the Government announced an additional $50 million, for a total of $100 million, in funding to support organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV.

Other gendered impacts

Indigenous women, recent immigrant women, female lone parents, senior women, and LGBTQ2 people are disproportionately impacted by poverty and face core housing needs. Mental health, especially of more vulnerable communities, is of concern during a time of physical distancing and isolation.

Response measures

• $350 million through the Emergency Community Support Fund to support vulnerable Canadians through charities and non-profit organizations that deliver essential services to those in need.
• Essential food support with $200 million to organizations across Canada to purchase, transport and distribute food and other basic necessities.
• Flexibility for community-based recipients to use funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program for expenditures in response to COVID-19.
• $157.5 million to the Reaching Home initiative to address the needs of Canadians experiencing homelessness.
• $685 million for a new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address food insecurity, educational and other support for children, mental health assistance and preparedness measures for COVID-19.
• $75 million in new funding for Indigenous organizations providing services to Indigenous peoples in urban centres and off reserve.

Issue: COVID-19 Funding for women's shelters and sexual assault centres

Recommended response

• Canadians have been urged to stay at home during this time. However, home is not a safe place for everyone. It is not a safe place for women or their children, who experience domestic or intimate partner violence. For them, being confined at home, isolated, in close contact with a violent partner can be a terrifying prospect.
• COVID-19 has thrown into sharp focus the needs of women and children who are fleeing violence.
• Our government has moved swiftly by supporting critical front-line organizations, ensuring their doors can remain open to those in need.
• In March, we announced $50M in emergency funding which was swiftly disbursed to over 1000 women shelters and sexual assault centres to help them manage their increased demands and needs.
• These resources have ensured that organizations can continue to provide desperately needed support to some of Canada's most vulnerable.
• Thanks to the extraordinary work of our partners at Women's Shelters Canada, the Canadian Women's Foundation, and the Government of Quebec, money has already flowed to over 1000 organizations.
• An additional $50M will begin to flow shortly.
  • $10 million will be distributed for women's shelters and sexual assault centres to help them continue to provide their critical services safely;
  • An additional $10 million will support organizations providing services related to gender-based violence to Indigenous people off-reserve; and
  • $30 million will be disbursed to other women's organizations to support the delivery of GBV supports, to help combat the spread of COVID-19, and to address the increased demand for services.
• This $100M in total funding has and will allow organizations to respond to the pandemic so that thousands of women and children receive essential services and supports.
• No one facing gender-based violence should be left without a place to turn at this difficult time.

Background

According to a recent CBC series, women and children are turned away from shelters in Canada about 19,000 times a month. These organizations do not have reserve funds to deal with unexpected situations, such as COVID-19.

On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a COVID-19 Economic Response Plan which included an investment of up to $50M to women's shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations providing critical gender-based violence services and supports to women and children, to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities. Below is the breakdown of the $50M:

• $30 million to WAGE for violence against women shelters and sexual assault centres across the country;
• $10 million to WAGE in a contingency fund for organizations most deeply affected by COVID-19; and
• $10 million to Indigenous Services Canada, to support First Nations emergency shelters on reserve and in the Yukon.

On April 4, 2020, the Prime Minister reconfirmed the $40M investment to WAGE and provided details on how the $30M would be implemented:

• $20.54 million was provided to Women's Shelters Canada (WSC). They have distributed the funding to 432 women's shelters across the country (excluding Quebec).
• $3 million was provided to the Canadian Women's Foundation (CWF). They have distributed the funding to 93 sexual assault centres across the country (excluding Quebec).
• $6.46 million is being distributed by the Government of Quebec to approximately 167 women's shelters and organizations that assist victims of sexual and domestic violence in the province.

In addition, up to $10 million has been provided to Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) existing network of 46 emergency shelters on reserve and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence.

The operational funding is being delivered through ISC's Family Violence Prevention Program. The amount for each shelter has been determined based on factors such as on-reserve population, remoteness, and number of beds.

On May 29, 2020, an amendment was signed with the Canadian Women's Foundation for an additional $10M. This funding is being provided to organizations, beyond shelters and sexual assault centres, providing critical supports and services to women and children fleeing violence. As of November 13, 2020, 94% (341) organizations had registered and 93% (337) had received payment. An additional $2.3 million from WAGE's Women's Program has been provided to the Government of Quebec to support organizations in Quebec. To date, this funding has been distributed to approximately 94 organizations.

To date, over 1,000 organizations have received funding that is being used to increase safety and emergency preparedness, and to support the ability of these organizations to serve women and their children, who experience violence.

On October 2nd, Minister Monsef announced an additional $50 million investment to fund organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence, bringing the total investment to $100 million. The funding includes:

• Up to $10 million for women's shelters and sexual assault centres to help them continue to provide their critical services safely;
• Up to $10 million to support organizations providing services related to gender-based violence to Indigenous people off-reserve; and
• Up to $30 million for other women's organizations to support the delivery of GBV supports, to help combat the spread of COVID-19, and to address the increased demand for services.

Funding will begin to flow to organizations in November.

Testimonials:

Saskatoon Interval House, SK

Tanya Wiggins, Executive Director

Erin Griver, Director of Women's Services

Inasmuch House, ON

Issue: Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+)

Recommended response

• The impacts of COVID-19 can have particularly devastating effects on women, LGBTQ2 people and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
• GBA+ is an important mechanism to advance equality objectives as it provides insights into the social determinants of health and helps ensure that government interventions are inclusive, serve to build resilience, reduce inequalities and address the disproportionate impacts of this crisis.
• WAGE established a Task Team on COVID-19 to gather data and evidence on the differential impacts of the pandemic from a gendered and intersectional perspective. This helps inform the Government's response to the pandemic and ensures the measures put in place address the needs of diverse populations and support those who need it most.
• On July 8, the Government released the GBA+ of the COVID-19 response measures as part of its Economic and Fiscal Snapshot.

Background

GBA+ and the COVID-19 Response

Throughout the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WAGE has worked with partners across government departments to ensure that GBA+ has been considered in respect of the response measures. WAGE actions to date include:

• Its Task Team focusing on economic participation and prosperity; leadership and democratic participation; gender-based violence and access to justice; and poverty reduction, health, and well-being;
• Co-chairing (with Canadian Heritage) the Equity-Seeking Communities and COVID-19 Task Force;
• Working with provincial/territorial officials on the application of the GBA+ lens to COVID-19;
• Hosting a special session of the GBA+ Interdepartmental Committee to facilitate sharing of information and best practices; and
• Hosting a panel discussion, in collaboration with the Canada School of Public Service, entitled Achieving an Inclusive Pandemic Response with GBA+, attended by 1,500 public servants.
• Developed tools to guide the application of GBA+ in the development and implementation of COVID-19 measures.

An analysis of the gendered impacts of COVID-19, as well as the GBA+ of our COVID-19 response measures were published in the Economic and Fiscal Snapshot 2020 in late August.

Training

• Since 2012, over 185,000 people have completed the GBA+ online course, including federal public servants, parliamentarians and their staff, as well as provincial and territorial officials.
• In addition, the Department collaborated with the Canada School of Public Service to develop a Premium Course for GBA+, a four-day course for policy analysts on applying the principles of GBA+ when writing, reviewing or challenging a Memorandum to Cabinet, a Budget Proposal or a TB Submission.

Other GBA+ Measures

GBA+ is now mandatory in all Treasury Board Submissions, Memoranda to Cabinet, Departmental Results Frameworks and Reports, and it is reflected in the Cabinet Directive on Regulations.

Strategic relationships are being developed and strengthened, and a network of GBA+ experts from across the Government of Canada is increasingly collaborating to meet common goals.

Legislation increasingly includes GBA+ and obligations to conduct intersectional analysis. For example, the new Impact Assessment Act requires that GBA+ be a factor in the assessment of designated projects.

The 2018 Canadian Gender Budgeting Act enshrined gender budgeting in federal budgetary and financial processes.

Due to the growing demand for better intersectional data, the Government has responded by creating Statistics Canada's Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics.

Issue: Women's economic security 

Recommended response

• Throughout the pandemic, women are demonstrating the essential role they play in Canada's economy, whether by providing healthcare, or contributing to our service sector. Often as primary caregivers in the home, they also subsidize our country's economic activity.
• Before COVID-19, the Government took important steps to address women's economic vulnerability. These efforts are ongoing and offer a foundation from which to recover from the pandemic. They include:
  • A Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework;
  • Flexible work arrangements as part of the Canada Labour Code;
  • Maternity and parental benefits;
  • Proactive Pay Equity Legislation; and
  • Programs to support more women in non-traditional economic areas like skilled trades and entrepreneurship.
• The Government will build on its existing efforts through the creation of an Action Plan for Women in the Economy to help more women get back into the workforce and to ensure a feminist, intersectional response to this pandemic and recovery. This Plan will be guided by a task force of experts whose diverse voices will power a whole-of-government approach.
• In addition, the Government will make a significant, long-term, sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system. This builds on previous investments.
• The Government also remains committed to subsidizing before- and after-school program costs. With the way that this pandemic has affected parents and families, flexible care options for primary school children are more important than ever.

WAGE Specific Investments to Date:

• The Department for Women and Gender Equality supports Women's Economic Security by funding organizations to build partnerships to address systemic barriers, and increase private sector leadership and investments in women.
  • In fall 2017, the Department for Women and Gender Equality launched two calls for proposals, representing approximately $15M, to increase the economic security of women in Canada. Of the $15M, $5M supported Indigenous women's economic success.
  • In 2019-20, WAGE invested over $17M in 152 projects to improve women's and girls' economic security and prosperity.

Background

Current Context

Women are experiencing increases in economic hardship as a result of the pandemic, with certain more vulnerable populations of women experiencing additional economic burdens. In Canada, women are over-represented in service industries that were among the first to shut down in response to COVID-19. The closure of schools and daycares also impacts women's ability to participate in the labour force or continue their own education (as care work typically falls disproportionately to women).

At the start of the pandemic in March, women lost jobs at twice the rate of men. In May, when the economy started to reopen, increases in employment for men were double that of women. In October, job recovery for core-aged women saw an increase driven by gains in full-time work for the first time, bringing women's employment closer to pre-COVID levels than other demographic groups.

However, young women continue to see the most significant employment losses, putting them the furthest from pre-pandemic levels out of all other age groups.

Ongoing Government Initiatives

In addition to the Government's pandemic response measures, there are a number of ongoing initiatives that support women's economic security, which preceded COVID-19. These include:

• The Poverty Reduction Strategy, released in August 2018, which targeted a 20% reduction in poverty by 2020 and a 50% reduction in poverty by 2030, relative to 2015 levels. The Government met its first poverty reduction target three years ahead of schedule. Between 2015 and 2018, the poverty rate fell by more than 3.5% to 11.0%.
• Early Learning and Child Care: In the Speech from the Throne, the Government announced it will make a significant, long-term, sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system. The Government will build on previous investments, learn from the model that already exists in Quebec, and work with all provinces and territories to ensure that high-quality care is accessible to all. The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments reached an historic agreement on a Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework on June 12, 2017. As noted in the Speech, the Government remains committed to subsidizing before- and after-school program costs.
• EI flexibilities so that parents can receive extra weeks of Employment Insurance (EI) parental benefits and can share raising their children more equally.
• Canada Child Benefit: Introduced in 2016, the CCB is a simpler, tax-free, and more generous child benefit better targeted to those who need it most and helps families with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.
• Investments to support more women to enter and succeed in the skilled trades, including the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program, Apprenticeship Incentive Grants for Women, and the Women in Construction Fund.
• Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES): A $2 billion investment seeking to double the number of majority women-owned small and medium enterprises by 2025. In the Speech from the Throne, the Government committed to accelerating the WES, which has already helped women across Canada grow their businesses.

WAGE Initiatives

• In fall 2017, the Department launched two calls for proposals representing an investment of approximately $15M to increase the economic security of women in Canada. Investments focused on collaborative projects that addressed the root causes (e.g. pay inequity, accessibility of childcare, wage gap) that limit the economic security of women in Canada.
• Budget 2019 announced that the Government will invest $160 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, to enhance the Women's Program to advance gender equality in Canada, this could include (but is not limited to) funding opportunities with a focus on advancing economic opportunities for women.

Issue : Senior women

Recommended response

• Seniors, particularly those living in social isolation, poverty, and those living in long-term care homes, are at greater risk during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• In order to support seniors during the pandemic, the Government of Canada:
  • Provided an additional one-time payment of $300 for seniors who qualify for Old Age Security, and an extra $200 for those eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement. These top ups have supported approximately 6.7 million seniors.
  • Is contributing $9 million through United Way Canada for local organizations to support practical services to Canadian seniors, such as delivery of groceries or medications, or personal outreach to assess individuals' needs.
• The Government has also committed to amend the Criminal Code to explicitly penalize those who neglect seniors under their care, and work with provinces and territories to set new, national standards for long-term care and take additional action to help people stay in their homes.

Background

Data on Senior Women

• In 2018, 11.0% of people were living below Canada's official poverty line. That same year, about 6.2% of senior women, and 5.0% of senior men were living in poverty, with rates substantially higher among unattached senior women (12.7%) and men (14.9%).
• The median yearly income for senior women has risen from 2003 to 2019. However, the median income of senior men remained approximately 1.5 times higher than that of senior women in 2019.

Impacts of COVID-19

• Seniors are at greater risk of poor health outcomes. Although they represent about one quarter of reported diagnoses of COVID-19, people aged 60 and older represent the majority of hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths associated with COVID-19 in Canada. Seniors living in residences and nursing homes are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and dying from it. Long-term care facilities and residences have accounted for the majority of outbreaks in Canada, particularly in the earlier months of the pandemic.
• Many seniors do not have people they can rely on to bring them essential supplies and many live on fixed incomes. Escalating costs due to the pandemic make goods and services unaffordable for seniors. In order to support seniors, the Government of Canada is providing:
  • An additional one-time payment of $300 for seniors who qualify for Old Age Security (OAS), and an extra $200 for those eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS);
  • Assistance to individuals and families with low and modest incomes with a special top-up payment under the GST credit, delivering $5.5 billion in support. More than 4 million seniors benefited, which gave an average of $375 for single seniors and $510 for senior couples; and
  • $9 million through United Way Canada to support services to seniors. These services could include the delivery of groceries, medications, or personal outreach to assess individuals' needs and connect them to community supports.

Other Government Initiatives

• In Budget 2016, the Government cancelled the increase in the age of eligibility for OAS benefits from 65 to 67. This restoration allows future 65 and 66 year-old individuals to receive, on average, over $10,400 per year in OAS and GIS benefits.
• By increasing the GIS, which provides assistance to close to 900,000 low-income seniors, 70% of whom are women, by up to $947, it is estimated that 57,000 were lifted out of poverty (based on the Market Basket Measure), and the depth of poverty for the remaining single GIS recipients was reduced by an average of $700.
• Announced in Budget 2019, the eligibility of the earnings exemption for the GIS was extended, and provides a full or partial exemption of up to $15,000 for annual employment or self-employment. This means that seniors who would like to work can do so without sacrificing their other benefits.
• Budget 2019 also proposed that by 2020 all eligible seniors aged 70 or older would be proactively enrolled in the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). As of October 2020, Service Canada has proactively enrolled 16,136 seniors and paid out $54.9 million in benefits.
• Senior women are disproportionately affected by dementia, making up two thirds of this population. Budget 2018 funded the Public Health Agency of Canada with $20 million over 5 years to fund community-based projects that address dementia, to help improve the lives of those living with dementia and lessen the burden of care work for their families and primary care givers (the majority of whom are women). Budget 2019 announced $50 million over 5 years to implement a National Dementia Strategy.
• Budget 2019 increased funding to Employment and Social Development Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program by $100M over five years with $20M a year ongoing. This program supports seniors in need by: promoting volunteerism among seniors; engaging seniors in the mentoring of others; expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse; supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects for seniors.
  • Since 2004, the program has supported more than 27,400 projects with a total investment of more than $600 million.
  • Community-based recipients are now allowed to use funding through this program for activity expenditures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. the delivery of food and medication or personalized monitoring of seniors to ensure their needs are met).
• On June 17, 2019, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women presented its report on the challenges faced by senior women. The report made 27 recommendations that focus on: senior women's income and financial security, access to affordable housing, social isolation, health and access to health services, and experiences of discrimination and gender-based violence. The report calls for a national seniors' strategy, as well as stronger application of gender-based analysis plus, particularly to research and address gaps in knowledge about the experiences faced by LGBTQ2 seniors. The committee requested a government response, however this request died due to the 2019 election.

Issue: Preventing and addressing gender-based violence

Recommended response

• Everyone has the right to live free from violence. The Government of Canada is committed to preventing and addressing gender-based violence and creating a Canada that supports victims, survivors and their families, no matter where they live.
• In 2017, the Government of Canada launched its federal strategy, It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, and committed over $200M in new investments and over $40M per year ongoing to advance efforts in three areas: preventing gender-based violence; supporting survivors and their families; and promoting responsive legal and justice systems.
• The Department for Women and Gender Equality is receiving $108.5M between 2017-18 and 2022-23 and $22M ongoing for public education and awareness, research, programming, and the establishment and operation of the GBV Knowledge Centre.
• To date, nearly 60 projects related to gender-based violence have been funded for over $50 million. These projects are essential in the work to end gender-based violence in Canada and to support individuals experiencing violence.
• The pandemic has reinforced the need for a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and amplified its urgency.
• The September 2020 Speech from the Throne underscored that women's safety must be the foundation on which all progress is built and renewed the Government of Canada's commitment to advance with a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
• To this end, the Department for Women and Gender Equality is currently engaging with federal-provincial-territorial governments, Indigenous leaders, as well as other stakeholders.

Background

• Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive, deadly and deeply-rooted human rights violations of our time, and the Government of Canada is committed to preventing and addressing it. Many people in Canada face violence every day because of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender. Gender-based violence is a significant barrier to achieving gender equality and it is preventable.

Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

• On June 19, 2017, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality (formerly Status of Women Canada) launched the federal GBV Strategy, which takes a whole-of-government approach to prevent and address GBV and brings together the GBV-related efforts of all federal departments and agencies.
• The GBV Knowledge Centre, housed within WAGE, is the focal point of the GBV Strategy and is responsible for governance and coordination, reporting and evaluation, data and research, and knowledge mobilization.
• Budgets 2017 and 2018 committed over $200 million over 5 years and $40 million ongoing for GBV initiatives. A total of 6 departments have received funding through Budgets 2017 and 2018 under the GBV Strategy and they include Public Safety Canada; Public Health Agency of Canada; Department of National Defence; Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and WAGE. Of that amount, WAGE is receiving $108.5M between 2017-18 and 2022-23 and $22M ongoing for public education and awareness, research, programming, and the establishment and operation of the GBV Knowledge Centre.
• Key WAGE accomplishments to date under the Strategy include the following:
  • The GBV Program, which provides funding to organizations working in the GBV sector to implement innovative interventions, was launched. Of the 60 projects funded as part of this program, 56 projects are currently under way to develop and test promising practices to support victims and survivors of gender-based violence and their families and 4 are developing implementation plans.
  • In December 2018, the GBV Knowledge Centre's online platform was launched. This platform compiles resources and research related to GBV, including information on federal initiatives related to GBV. As of September 2020, the online platform was visited close to 37,200 times.
  • Three new national surveys were developed to establish baselines on the prevalence of different forms of GBV among different populations, provide a deeper understanding of GBV in Canada and measure progress overtime:
    • The Survey on Safety in Public and Private Spaces released its provincial findings in December 2019, followed by partial findings for the territories in August 2020. The final report on results for the territories is expected to be released by the end of 2020. Results were also released in September 2020 on experiences of GBV among LGBTQ2 people, which provided the first ever nationally representative data on transgender and gender diverse people in Canada.
    • The Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population released its findings in September 2020;
    • Results from the Survey on Sexual Misconduct at Work are expected to be released in 2021.
  • In December 2018, WAGE launched a public call for proposals of up to $5 million for research on gender-based violence and gender equality. The CFP resulted in thirteen projects that are currently (or about to be) funded. Topics for these projects include intimate partner violence, sexual violence among LGBTQ2 people in the post-secondary setting, human trafficking, access to justice, and Indigenous community-based approaches to GBV.
  • In line with WAGE priorities and approaches, two Indigenous-led research projects that address GBV are under way. In January 2019, the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) began work on a feasibility study for research on GBV among First Nations. As well, in August 2019, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada began work on a project titled "Meeting Survivors' Needs: Gender-based Violence and the Criminal Justice System in Inuit Nunangat".
  • Two Annual Reports (2017-18 and 2018-19) have been published to report back on progress and achievements made to date. These reports can be found on the GBV Knowledge Centre's Online Platform. Publication of the annual report for 2019-2020 is forthcoming.
  • In 2019, WAGE funded a project on GBV at postsecondary institutions (PSIs). The project report highlighted recommendations, and provided tools and resources for PSIs  to consider when addressing GBV on their campuses.
  • Through the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, WAGE has received $10 million (starting in 2020-21) and $2 million per year ongoing to develop the Continuum of Care Prevention and Interventions for Vulnerable Populations Initiative.
  • WAGE launched a $14 million call for proposals for its Human Trafficking Initiative, which closed on September 11, 2020.
• Early accomplishments from other departments as part of the Strategy include:
  • The launch of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, led by Public Safety Canada, in partnership with many federal departments, including WAGE.
  • In 2019-20, the 25 projects funded through the Teen Dating Violence Prevention funding stream of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) directly reached 4,464 participants and 3,165 professionals in 80 sites across Canada.
  • Public Safety Canada and WAGE co-hosted an expert panel on gender-based violence and technology facilitated violence that reached 140 participants.
  • As of January 2020, a total of 43 human trafficking-related projects by community organizations and law enforcement agencies have been supported by Justice Canada.
  • As part of Budget 2016, CMHC completed construction of  five additional shelters on reserve for persons fleeing domestic violence in First Nation communities across Canada. The five shelters receive operational funding from Indigenous Services Canada, and have beem integrated into the existing network of 41 shelters serving women and children living on reserve in the provinces and in the Yukon.
  • In 2019-2020, a coordinated partnership of settlement and anti-violence sector umbrella organizations were brought together by IRCC to implement the Gender-Based Violence Settlement Sector Strategy.
  • Bill C-65 on harassment and violence in the workplace, led by Employment and Social Development Canada, received Royal Assent in 2018 and is expected to come into force on January 1, 2021.
  • In 2019, the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre received 102,967 requests for assistance, an increase of 68% since 2018 and an overall increase of 1106% since 2014.
  • In March 2020, the implementation of a cultural awareness and trauma-informed GBV training for all RCMP employees was piloted to a group of employees and will allow for direct feedback from a sample of intended users.
  • Through the Federal Victims Strategy, Justice Canada has funded 32 projects, which include 18 outreach projects and 14 legal advice projects.

COVID-19 Impacts on Gender-Based Violence

• Many service providers are reporting an increased demand for support services for survivors of family violence. Others have seen a significant decrease, raising concerns that women, children, and other people experiencing violence cannot access help.
• With increased time spent online, individuals in Canada, especially young women and children, may face greater risk of technology-facilitated violence; there are reports of increased online child sexual exploitation.
• To support women, children and others, the Government provided:
  • Up to $100 million to women's shelters, sexual assault centres and other organizations providing critical supports and services to women and children experiencing violence.
  • $350 million to the Emergency Community Support Fund to support individuals in Canada in situations of vulnerability.
• The pandemic has provided clear evidence that a National Action Plan to End GBV is critical and must provide concrete solutions to gaps in supports needed by women, children, and other people facing violence.

National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

• In December 2019, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality was mandated to build on the foundation laid by It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV Strategy) and move forward to develop a National Action Plan to End GBV, with a focus on supporting victims, survivors and their families, no matter where they live in Canada.
• A National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence will align with and enhance other federal priorities including: the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' Calls for Justice, the National Housing Strategy, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, and the National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence. It will be informed by years of departmental engagement with victims, survivors and their families, direct service providers, experts, and researchers as well as by parliamentary and stakeholders reports and calls to action.
• The Government of Canada, through WAGE, is working closely with provinces and territories on the development of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, notably in the context of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women.
• In December 2019, at the 37th annual meeting of FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women held in Victoria, BC, ministers agreed to explore how to engage and collaborate on national actions to end gender-based violence.
• In September 2020, FPT Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women (with Québec as an observer) endorsed the NAP At a Glance document, which presents the vision, goals, guiding principles and pillars of the NAP to End GBV.

Issue: Missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (mmiwg) commemoration fund

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
• As part of the Government of Canada's response to the interim report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), WAGE announced $13M in funding to over 110 projects supporting Indigenous governments' and organizations' work with families, survivors, and communities to implement commemorative initiatives that help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2S people.
• In response to the Calls for Justice in the National Inquiry's final report, the Government of Canada committed to developing a National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ and Two-Spirit people.
• WAGE is supporting Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's efforts to co-develop this plan with Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ and Two-Spirit groups and organizations, as well as the provinces and territories.
• WAGE has also been mandated to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, and will be working to ensure that these two national action plans are aligned and complement one another.

Background

• In November 2017, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (the National Inquiry) released its Interim Report, Our Women and Girls Are Sacred. In response, several federal organizations, including WAGE, Indigenous Services Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police took action to respond to recommendations in the National Inquiry's Interim Report to: better meet the needs of survivors, family members, communities, and others affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; support commemoration activities; and review police policies and practices.

Commemoration Fund

• WAGE created a Commemoration Fund in response to calls for the Government to take early action prior to the National Inquiry releasing final recommendations, and in recognition of the fact that the call for further support for commemoration preceded the Inquiry process.
• Over 110 projects totalling more than $13 million over two years were announced on June 24, 2019, to support Indigenous governments' and organizations work with families, communities, and survivors to help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S individuals.
• In developing the Fund, the Department followed promising practices, including wisdom from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Commemoration Initiative. Building on the Government's commitment to reconciliation and relationship building with Indigenous peoples, as well as the unique needs of Indigenous women, the Department engaged with Indigenous women's organizations, families, and survivors throughout the implementation of the Commemoration Fund.

National Action Plans

• On June 3, 2019, the National Inquiry released its Final Report which included 231 Calls for Justice for transformative legal and social changes. The Final Report further calls for the decolonizing of Canadian society and reinstating the power and place of Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ and Two-Spirit people by indigenizing structures, institutions, legislation, and policies.
• As part of its response, the Government of Canada committed to bring forward a national action plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ and Two-Spirit people. The Minister for Women and Gender Equality is mandated to support the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNA) to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and the National Inquiry's Calls for Justice in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples.
• The Minister for Women and Gender Equality will also move forward to develop a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, with a focus on ensuring that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection, supports and services.
• Both initiatives require coordinated and collaborative actions from federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in line with respective jurisdictional responsibilities, and in close partnership with families and survivors, Indigenous partners, civil society, front-line service providers, municipalities, the private sector, and researchers. WAGE is working with CIRNA to ensure the two national action plans are aligned and complement one another.

Issue: Rural women

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada recognizes the particular needs and challenges of people in rural and remote communities, including diverse women and girls, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Women and girls living in rural and remote areas face higher rates of violence, including sexual assault, family violence and intimate partner violence.
  • Building on the foundation laid by the Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, the Government is developing a National Action Plan to End GBV which will include a focus on ensuring that anyone facing GBV, including those in rural and remote areas, has reliable and timely access to services.
  • As part of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the federal government has allocated a total of $100 million in funding to women's shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations providing supports to those experiencing GBV across the country, including $10 million to 46 emergency shelters on reserves and in the Yukon to support Indigenous women and children experiencing violence.
• Rural women face lower employment rates and a greater chance of having low-income.
  • The Government has invested nearly $5B in the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. Led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Strategy aims to increase women's access to capital, supply chains, export opportunities, training, and mentorship. The goal is to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025.
• Recently, the Government of Canada announced an additional $750 million for the Universal Broadband Fund, bringing the total investment to $1.75 billion. This investment will connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet across the country by 2026, with the goal of connecting all Canadians by 2030. These investments in social infrastructure, including reliable and high-speed Internet, are key to supporting women's independence and empowering them to leave violent situations.
• Moving forward, the Government of Canada will continue to work in partnership with rural, remote and Indigenous communities to help build inclusive economic growth and sustainability in the years to come – so that people of all genders can benefit.

Background

• Women living in rural and remote areas face particular challenges that preclude economic security and prosperity, including lower labour force participation rates, lower employment rates, as well as their over-representation in low-income situations. Canadian rural communities are also more likely to be older, Indigenous, or comprised of an official language minority group. These intersecting identity factors can lead to particular challenges for rural and remote communities.
• In 2018, police reported data showed that women living in rural areas experienced the highest overall rates of intimate partner violence in Canada with rates that were significantly higher than their urban counterparts (789 versus 447 per 100,000 population). Stakeholders have also reported the difficulty that women in rural and remote areas face in reporting violence and seeking help or alternative living arrangements; and that these difficulties are worse for women with mobility issues living in these areas, such as seniors.

WAGE Initiatives

• In 2017, the Government of Canada launched It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, the first federal strategy of its kind. The Strategy is a whole-of-government approach to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) that coordinates federal efforts and complements the work of provincial and territorial governments.
• The Strategy recognizes that women in rural and remote communities are among the populations more at risk of GBV, and helps to coordinate supports for these populations. The increased risk of GBV is partly a result of a lack of access to services in rural and remote areas. In addition, lower educational attainment in these communities can often mean that the effects of harmful gender norms are magnified. Lastly, many rural economies are goods-based, and as a result are more vulnerable to fluctuations in markets. This can lead to increased socio-economic stressors and as a result, increased violence.
• Building on the foundation laid by the Strategy, the Government is moving forward to develop a National Action Plan to End GBV, which will aim to address the root causes and systemic issues that perpetuate GBV, as well as the factors that serve as barriers to accessing reliable and timely supports, services and protections. A core pillar of the National Action Plan is focused on "social infrastructure and enabling environment", including in rural and remote areas.
• The Women's Program funds projects that address the systemic barriers women and girls face to full economic, social and political participation across the country, including in rural and remote communities. For example, between 2012 and 2015, a call for proposals focused on women and girls in rural and remote communities supported 27 projects, for a total investment of more than $7 million.
• WAGE works to ensure a presence across the country. Its funding programs are delivered through national and regional offices, including in Edmonton, Montreal, and Moncton, with satellite offices in Toronto and Vancouver, and visits to stakeholders in the north. This helps to strengthen communication with communities and ensure priorities reflect their needs.

Women Entrepreneurship 

• The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and is an investment of nearly $5 billion. WES aims to increase women-owned and led businesses' access to the financing, talent, networks and expertise they need to start up, scale up and access new markets. It is also a whole-of-government strategy with commitments and participation from over 20 other federal organizations. Furthermore, WES helps organizations that support diverse women entrepreneurs, including those in rural and remote areas. The 2020 Speech from the Throne promised to accelerate the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy.
• WES Ecosystem Fund is now a $100 million investment to help non-profit, third-party organizations deliver support for women entrepreneurs and address gaps in the ecosystem. The WES Ecosystem Fund has allocated up to $24.89 million dollars towards 13 projects with a specified focus on servicing rural, remote or Northern women entrepreneurs across Canada.
• The Women Entrepreneurship Fund (WE Fund) invested $30 million directly in women owned and led businesses, providing eligible companies with funding to help them grow. The fund focused on supporting women entrepreneurs' efforts to scale up and grow their businesses, as well as help them expand into new markets. Investments prioritized, among other things, women from rural or remote regions. Nighty-eight women-owned or led businesses identifying from rural or remote region were supported.
• Under the mandate of the Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has launched a lending program of $500 million from 2018 to 2021, targeted to women entrepreneurs in agriculture. FCC also offers advisory services and knowledge initiatives aimed at women entrepreneurs.
• Majority women-owned firms represent 11.8% of rural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Canada.

COVID-19 Response

• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has announced several investments to support rural, remote and northern communities, including supports to the agricultural sector and other affected sectors who provide essential services to Canadians. Measures include:
  • A national AgriRecovery initiative of up to $125 million in funding to help producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19, such as managing livestock backed up on farms.
  • A $77.5 million Emergency Processing Fund to help food producers access more personal protective equipment (PPE), adapt to health protocols, automate or modernize their facilities, processes, and operations, and respond to emerging pressures from COVID-19.
    • As of September 8, 2020, 32 projects have been approved nationally for up to $10.54 million in funding.
  • A $50 million Surplus Food Rescue Program, designed to help redistribute existing and unsold inventories to local food organizations who are serving people in Canada, including in remote and northern communities.
  • $59 million dedicated towards improving health and safety conditions for migrant workers on Canadian farms.
  • Up to $469.4 million in new measures to support Canada's fish harvesters.
  • $34.3 million to Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency to assist Northern businesses and communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
  • Up to $17.3 million to the governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut to support northern air carriers and ensure the continued supply of food, medical supplies, and other essential goods and services to remote and fly-in communities.
  • $431.3 million to support the national network of Community Futures Development Corporations, which specifically targets small businesses and rural communities across the country.
• In response to the housing affordability and homelessness issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada announced a $1 billion Rapid Housing Initiative under the National Housing Strategy, to rapidly create up to 3,000 new affordable housing units across the country that will serve populations living in situations of vulnerability, like women and children experiencing violence, or people at risk of becoming homeless.
  • Rural and remote communities, as well as households in Nunavut are among the groups in Canada that disproportionately live in core housing need. For example, in 2016, more than one-third (36.5%) of private households in Nunavut were in core housing need.
• The Government of Canada is also providing a total of $100 million in emergency funding to organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV.
  • In spring 2020, $50 million was announced and distributed as follows:
    • $40 million went to Women and Gender Equality Canada to support over 1000 women's shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations providing critical services to women and children fleeing violence.
    • $10 million was provided to Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) existing network of 46 emergency shelters on reserve and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children experiencing violence.
  • In October 2020, an additional $50 million for WAGE was announced and will be distributed as follows:
    • Up to $10 million for women's shelters and sexual assault centres to help them continue to provide their critical services safely;
    • Up to $10 million to support organizations providing services related to GBV to Indigenous people off-reserve;
    • Up to $30 million for other women's organizations to support the delivery of GBV supports, to help combat the spread of COVID-19, and to address the increased demand for services.

Broadband

• On November 9, 2020, the Government of Canada announced additional funding of $750 million for the Universal Broadband Fund, bringing the total investment to $1.75 billion. The Government will work with partners like the Canada Infrastructure Bank to connect Canadian households and businesses in underserved communities over the next six years. With this additional investment, the Canadian government has made $6.2 billion available for universal broadband since 2015. These investments will make a real difference in the lives of women and girls living in rural, remote, and northern communities, allowing them access to information, resources and support online.

Issue: Gender wage gap

Recommended response

• According to Statistics Canada, in 2019, women earned 88 cents for every dollar earned by men. Closing the gender wage gap is crucial to advancing gender equality and women's economic security.
• The Government of Canada has put in place several measures to improve women's labour market outcomes and is committed to taking action to reduce the gender wage gap.
• The Pay Equity Act received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018. The Government released the proposed Pay Equity Regulations in November 2020, and the Act will likely come into force later in 2021. Employers will then have three years to develop and implement their proactive pay equity plans. This legislation will bring about a dramatic shift in how the right to pay equity is protected in federally regulated workplaces.
• In September 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Commission named its first Pay Equity Commissioner, Karen Jensen.
• Through Budgets 2017, 2018, and 2019 the Government is working on several measures to improve women's labour market outcomes, such as:
  • Pay transparency measures to provide more information and to hold federally regulated employers accountable for wage gaps;
  • $7.5 billion over eleven years to address early learning and child care needs announced in Budgets 2016 and 2017;
  • Canada Labour Code amendments for flexible work arrangements for federally regulated employees;
  • Introduction of the EI Parental Sharing Benefit, with options for earlier access to maternity benefits and for extended parental benefits;
  • New programs to support more women to enter and succeed in well-paying careers in STEM and the skilled trades, such as the Women in Construction Fund; and
  • The Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy to address the challenges women face in business, such as lack of access to capital, which the Government committed to accelerating in the recent Speech from the Throne.
• The recent Speech from the Throne promised a significant, long-term, sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system.
• The Government will also create an Action Plan for Women in the Economy to help more women get back into the workforce and to ensure a feminist, intersectional response to this pandemic and recovery. This Plan will be guided by a task force of experts whose diverse voices will power a whole-of-government approach.

Background

Statistics from Canada on the gender wage gap

• The gender pay gap is the difference between the earnings of women and men, typically expressed as a proportion of men's earnings.
• When comparing average hourly wages of women and men (aged 15+) in 2019, women earned 88 cents for every dollar earned by men suggesting a gap of 12%. The gap has narrowed since 2015, when it was 86 cents. Time will tell if COVID-19 will impact this wage gap.
• The gender gap was wider among immigrants, especially "recent immigrants", with women who had landed in Canada within five years prior to the 2018 Labour Force Survey earning, on average, 81 cents for every dollar earned by immigrant men who landed in Canada during the same period (compared to 80 cents in 2017).
• Earning inequalities between women and men tend to increase with age because women experience more employment interruptions than men, and because older women generally have lower levels of educational attainment and work experience than younger women.
• A study released in January 2020 by the University of Ottawa and the Labour Market Information Council ­(with the support of Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada) suggests that an annual earning inequality also seems to appear immediately after postsecondary graduation and widens notably in the first five years in the workforce.
  • When comparing annual earnings of women and men with the same credentials, the study found that women earn 2% to 21% less than their male counterparts in the first year after graduating.
  • When comparing annual earnings of women and men with the same credentials and within the same field of study, the study found that five years after graduation, women earned less than their male counterparts in every field of study at all credential levels – with the biggest annual earning gaps in the STEM fields.
• Furthermore, Indigenous women continue to experience persistent obstacles to their economic wellbeing, as demonstrated by labour force participation rates and prevalence of low income:
  • In 2019, 75% of Indigenous women (this excludes those living on reserves and other "Aboriginal settlements" in the provinces as well as those living in the territories) in the core working ages of 25 to 54 participated in the labour force, compared to 84% of Indigenous men.
  • In 2016, the prevalence of low income among Indigenous women was 25% compared to 14% for the total population of women and girls in Canada.
  • During COVID-19, employment losses in April among the off-reserve Indigenous population were comparable to those in the non-Indigenous population.
• There are a number of factors that contribute to the gender wage gap:
  • Societal norms and biases influence the value of jobs and wages, so that sectors and jobs where women and men work are differently valued, with women-dominated occupations and industries being undervalued.
  • The unbalanced share of unpaid care work between men and women and insufficient options for child care and elder care result in women doing more unpaid caregiving, having less time for paid work, and having more family-related work interruptions, which may impact their career path.
  • In 2015, a greater proportion of women performed unpaid work activities than did men (89.9% versus 80.1%):
    • Women aged 25 to 54 spent an average of 3.9 hours daily on unpaid work as a primary activity, compared to 2.4 for men;
    • The number of hours per day spent on unpaid domestic and care work by Indigenous women aged 25-54 was the same (3.9) as the number of hours spent by non-Indigenous women, compared to 2.5 for Indigenous men.
    • Women aged 15 to 64 (measure used by OECD) spent an average of 4.1 hours daily on unpaid work, compared to 2.6 for men.
  • Gender bias and discrimination (intentional and unintentional) in business practices prevent women from achieving their full economic potential, such as access to capital.

Measures to tackle the gender wage gap

• Accordingly, the gender wage gap must be tackled on a number of fronts. The Government of Canada has been responding to this issue by implementing measures that increase the value of women's work like pay equity and transparency, as well as measures that support care-related responsibilities like the new EI Parental Sharing Benefit; the creation of affordable, high-quality child care spaces for low and modest income families; and flexible work arrangements.
• Women are key to Canada's economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. That is why in addition to the Action Plan for Women in the Economy, the Government committed to:
  • Making a significant, long-term, sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system;
  • Accelerating the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which has already helped women across Canada grow their businesses;
  • Introducing the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for workers unable to work for at least half of the week due to caregiving during the pandemic; and
  • Evolving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to transition those who rely on it to an employment insurance-type program. This change will also see sickness and caregiver benefits for those who are not covered at work should they, their children or those they care for contract COVID-19.
• The Government also continues to take steps to address women's systemic economic vulnerability during COVID-19. This includes measures such as:
  • Additional assistance to families with children by temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering almost $2 billion in extra support;
  • Offering $19 billion to the Provinces and Territories to get our communities back up and running and support the services Canadians rely on like child care;
  • $50M to over 1000 organizations supporting women and children fleeing violence, with an additional $50M announced; and
  • $685 million in total for the new distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities, such as: support for elders and vulnerable community members; measures to address food insecurity; educational and other support for children; mental health assistance; emergency response services; and preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Issue: Women in politics

Recommended response

• When women participate fully in the public life of our country, we all benefit from the diversity of perspectives, talents and experiences they contribute.
• The Government is supporting efforts to overcome systemic barriers that keep women out of politics through various initiatives. For example, $547,300 was provided to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to develop a national strategy to address barriers that impede women's active political participation.
• The Government has also taken steps to ensure the House of Commons is flexible, compassionate and reasonable in making accommodations for Members to improve work-life balance, such as:
  • Enacting legislation to ensure that federally regulated workplaces, including Parliament Hill, are free from harassment and sexual violence;
  • Introducing a first-ever parental leave program for MPs that allows them to be absent for up to a year to care for a newborn or newly adopted child;
  • Introducing a change to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons to allow an infant being cared for by an MP to be present on the floor of the House of Commons; and
  • Providing childcare access and designated spaces for MPs with infants and children.
• Budget 2019 announced that the Government will invest $160 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, to enhance the Women's Program to advance gender equality in Canada.
  • Since 2015, the Department for Women and Gender Equality, through the Women's Program, has invested over $27M in projects that strengthen women's leadership.
• In 2019-20, the Women's Program at WAGE invested $17M to support 144 new and ongoing projects under the priority "improve women's and girls' economic security and prosperity".
  • 25 projects were completed, reaching an estimated 14,265 Canadians directly and another 3 million through social media and awareness campaigns, including at least 2.19 million women and girls.

Background

• Barriers that prevent women from becoming involved in politics include a lack of support from and for their families, fear of negative attacks based on gender norms, difficulty obtaining private donations, and societal perceptions of appropriate career paths for women.
  • In December 2017, the Canadian Press surveyed current female MPs. Of 89 female members of Parliament, 38 chose to respond to the voluntary survey: nearly fifty-eight per cent said they had personally been the target of one or more forms of sexual misconduct while in office. Three MPs said they were victims of sexual assault and four said they were the targets of sexual harassment. Of the 22 MPs who had experienced sexual misconduct, 15 said the misconduct was committed by another MP.
• While the Canadian House of Commons currently has a record-high rate of female representation at 98 of 338 or 29%, Canada ranks 57th among 190 countries^{Footnote 1} when comparing presence of women in national parliaments.
• Nonetheless, Parliament has made progress to improve work-life balance in the House of Commons, including:
  • Scheduling votes after Question Period instead of in the evenings;
  • Publishing the House of Commons calendar earlier to allow easier planning for members and coordination with school calendars; and
  • Working with the House of Commons Administration to ensure that special accommodations are guided by principles of flexibility, compassion and reasonableness.

Budget 2019 Initiatives

• To enable further community action to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress, $160 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, was committed to enhance the Women's Program. This funding will advance gender equality in Canada and support a range of projects to advance systemic equality for women, including supporting more women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles.

Budget 2018 Initiatives

• To ensure that federal workplaces, including Parliament, are free from harassment and violence:
  • $34.5 million over five years, starting in 2018-19, and $7.4 million per year ongoing, was committed to support implementation of Bill C-65, which strengthens the framework for the prevention of harassment and violence, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, in the work place;
  • $25.4 million over five years was committed to boost legal aid funding to support victims of sexual harassment in the workplace; and,
  • $25.0 million over five years was committed to better inform workers about their rights and how they can access help if they have been harassed in the workplace.
• To ensure that the House of Commons is flexible, compassionate and reasonable in making accommodations for Members, commitments were made:
  • To work with Parliament to improve work-life balance and provide childcare access and designated spaces for Members with infants and children;
  • To allow an infant being cared for by a Member of Parliament to be present on the floor of the House of Commons; and
  • To make it possible for Parliamentarians to take maternity and parental leave.

Complementary Initiatives

• On December 13, 2018, Bill C-76 became law and amended the Canada Elections Act. Amendments included: allowing candidates to use their own funds, in addition to campaign funds, to pay for disability-related childcare or other relevant home care or healthcare expenses; and increasing the reimbursement rate to 90% for such expenses and exempt them from campaign spending limits.
• On April 10, 2019, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) tabled its final report on the barriers facing women in politics in Canada, entitled Elect Her: A Roadmap for Improving the Representation of Women in Canadian Politics. This report covers four main topics: the barriers facing women who choose to run for elected offices, in all levels of government; the recruitment of women from diverse backgrounds; the barriers facing women running for elected office in Canada's electoral system; and the difficulties for women working as elected officials in Canada. No government response was tabled due to the election timing.
• In 2018, the Department created the Indigenous Women's Circle, which brings together Indigenous leaders to offer guidance and expertise, and inform the department's efforts to address systemic inequalities experienced by Indigenous women, including in leadership roles.
• In November 2018, the Department provided $547,300 in funding to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for a project to encourage more women to get involved in public life and help attain greater parity on municipal councils across the country. FCM is engaging partners (e.g., provincial and territorial municipal associations, Equal Voice, the Canadian Women's Foundation and the private sector) to develop a national strategy and offer support to women to participate in municipal politics.
• In October 2018, the Government announced $3.8 million in funding to Equal Voice for a project to empower the next generation of women leaders, and increase women's participation in politics with a view to creating more gender-balanced governments. As part of this project, young women engaged in events in the House of Commons in April 2019. In addition, these women are developing community pilot initiatives in their ridings and benefiting from mentorship by former Members of Parliament and Senators, and women in elected positions across Canada.

Issue: Women in stem and non-traditional employment

• Increasing women's participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as the skilled trades, is good for the economy and for Canadians. This is true now more so than ever as we look toward economic recovery from COVID-19.
• That is why the Government of Canada continues to be committed to advancing gender equality in STEM and skilled trades.
• The Government will also create an Action Plan for Women in the Economy to help more women get back into the workforce, and to ensure a feminist, intersectional response to the pandemic and recovery.
• Budget 2019 made important investments in Let's Talk Science for their work in engaging youth through hands-on STEM learning, and promoting STEM to girls and other under-represented groups.
• To support more women to enter and succeed in the skilled trades, Canada has invested in several programs including the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program, Apprenticeship Incentive Grants for Women, and the Women in Construction Fund.
• Since November 2015, the Department, through the Women's Program, has approved $11.3M in support of projects to advance women's participation in non-traditional professions in which they are underrepresented, including in STEM.

Background

• Despite significant increases in women's levels of education and labour market participation, the gender wage gap remains as other barriers continue to prevent women from reaching their full economic potential.
• Among these are the effects of occupational segregation by gender. As a result, women are over-represented in low-paying and part-time occupations and underrepresented in full-time high-paying ones. Women's jobs have also been hard hit by COVID-19. Women hold the majority of jobs in hospitality, retail and service industries – sectors first impacted by lockdown and physical distancing measures.
• The Speech from the Throne announced that the Government will create an Action Plan for Women in the Economy to help more women get back into the workforce and to ensure a feminist, intersectional response to this pandemic and recovery. This Plan will be guided by a task force of experts whose diverse voices will power a whole-of-government approach.

Government of Canada Initiatives: STEM and Skilled Trades

• Announced in Budget 2018, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Canadian Institutes of Health Research are tasked with developing new plans to achieve greater diversity among research funding recipients. To support these goals the Government is investing in, for example:
  • $210 million over five years ($50 million ongoing) for the Canada Research Chairs Program to better support early-career researchers, while increasing diversity among nominated researchers.
  • $15 million over five years to implement programs (like Dimensions, and Canadian Athena SWAN) that support improving equity, diversity and inclusion at post-secondary institutions.
• Budget 2019 provided $10 million over two years to Let's Talk Science for their work engaging youth in hands-on STEM learning, including promoting STEM to girls and other under-represented groups.
• The skilled trades also offer women opportunities for well paying, rewarding jobs in sectors across the economy. Through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the Government is investing in supporting more women to enter and succeed in the skilled trades, such as:
  • $19.9 million over five years, starting in 2018–19, to pilot an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women. Under the grant, women receive $3,000 for each of their first two years of training up to $6,000.
  • $10.0 million over three years from ESDC's existing resources to launch the Women in Construction Fund in 2018-19.

WAGE Specific Supports:

• Since November 2015, the Department has approved $11.3M in support of projects to advance women's participation in non-traditional professions in which they are underrepresented, including in STEM. For example:
  • A project by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta is working to increase the participation of women in STEM professions through consultations, an analysis on diversity and pay equity, and the development and piloting of a workplace culture policy.

Issue: Women in leadership and decision-making

Recommended response

• The Government is committed to increasing the representation of women in positions of leadership and decision-making, in both the public and private sectors.
• To that end, the Government now requires all federally incorporated organizations to disclose the diversity of their senior management and board of directors. This will increase corporate transparency and advance gender equality and diversity in Canada's boardrooms.
• Since its launch in 2016, the new selection process for Governor in Council (GIC) appointments, which is open, transparent, and merit-based, has resulted in a significant increase in women appointments.
  • Most recent numbers indicate that the GIC population is made up of over 50% women, 6% Indigenous Peoples, 3% of persons with a disability and, 8% of persons who identify as a visible minority.
• WAGE also continues to work to increase the number of women in senior decision-making positions across government, and to support continued gender equality and diversity in Canadian companies.
• For example, since 2015, WAGE has invested over $27 million through its Women's Program in projects to advance women's representation in leadership and decision-making roles, including:
  • $18 million to fund roughly 50 projects that engage some 150 women leaders from across the country working to advance gender equality locally and as part of a pan-Canadian network.
  • 144 projects that were supported under the priority of "Encouraging women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles". 25 projects are complete – they reached an estimated 14,265 Canadians directly and another 3 million through social media and awareness campaigns, including at least 2.19 million women and girls.

Background

Government of Canada Efforts:

• The United Nations suggests that women should represent at least 30% of a decision-making body in order to meaningfully influence decision-making processes. In Canada, this threshold is not achieved in most forms of leadership for both the private and public sectors.
  • Canadian Board Diversity Council's 2018 Report Card indicates that women hold 24.4% of FP500 board seats. This is an increase from 2015 when women held 19.5%.
• In February 2016, the Government established an open and transparent process for selecting Governor in Council appointees. This process has helped strengthen trust in Canada's democracy and ensure the integrity of its public institutions.
  • Most notably, women have been appointed for the first time to a number of leadership positions, including: the Chief Science Advisor, the Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission, the Chair of Via Rail, the President of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the President of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the Executive Director of the Standards Council of Canada, the Chief Public Health Officer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Bank. 
  • Women have also been appointed to other key leadership positions such as the Chairperson of the Parole Board of Canada, the RCMP Commissioner, the Chairperson of the Royal Canadian Mint, and two Agent of Parliament positions, the Information Commissioner and the Commissioner of Lobbying.
• On May 1, 2018, Bill C-25 received Royal Assent. This Bill amends the Canada Business Corporations Act to require corporations to disclose diversity information to their shareholders, including representation of women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities on their boards of directors and senior management teams.
  • Some of this information, particularly with respect to gender, is already required by most provincial securities commissions; and,
  • If policy disclosures are not made, boards have to explain why to their shareholders.
• Budget 2018 announced that the Government would invest $210 million over five years, starting in 2018-19 with $50 million per year ongoing, for the Canada Research Chairs Program to better support early-career researchers, while increasing diversity among nominated researchers, including increasing the number of women nominated.
  • This investment led to the highest number of nominations of women submitted (43%).
• Budget 2019 announced amendments to the Federal Financial Institutions Statutes, which will introduce new requirements for federally regulated financial institutions to disclose policies aimed at promoting gender diversity on boards and in senior management.

WAGE Specific Efforts:

• WAGE, through its Women's Program, has invested over $27 million in projects to advance women's representation in leadership and decision-making roles, including $18 million to support organizations to work with some 150 women leaders in various sectors and communities, as well as in a pan-Canadian network that will support collaborative action to advance gender equality in Canada.
• The 2019 mandate letter directed the Minister for WAGE to renew her commitment to a Federal Plan for Gender Equality, which will also support the work in advancing gender equality in leadership and decision-making positions. The mandate letter also directed the Minister for WAGE to work with the President of the Treasury Board and the Prime Minister to increase the number of women in senior decision-making positions across government, particularly in central agencies and in our security services. In addition, the Minister for WAGE was mandated to work with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry to support continued gender equality and diversity in Canadian companies.

Issue: Government of Canada's gender equality accomplishments

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada continues to build on its significant progress toward gender equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, with historic achievements and initiatives.
• The Government has provided a legal backing for gender equality and made significant investments by:
  • Entrenching gender budgeting into law;
  • Establishing a dedicated Department for Women and Gender Equality;
  • Increasing legal protections for Canadians of all genders by amending the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to add protections based on gender identity and expression;
  • Passing historic legislation to introduce a proactive pay equity regime within the federal public and private sectors;
  • Launching It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence in 2017, which has received over $200M in new investments and over $40M per year ongoing to address gender-based violence;
  • Making a historical investment of $160 million to enable further community action to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress; and
  • Creating the first-ever federal program specifically dedicated to advancing LGBTQ2 equality, with $20 million in funding.
• As part of the Government of Canada Response to COVID-19, up to $100M is being disbursed to support organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence.
  • $50M has already been provided to over 1000 organizations, allowing thousands of women and children to benefit from the continuation and timely adaptation of essential services and supports

Background

Key Government Achievements

• On November 4, 2015, the Prime Minister appointed:
  • The first gender-balanced federal Cabinet, allowing for diverse perspectives to be represented at the Cabinet table; and
  • The first federal minister fully dedicated to gender issues.
• On November 28, 2017, the Prime Minister delivered an apology to LGBTQ2 Canadians to acknowledge the Government of Canada's role in creating a culture of systemic oppression and criminalization toward LGBTQ2 people.
• To address the wrongs experienced by those who were unfairly criminalized by unjust laws and actions, Bill C-66, the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018, putting into place a process to permanently destroy the records of convictions for offences involving consensual sexual activity between same-sex partners that would be lawful today.
• On June 19, 2017, Bill C-16 received Royal Assent. This bill includes gender identity as a prohibited ground for discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act. It also includes violence motivated by gender identity as a form of hate crime under the Criminal Code.
• On March 22, 2017, for the first time, the federal budget included a gender statement examining the gender impact of budget measures. On November 21, 2018, the Fall Economic Statement included the new gender budgeting legislation to enshrine gender budgeting in the federal government's budgetary and financial management processes.
  • The Canadian Gender Budgeting Act came into force in December 2018, and enshrines gender budgeting in the federal government's budgetary and financial management processes.
  • Budget 2019 fulfilled the Government's commitment to publish the GBA+ in respect of each budget measure; a comprehensive summary of each GBA+ is provided in the Budget 2019 Gender Report annex.
  • Budgets will also be guided by the new Gender Results Framework with its six pillars:
    1. Education and Skills Development;
    2. Economic Participation and Prosperity;
    3. Leadership and Democratic Participation;
    4. Gender-Based Violence and Access to Justice;
    5. Poverty Reduction, Health and Well-Being; and
    6. Gender Equality Around the World.

Key WAGE Investments

• Through Budget 2019, $20 million is being invested to help address the unique needs and persisting disparities among LGBTQ2 individuals in Canada by investing in the capacity building of LGBTQ2 community organizations.
  • To date, there are 7 funded agreements with organizations across Canada. Additional funding from the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund has been set aside to extend 6 of the 7 funded agreements.
  • WAGE has finalized the LGBTQ2 call for proposals to disburse the remaining funds. The disbursement of these funds to successful applicant organizations is expected to begin in late 2020.
    
• Budget 2019 proposed a historic investment: $160 million over five years in new funding, starting in 2019-20. This funding will enable further community action to tackle systemic barriers impeding women's progress, while recognizing and addressing the diverse experiences of gender and inequality across the country.
  • This funding builds on Budget 2018 gender equality milestones, which provided $100M over five years, beginning in 2018-19, to support women's organizations to ensure a strong sustainable women's movement. Over 250 organizations have received funding to increase organizational capacity and help organizations work collectively to address gender equality issues.
  • As part of the $160M investment, WAGE entered into three innovative funding agreements last year with organizations that will match up to $30M of federal funding to accelerate gender equality from coast to coast to coast. Up to $10M was provided to each of the following organizations: Community Foundations of Canada, Canadian Women's Foundation, and Grand Challenges Canada. Each organization is matching this funding to advance gender equality efforts across cultures and generations, particularly in rural and remote communities and to support Indigenous women in Canada. The following is an update on progress to date:
    
    
    1. Community Foundations of Canada (CFC)
       • CFC ran their first pilot intake with 26 community foundations.
       • The call for proposals received a good mix of projects from both local gender equality organizations, as well as organizations looking to become more involved in gender equality work: 112 projects were supported in 40 communities.
       • CFC is also undertaking specific outreach activities in the north to fund northern projects.
         
    2. Grand Challenges Canada (GCC)
       • The organization has formed an Indigenous Gender Equality Reference Group which is very engaged in the design of the funding program. This group is composed of individuals with a range of expertise and experience including entrepreneurs, educators, innovators and Elders from First Nations, Inuit and Métis backgrounds. They also come with an understanding of urban, rural, remote and Northern Indigenous contexts.
       • GCC's Round 1 Seed Funding Request for Proposals was launched in May 2020. This first round of funding is structured as a two-step process. Round one resulted in 238 bold ideas, of which 50 innovators were invited to submit a full application. A total of 10 projects are to be funded.
         
    3. Canadian Women's Foundation (CWF)
       • In order to distribute funding, CWF used its priority areas – violence prevention and economic justice – and included a focus on rural, remote and northern communities in their calls for proposals within each of the funding streams.
       • The calls for proposals also indicated that priority would be given to programs working with the following groups: women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people who face multiple barriers and are underserved, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, Black peoples, racialized peoples, those living in rural or northern communities, those who identify as 2SLGBTQI+, people living on low-income, older peoples, refugee, immigrant or non-status peoples, those with disabilities, and young people.
       • An initial round of funding has been disbursed (some funding is still pending approval), and the next CFP will be launched between fall 2020 and spring 2021.

• Budgets 2017 and 2018 committed over $200M over 5 years and $40M ongoing for GBV initiatives as part of It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address GBV, specifically focusing on advancing efforts to prevent GBV; support survivors and their families; and promote responsive legal and justice systems.
  
• A total of 6 departments have received funding through Budgets 2017 and 2018 under the GBV Strategy and they include Public Safety Canada; Public Health Agency of Canada; Department of National Defense; Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and WAGE. WAGE is receiving $108.5M between 2017-18 and 2022-23 and $22M ongoing for public education and awareness, research, programming, and the establishment and operation of the GBV Knowledge Centre.
  
• Key WAGE accomplishments to date under the Strategy include the following:
  • The GBV Program was launched, which provides funding to organizations working in the GBV sector to implement innovative interventions. Of the 60 projects funded as part of this program, 56 projects are currently under way to develop and test promising practices to support victims and survivors of gender-based violence and their families and 4 are developing implementation plans.
  • In December 2018, the GBV Knowledge Centre's online platform was launched. This platform compiles resources and research related to GBV, including information on federal initiatives related to GBV. As of September 2020, the online platform was visited close to 37,200 times.
    
• Three new national surveys were developed to establish baselines on the prevalence of different forms of GBV among different populations, provide a deeper understanding of GBV in Canada and measure progress overtime:
  
  • The Survey on Safety in Public and Private Spaces released its provincial findings in December 2019, followed by partial findings for the territories in August 2020. The final report on results for the territories is expected to be released by the end of 2020. Results were also released in September 2020 on experiences of GBV among LGBTQ2 people, which provided the first ever nationally representative data on transgender and gender diverse people in Canada.
  • The Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population released its findings in September 2020;
  • Results from the Survey on Sexual Misconduct at Work are expected to be released in 2021.
    
• In December 2018, WAGE launched a public call for proposals of up to $5 million for research on gender-based violence and gender equality. The CFP resulted in thirteen projects that are currently (or about to be) funded. Topics for these projects include intimate partner violence, sexual violence among LGBTQ2 people in the post-secondary setting, human trafficking, access to justice, and Indigenous community-based approaches to GBV.
  
• In line with WAGE priorities and approaches, two Indigenous-led research projects that address GBV are under way. In January 2019, the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC) began work on a feasibility study for research on GBV among First Nations. As well, in August 2019, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada began work on a project titled "Meeting Survivors' Needs: Gender-based Violence and the Criminal Justice System in Inuit Nunangat".
  
• Two Annual Reports (2017-18 and 2018-19) have been published to report back on progress and achievements made to date. These reports can be found on the GBV Knowledge Centre's Online Platform. Publication of the annual report for 2019-2020 is forthcoming.
  
• In 2019, WAGE funded a project on GBV at Post-Secondary Institutions. The project report highlighted recommendations, and provided tools and resources for Post-Secondary Institutions to consider when addressing GBV on their campuses.
  
• Through the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, WAGE has received $10 million (starting in 2020-21) and $2 million per year ongoing to develop the Continuum of Care Prevention and Interventions for Vulnerable Populations Initiative.
  
• WAGE launched a $14 million call for proposals for its Human Trafficking Initiative, which closed on September 11, 2020.
  
• Early accomplishments from other departments as part of the Strategy include:
  • The launch of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, led by Public Safety Canada, in partnership with many federal departments, including WAGE.
  • In 2019-20, the 25 projects funded through the Teen Dating Violence Prevention funding stream of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) directly reached 4,464 participants and 3,165 professionals in 80 sites across Canada.
  • Public Safety Canada and WAGE co-hosted an expert panel on gender-based violence and technology facilitated violence that reached 140 participants.
  • As of January 2020, a total of 43 human trafficking-related projects by community organizations and law enforcement agencies have been supported by Justice Canada.
  • As part of Budget 2016, CMHC completed construction of  five additional shelters on reserve for persons fleeing domestic violence in First Nation communities across Canada. The five shelters receive operational funding from Indigenous Services Canada, and have beem integrated into the existing network of 41 shelters serving women and children living on reserve in the provinces and in the Yukon.
  • In 2019-2020, a coordinated partnership of settlement and anti-violence sector umbrella organizations were brought together by IRCC to implement the Gender-Based Violence Settlement Sector Strategy.
  • Bill C-65 on harassment and violence in the workplace, led by Employment and Social Development Canada, received Royal Assent in 2018 and is expected to come into force on  January 1, 2021.
  • In 2019, the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre received 102,967 requests for assistance, an increase of 68% since 2018 and an overall increase of 1106% since 2014.
  • In March 2020, the implementation of a cultural awareness and trauma-informed GBV training for all RCMP employees was piloted to a group of employees and will allow for direct feedback from a sample of intended users.
  • Through the Federal Victims Strategy, Justice Canada has funded 32 projects, which include 18 outreach projects and 14 legal advice projects.
    
• As part of the Government's COVID-19 response, an investment of up to $50 million to women's shelters and sexual assault centres was disbursed to support women and children fleeing violence, including facilities in Indigenous communities, and to organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities.
  • Through this investment, over 1000 organizations providing critical gender-based violence services and supports, such as women's shelters and sexual assault organizations, have received funding.
    
• On October 2nd, the Government announced an additional $50 million, for a total of $100 million, in funding to support organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV.

International

• In June 2019, Canada hosted the Women Deliver 2019 Conference in Vancouver. During the conference, the Prime Minister announced that the Government of Canada will raise its funding to reach $1.4 billion annually by 2023 to support women and girls' health around the world.
• The Minister for Women and Gender Equality also announced the Government of Canada's intention to work with the Equality Fund to establish an innovative global platform bringing the granting, philanthropic and investment worlds together to mobilize resources for women's rights organizations in developing countries. This will be established with a $300 million commitment from the government.

Issue: Mandates of ministers responsible for women and gender equality & diversity and inclusion and youth

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada continues to work towards creating a more inclusive society for all Canadians, where every person has an equal opportunity to succeed.
• As Minister for the Department of Women and Gender Equality, I will continue to advance equality through the inclusion of women and gender diverse people in Canada's economic, social and political life, and through the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence.
• My Department's mandate is reflective of the Government of Canada's commitment to support the women's movement and equality-seeking groups, with a particular focus on vulnerable women, including Indigenous women, women with disabilities, members of LGBTQ2 communities and newcomer, racialized and migrant women.
• In carrying out this mandate, my Department will continue to work closely with the Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, to support and champion the building of a diverse and inclusive country where every person has equal opportunity to succeed.

Background

• The Department for Women and Gender Equality Act received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018, as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 2. This transformed the former agency Status of Women Canada into the Department for Women and Gender Equality with a Minister for Women and Gender Equality.
• The Minister's powers, duties and functions now formally extend to and include all matters relating to women and gender equality, including the advancement of equality, including social, economic and political equality, with respect to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
• The mandate of the new Department also formalizes as a responsibility of the Minister, the promotion of a greater understanding of the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors including race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic condition, place of residence and disability.
  • The Minister currently promotes this understanding in terms of policy and program impacts through the Government's gender and diversity lens known as GBA+.
• This legislation has been complemented by the mainstreaming of GBA+, through a number of legislative initiatives, including:
  • The Canadian Gender Budgeting Act, formalizing GBA+ in decisions related to budgeting, taxation and expenditures; and
  • New legislation related to Environmental Assessments, Energy, Fisheries, and Immigration that require consideration of GBA+.
• In support of WAGE's mandate, the Government announced in Budget 2019, $20M over three years to help address the unique needs and persisting disparities among members of the LGBTQ2 community by investing in capacity building and community-level work of service organizations.
• The mandate letter for the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth outlines Minister Chagger's responsibilities, which include leading the multiculturalism and anti-racism programs and activities within the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH), as well as developing policy related to the LGBTQ2 file.
  • The LGBTQ2 Secretariat, which develops policy related to the LGBTQ2 file, was originally created at the Privy Council Office in 2017. It was moved to PCH under Minister Chagger's responsibility in 2019.
• The Department for Women and Gender Equality remains accountable for the delivery of the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund and funding agreements with LGBTQ2 community organizations.
• The Department for Women and Gender Equality and the LGBTQ2 Secretariat work closely to advance key LGBTQ2 files.
• The two organizations are also collaborating on strengthening GBA+ for racialized community initiatives by establishing resources, tools, and training.
• An interdepartmental taskforce, the Equity Seeking Communities COVID-19 Taskforce, was established with WAGE and PCH as co-chairs. The taskforce helps to ensure the federal response to COVID-19 is informed by diverse community needs, providing opportunities for communities to engage directly with policymakers.

Issue: Department for women and gender equality funding

Recommended response

• Women's organizations and gender equality seeking organizations provide vital supports to our communities. They support women, girls, LGBTQ2 people and people of all gender identities and expressions in Canada to be financially secure, safe from violence, and able to fully participate in all aspects of our economy and society.
• Since November 2015, Women and Gender Equality Canada has funded nearly 650 projects for approximately $260 million in its ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone can participate fully as members of Canadian society:
  • To date, over 250 of these projects have been funded under the Capacity-building Fund, which supported women's and Indigenous organizations across Canada to continue providing essential supports to women and their families.
  • Over 110 projects were supported under the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Commemoration Fund, which provided over $13 million over two years to help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and LGBTQ and Two-Spirit people.
  • Nearly 60 projects related to testing promising practices to address gender-based violence were funded for approximately $50 million. These projects develop and test promising practices to support survivors of gender-based violence and their families in communities across Canada.
  • 7 LGBTQ2 organizations were funded for $2 million through the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund to help build stronger LGBTQ2 community organizations, networks and infrastructure.
• In July 2020, as part of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Department launched a $14 million call for proposals to support organizations that work to prevent and address human trafficking to develop and implement promising practices that will enhance supports for at-risk populations and survivors.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has announced up to $100 million in emergency funding to women's shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing critical services to those experiencing gender-based violence to ensure continuity of services during this challenging time.
• I am proud that my team at WAGE is working hard not to lapse a single dollar of this important funding, ensuring that organizations on the front line can continue the important work they do to advance gender equality.
• Through our programs, last year alone we reached approximately 6 million people, reducing barriers for them in areas of economic equality and gender-based violence, and building capacity and confidence in the areas of leadership.

Background

• WAGE funding is comprised of the Women's Program; the Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program (LGBTQ2); and the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program. A description of each program has been provided below.
• In addition, information on the COVID-19 Emergency Funding for Women and Children fleeing violence is also provided below.

Women's Program: Summary of Funding

• Through the Women's Program, the Department for Women and Gender Equality invests in projects across Canada that address systemic barriers to women's equality. The objective of the Women's Program is to achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada.
• With historic increases in funding over the past five years, the Women's Program has been able to significantly extend its funding support to advance systemic change for women's equality and strengthen the capacity of women's organizations.
• Since 2015, the Women's Program has funded nearly 600 projects, totalling approximately $210 million. Of that total, over 23% of funding (203 projects, $47.9 million) has been invested in achieving equality for Indigenous women and girls, commemorating the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2 people, as well as encouraging Indigenous women's innovations, entrepreneurial spirit and leadership.
  • The total number of projects funded increased by approximately 52% in the period from 2011-2015 (389 projects, $66 million) to 2015-2020 (593 projects, $210 million), representing over 218% more funding.

Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program (LGBTQ2)

• Budget 2019 provided $20 million over three years to enhance LGBTQ2 organizations' service capacity.
• To date, $2 million of this funding has been distributed to 7 organizations.
  • Fierté Canada Pride ($250,000)
  • Conseil québécois LGBT ($249,963)
  • The Enchanté Network ($700,000)
  • Égale Canada Human Rights Trust ($399,884)
  • Canadian Rainbow Coalition for Refuge ($150,000)
  • 2 Spirits in Motion Foundation ($200,000)
  • Canadian Trans Network ($99,984)
• A call for proposals for the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund was launched on March 3, 2020, and closed on May 14, 2020. The closed call is expected to result in additional investments that support the capacity of LGBTQ2 organizations across the country whose initiatives contribute to a strong LGBTQ2 movement in Canada to advance equality for all people.
  • Disbursement of these funds to the more than 70 successful applicant organizations is expected to begin in fall 2020.

Gender-Based Violence Program

• Following the June 2017 launch of It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, the Department for Women and Gender Equality established the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program in January 2018.
• The GBV Program complements the Department's Women's Program, and helps organizations working in the GBV sector to develop and implement promising practices to address gaps in supports for survivors and their families.
• Through WAGE's GBV Program, approximately $50 million is being invested in 60 projects, which develop and test promising practices to support survivors of gender-based violence and their families in communities across Canada.
• Through this program, the Department is particularly focused on addressing gaps in supports for Indigenous women and their communities and other underserved populations, such as those who are more at risk of gender-based violence and/or who are facing barriers to accessing support services.
• The promising practices being developed with this funding will help more organizations, such as sexual assault crisis centres, better support population groups that are at the highest risk of experiencing or having experienced violence.

Human Trafficking Initiative

• On September 4, 2019, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking (National Strategy) was launched by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, with investments of $57 million over five years and $10 million per year ongoing.
• Through the National Strategy, WAGE received $10 million, starting in 2020-21, and $2 million per year ongoing to develop the Continuum of Care Prevention and Interventions for Vulnerable Populations initiative.
• On July 29, 2020, WAGE launched a $14 million call for proposals for its Human Trafficking Initiative, in conjunction with Public Safety Canada, who announced their $5 million call for proposals.
• WAGE's call for proposals will support eligible organizations to develop and implement promising practices to enhance prevention and intervention supports for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking.
• Both WAGE and Public Safety Canada's calls closed on September 11, 2020, and applications are being reviewed.
• Since 2017, the Department has provided approximately $2 million through its GBV Program for human trafficking-related projects.

COVID-19 Emergency Funding for Shelters and Sexual Assault Centres

• On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which included funding of up to $50 million to women's shelters, sexual assault centres, and organizations that provide important services to those experiencing gender-based violence, to help with their capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities. Below is the breakdown of the $50 million:
  • $30 million to WAGE for women's shelters and sexual assault centres across the country;
  • $10 million to WAGE for organizations that provide important services to those experiencing gender-based violence; and
  • $10 million to Indigenous Services Canada, for the existing network of 46 emergency shelters on reserve and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence.
• The $40 million funding to WAGE was implemented as follows:
  • $20.54 million was provided to Women's Shelters Canada (WSC). They have distributed the funding to 432 women's shelters across the country (excluding Quebec).
  • $3 million was provided to Canadian Women's Foundation (CWF). They have distributed the funding to 93 sexual assault centres across the country (excluding Quebec).
  • $6.46 million is being distributed by the Government of Quebec to approximately 167 women's shelters and organizations that assist victims of sexual and domestic violence in the province.
  • On May 29, 2020, an amendment was signed with the Canadian Women's Foundation for an additional $10 million. This funding is being provided to organizations, beyond shelters and sexual assault centres, providing critical supports and services to women and children fleeing violence. As of November 13, 2020, 94% (341) organizations had registered and 93% (337) had received payment.
• An additional $2.3 million from WAGE's Women's Program has been provided to the Government of Quebec to support organizations in Quebec.
• In October 2020, the Government of Canada announced an additional $50 million in funding for organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence:
  • Up to $10 million for women's shelters and sexual assault centres to help them continue to provide their critical services safely.
  • Up to $10 million to support organizations providing services related to gender-based violence to Indigenous people off-reserve.
  • Up to $30 million for other women's organizations to help combat the spread of COVID-19, and to address the increased demand for services.
• This brings the total emergency funding for organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence to up to $100 million.

Women's Program Project Examples:

Atlantic Region

• A project that will address organizational capacity needs to allow the organization to continue to strengthen and support the network of provincially funded shelters and services for women affected by relationship violence. Organizational capacity will be enhanced through the following activities: training on board governance and organization financial health, partnership development, collaboration and networking, strategic planning, results-based management and advocacy.
• A project that will develop and pilot a Skilled Trades Exploration Program for Women while addressing the gap of skilled trade workers in the province of New Brunswick. A Gender-based Analysis of tools and training will be completed and an evidence-based report, including provincial recommendations for actions that fill the gap for women in skilled trades, will be shared with the Government of New Brunswick. Additionally, through public-private partnerships (P3) with institutional, government and private sector stakeholders, the organization will develop and implement a strategic plan for the recruitment and retention of women in non-traditional skilled trades in the province.

Quebec Region

• A collaborative project between six organizations to provide municipal institutions with the knowledge, tools, and support to implement structural and policy changes to create more inclusive contexts that foster women's political participation. Approximately 15 regional county municipalities are engaged and working with internal committees in the development and implementation of sustainable action plans and equality policies. Promising practices related to the implementation of equality policies and action plans will be shared throughout the province of Quebec through a partnership with the Fédération québécoise des municipalités, a provincial association representing 91% of municipalities. 
• A project to enhance support for women and girl victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) through the implementation and adaptation of coordinated inter-sectoral approaches. Activities will enable a better understanding of this issue in the six Quebec regions where the greatest numbers of affected women are found, as well as compare with the initiatives of francophone organizations in Ontario. The project will bring together stakeholders in the immigration, health and social services, and youth protection sectors to improve prevention, intervention and ongoing support for victims in Quebec.

Ontario Region

• A project with Oshki Pimache-o-Win Training Institute to reach a great number of women in remote and rural communities of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in North-Western Ontario in order to provide training and support on wellness, self-care and leadership thereby strengthening community structures and gender equality.
• A project to improve the tracking and reporting of sexual assaults by authorities through the adaptation of the "Philadelphia model" in Ontario. Through the project, a Canadian-specific case-review model will be implemented to increase police accountability, potentially reduce the number of cases misclassified as "unfounded," and increase reporting rates and trust in the judicial system for sexual assault survivors.

Western Region

• A project to increase the recruitment and retention of women in the Information and communications technology (ICT) sector in Manitoba by working to eliminate systemic workplace culture barriers. The project will work with partners to develop and implement a digital economy action plan to advance women's economic success through increased opportunities, resources and supports.
• A project that will find sustainable solutions to systemic and institutional housing barriers for women who are victims of domestic violence in British Columbia to improve their economic security. The organization will partner with agencies to implement solutions within four communities across BC and address identified barriers through new policies, protocols, and approaches that will be widely shared with key stakeholders.

LGBTQ2 Program Project Examples:

• Egale Canada Human Right Trust received $100,000 for a 12-month project to address organizational capacity needs through expansion of the organization's research capabilities so the organization can become a National LGBTQ2 Research Lab/Hub, thereby ensuring greater accessibility to knowledge, expertise, and best practices in order to address discrimination and oppression experienced by members of the LGBTQ2 community in Canada. Specifically, organizational capacity will be further enhanced through the establishment of a National LGBTQ2 Academic Advisory Council; the development an online research hub; the completion of a literature review and the conducting of research studies on key areas of interest; and, the promotion of the research hub and individual studies and findings via online communication channels. It is expected that through this project, partnerships and collaborations will be established and/or strengthened to support the LGBTQ2 movement, and that LGBTQ2 organizations will have increased knowledge and capacity to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
• Fierté Canada Pride is receiving $250,000 for a 7-month project to strengthen the organization's foundational structure and network to support the growth and capacity of Pride organizations across the country by engaging them in an asset mapping exercise, developing and launching a 5-year strategic plan, implementing a micro-granting program for small and medium Pride organizations, and providing members with capacity-building support services. Through this project, it is anticipated that LGBTQ2 organizations will have increased knowledge and capacity to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.
• The Enchanté Network is receiving $700,000 for an 8-month project to support its incorporation and expansion from coast to coast, strengthen its governance, develop and implement a communication strategy, work on partnership development, organize its founding national general meeting and provide micro grants to support the capacity building of LGBTQ2 centres and establishment of other centres across the country. Through this project, it is anticipated that LGBTQ2 organizations will have increased knowledge and capacity to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

GBV Program Project Examples:

• Family Transition Place, in Orangeville, Ontario, is receiving $999,837 over five years for their project entitled "Rural Response Program" to implement promising practices to support survivors and their families. The organization is working to reduce barriers to access services for women in rural and remote communities through mobile service delivery and increased partnerships between service providers.
• The Indo-Canadian Women's Association, based in Edmonton, is receiving $560,890 to create and pilot a protocol for home visitors, such as nurses and Children's Services, to screen for violence when providing services to Indigenous women, newcomers, refugees or non-status women, and racialized women and their children. The approach is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive to enable women to safely report violence and connect them and their children with much-needed support services.
• Y des femmes de Montréal (YWCA Montreal) is receiving $981,129 in funding for their project entitled "The Graduation Approach and Gender-Based Violence." The project is adapting and testing the Graduation Approach support model to improve the support services available to newly arrived immigrant women who are survivors of gender-based violence, regardless of their legal status. Project activities are helping these women and their families cope with their loss, improve their economic security and develop the ability to be independent within the community.

COVID-19 Emergency Funding for Shelters and Sexual Assault Centres Testimonials:

Alice House, NS - Heather Byrne, Executive Director

Saskatoon Interval House, SK - Tanya Wiggins, Executive Director

Inasmuch House, ON - Erin Griver, Director of Women's Services

Issue: Canada's position on gender indexes

Recommended response

• Canada performs well in global rankings on gender equality, with consistently high scores in the areas of education, and equality under the law.
• In the World Economic Forum's latest Global Gender Gap Report:
  • Canada placed 1st in North America; and
  • Canada placed 19th overall – up 11 places since 2015.
• We know there is still more work to be done, this is why the Government of Canada is taking concrete actions to address persistent gaps, including appointing gender-balanced federal Cabinets, passing pay equity legislation, helping women create and grow their businesses, investing in affordable childcare, making it easier for families to share child care responsibilities, and launching Canada's first ever strategy to prevent and address gender-based violence.
• The Government of Canada is also providing stable, predictable and flexible funding to women's organizations; expanding shelters and transition houses; and providing employment support and newcomer integration supports.

Background

• Many international bodies and civil society organizations use gender indexes to rank countries' progress towards gender equality. This allows countries to see how they are faring compared to others, and where there is room for improvement.
• Overall, Canada performs well in global rankings on gender equality, with consistently high scores in the areas of education, and equality under the law. For instance, in 2019, the OECD classified Canada as having a "very low level of discrimination" stemming from formal and informal laws, attitudes and practices that restrict access to rights, justice and empowerment based on gender. Equal rights under law have a notable impact on gender equality in educational attainment – an area where Canada shines. The World Economic Forum's 2020 Global Gender Gap Report (WEF-GGR) ranked Canada 1st (tying with 24 other countries) out of 153 countries on gender equality in educational attainment and 19th overall in economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health; and politics. According to this measure, Canada has closed just over 77% of its overall gender gap, with a narrowing of 3% since 2015.
• The 2020 WEF-GGR ranked Canada three places lower than in 2018, not because we are doing worse, but because we have not kept pace with improvements in other countries. For example, countries such as Spain and Latvia, whose rankings have increased 21 and 6 places since 2018, respectively, have experienced improvements in political representation, which has played a critical role in their advancement in the rankings. Like most countries, Canada has more to do in the areas of equal representation in business and politics; ending gender-based violence; and addressing the gender-wage gap. Other pressing concerns, include unequal access to housing, child care and reproductive health care services.
• The Government of Canada is taking concrete actions to address these concerns including by:
  • Assisting working families by increasing the accessibility and affordability of after-school care so that women, who do the majority of care work, can remain attached to the labour force and progress through their careers without penalty;
  • Providing historic investments of $100M per year by 2023, in women's and equality-seeking organizations so that they can continue to provide critical programs and services to women and girls across the country;
  • Addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls by implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' Calls for Justice, in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples;
  • Investing in the growth of women-owned businesses through the Women's Entrepreneurship Strategy;
  • Renewing the Government's commitment to preventing and addressing gender-based violence by developing a National Action Plan with partners; and
  • Providing targeted resources for international development assistance, through the Feminist International Assistance Policy, including investments in education and gender equality.

Issue: Federal-provincial-territorial (FTP) Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women

Recommended response

• The Department for Women and Gender Equality works closely with provinces and territories through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women.
• The value and strength of the Department's relations with the provinces and territories through the Forum has been evident throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our close collaboration enabled us to address mutual priorities and effectively implement emergency responses, such as the rapid delivery of much-needed federal funding to organizations supporting women and children fleeing violence.
• FPT Ministers are working to develop a three-year strategic plan that will reflect women and gender equality issues of importance for Canadians, including advancing priorities in the context of COVID-19 and the recovery period.
• FPT Ministers are also collaborating on the development of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, with a focus on ensuring that victims, survivors and their families have access to supports no matter where they live in Canada.

Background

FPT Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women

• Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) plays a leadership role in advancing the Government of Canada's priorities on women and gender equality through strong intergovernmental relations across the country. To this end, the FPT Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, established in 1972, has been meeting annually since 1982.
• The Ministerial co-chairs of the FPT Forum include Canada and a provincial or territorial counterpart that changes annually on a rotational basis. The 2020 co-chair, from Newfoundland and Labrador, is the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and Deputy Government House Leader.

FPT Collaboration in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WAGE communicated regularly and collaborated closely with provincial and territorial (PT) partners building on the established FPT consultation mechanism.
• WAGE's strong relationships with PT colleagues facilitated the quick and effective roll-out of emergency response measures to support women and children fleeing violence across the country. Bilateral discussions with Quebec led to an agreement to support women's shelters organizations that assist victims of sexual and domestic violence in the province.

FPT Forum Strategic Plan 2021-2024

• In recent years, the FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women have worked closely together to ensure that the FPT Forum plays a more strategic role and becomes a table that leverages tangible change to address current and emerging issues regarding the status of women and gender equality.
• FPT Ministers are working to develop a three-year Strategic Plan (2021-2024) to reflect the ongoing and emerging priorities of the Forum.

FPT Ministerial Meetings in 2020

• Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions and physical distancing measures, the FPT Forum had to revisit its planning of meetings in 2020.
• At this time, the 2020 co-chairs, Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador, are planning for the 38th annual meeting of FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women to meet virtually on January 21-22, 2021. For the fourth year in a row, this will be preceded by a pre-meeting with National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives (NILRs) on January 15.

National Action Plan (NAP) to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

• At the 37th annual meeting of FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women held in December 2019 in Victoria, BC, all Ministers identified ending GBV as a priority and agreed to work together towards national efforts to end GBV.
• Since May 2020, FPT Senior Officials and the Task Team on GBV and Access to Justice have worked together to develop documents such as the NAP at a Glance, which presents the vision, goals, guiding principles and pillars of the NAP to End GBV. On September 25, 2020, the NAP at a Glance was endorsed in principle by FPT Ministers, with the exception of Quebec, pending confirmation from the Quebec Conseil des ministres. Bilateral discussions with the province are ongoing at the Ministerial and Senior Officials' levels.

Issue: United Nations commission on the status of women – Impacts of COVID-19 on Beijing+25

Recommended response

• The 64th Session of the United Nations Commission last March was supposed to be the first major international event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and review progress. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the session was significantly scaled back.
• The new format allowed Member states to adopt the Political Declaration (pre-negotiated) and the Multi-Year Program of Work. The session formally closed in July 2020.
• On July 1, 2020, Canada issued its country statement to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which recognizes the profound impact that COVID-19 has had on the world, especially on the most at-risk groups. The differential and gendered impacts of COVID-19 are a reminder to Canada and the world that efforts to advance gender equality remain critically important. This message was reinforced by the Prime Minister during his Beijing+25 statement issued on October 1, 2020, as part of the UN General Assembly high level events.
• Canada looks forward to continued engagement at UNCSW 65 to advance gender equality with our international and domestic partners as well as the international community.

Background

• From 2017-2021, Canada is serving as a member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). This gives Canada formal voting power and increased visibility at the UNCSW's annual working session.
• UNCSW 64 was scheduled to take place from March 9-20 at the UN Headquarters in New York. This year's session was to focus on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+25) as well as mark its 25th anniversary. This global gender equality policy framework is still the reference today.
• In preparation for the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW 64), Canada and other UN Member States prepared and submitted National Review Reports on their progress in implementing the Platform for Action's recommendations. Canada's report was submitted to the UN in the summer of 2019.
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UNCSW held a one-day procedural meeting on March 9, 2020, to allow Member States to deliver opening statements and adopt a Political Declaration reaffirming their commitment to continue the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. All other elements of UNCSW 64, including side events, high-level dialogues, and panel discussions, were cancelled. The Political Declaration was negotiated in advance of the session and was consulted upon with Canadian civil society. In July, Canada issued its country statement to the UNCSW, the Multiyear Programme of Work 2021-2026 was adopted, and UNCSW 64 was formally closed.
• UNCSW 64 was intended to be the first high-level commemorative event for Beijing+25 this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all the planned international celebrations around Beijing+25. For example, the Generation Equality Forum (organized by UN Women, France, and Mexico), which seeks to accelerate progress on gender equality through concrete actions, was also postponed to 2021.
• While there are still uncertainties around COVID-19 and the format of UNCSW 65, the session will be held from March 15-26, 2021. It will focus on Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

Issue: Canada's role in the generation equality Forum 

Recommended response

• Advancing gender equality both in Canada and around the world is a key Government of Canada priority, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Canada is supportive of UN Women, France, and Mexico's efforts to launch the Generation Equality Forum to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
• The Forum will seek to make meaningful progress to advance gender equality over five years through Action Coalitions in six key areas. On July 1, 2020, Canada was proud to be named as a co-lead for the Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership.
• Canada looks forward to working within a partnership that includes countries, civil society, and the private sector, to develop transformative actions and commitments to make real progress in this area. Public consultations to inform the actions to be implemented and national commitments are expected to take place in late fall.
• The Generation Equality Forum will formally launch in 2021 during high-level meetings in Mexico City and Paris.

Background

• To mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+25), UN Women, France and Mexico (also known as the "Core Group"), are planning to launch the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) to reaffirm multilateralism in uncertain times for women's rights, strengthen the women's movement, and support youth and multi-stakeholder engagement for gender equality.
• The GEF agenda will focus on action and accountability in six (6) areas to address key challenges and emerging issues for gender equality. The six (6) areas that the Action Coalitions will make progress on include: feminist movements and leadership; gender-based violence; economic justice and rights; feminist model of climate justice; bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights; and technology and innovation.
• These Action Coalitions are intended to be innovative partnerships among civil society, Member States, international organizations and the private sector. Each Action Coalition will be expected to develop and implement a set of concrete and transformative actions over a five (5) year period.
• In February 2020, Canada expressed interest in co-leading the Action Coalition on "Feminist Movements and Leadership". In April 2020, UN Women invited Canada to join the leadership of this Action Coalition. In addition to Canada, members of this Action Coalition include the Netherlands and a number of non-government partners (e.g., Inter-Parliamentary Union, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Open Society Foundation, International Women's Development Agency, Gender Links, etc.).
• Canada will be represented by the Minister for Women and Gender Equality on domestic commitments and the Minister for International Development on international commitments on this Action Coalition.
• While plans to launch the GEF have been postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work on the Action Coalitions is continuing. Action Coalition leads met for the first time in July 2020 to begin discussing governance, working methods, and a shared vision for what the Action Coalition will achieve.
• UN Women formally announced co-leads of all Action Coalition members on July 1, 2020. Throughout the summer and fall of 2020, co-leads will be meeting to develop a list of actions and commitments that each coalition will undertake over the next five years.
• Public consultations on these actions and commitments are expected to begin in late fall. WAGE is also working with GAC counterparts to identify opportunities to consult domestically with civil society in the lead-up to the formal launch of the GEF and the Action Coalitions in 2021 at high-level meetings in Mexico City and Paris.
• WAGE has provided funding to the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CanWaCH) to help ensure that Canadian civil society can contribute meaningfully to the GEF initiative. WAGE will also be funding those civil society representatives who were selected to join Canada's official delegation to UNCSW 64 to hold virtual consultation sessions to promote and continue progress towards gender equality in the context of Beijing+25.
• In addition to supporting Canada's domestic commitments under the Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership, this funding will support pan-Canadian partnerships and networks among civil society, and facilitate their ability to hold virtual meetings in order to develop collective recommendations for Canada leading into the GEF and its priorities to advance gender equality beyond 2020.

Issue: Recent evidence on the state of gender equality in Canada

Recommended response

• Achieving gender equality and addressing gender-based violence require that we invest in research, monitor emerging data, and support evidence-based decisions.
• Recent data shows progress for women in areas such as political representation, labour force participation, hourly wages, and representation in apprenticeships. For example:
  • As of October 26, 2020, women account for 29% of Members of Parliament (MPs), up 2% over the previous Parliament; and
  • In 2019, women earned an average 88 cents for every dollar earned by men. This reflects a 1% reduction in the gender wage gap since 2018 and a 2% reduction in the gender wage gap since 2015, based on the average hourly earnings of all workers.
• But the data also show that we need to keep pressing forward so that we see women adequately represented across fields and in leadership roles.

Background

• WAGE is investing in research with partners across sectors, so that we can better understand gender inequalities and the factors that impede progress. Some recent reports have shed light on factors related to the gender wage gap, gendered educational pathways, caregiving and mental health:
  • A report released by Statistics Canada showed that the two largest factors explaining the remaining gender wage gap in 2018 were the distribution of women and men across industries, and women's overrepresentation in part-time work. Meanwhile, the narrowing of the gap between 1998 and 2018 was largely explained by changes in the distribution of men and women across occupations; women's increased educational attainment; and the decline in the share of men in unionized employment.
  • A Statistics Canada article published in December 2019, showed that women accounted for 13.6% of all new apprenticeship registrations in Canada, up from 6.8% in 1991. Moreover, women have been increasingly enrolling in apprenticeship programs traditionally occupied by men, with 18.5% of women who entered into apprenticeship programs in 2018 registering in automotive services as electricians, carpenters, welders, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters, up almost 4 percentage points since 2008. Despite this progress, in 2015, women apprentices were nine times more likely than men to report harassment or discrimination during an apprenticeship.
  • A recent Statistics Canada article showed that the majority (54%) of caregivers in Canada were women in 2018. Among caregivers, women (32%) were more likely than men (28%) to report having unmet caregiving needs. Overall, unmet caregiving needs were associated with a lower level of well-being, including feeling dissatisfied with life (32%), experiencing daily stress (36%), and fair or poor mental health (23%).
  • An article published by Statistics Canada in November 2019 underlined the poorer mental health of sexual minority groups in Canada, vis-à-vis heterosexual people. In 2015, homosexual (19%) and bisexual (40%) people were more likely than heterosexual people to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder or to have experienced thoughts of suicide (5%, 13%, and 2%, respectively) in the previous year.
• Using roughly $17M of funding from It's Time: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-based Violence, WAGE worked with Statistics Canada to develop and implement three new surveys on experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) in Canada including in public and private spaces, online, at work, and in the postsecondary student population. These surveys are the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS), the Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population (SISPSP), and the Survey on Sexual Misconducts at Work (SSMW). The first results from the SSPPS were released in December 2019, results from the SISPSP were published in September 2020, and results from SSMW should be released in 2021. Here are some highlights from the released reports:

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and people of a sexual orientation that is not heterosexual (LGB+), and transgender people (national):

• 2018 self-reported data shows that 59% of LGB+ people have been physically or sexually assaulted since age 15 compared to 37% of heterosexual people.
• Transgender people were more likely to have experienced violence since age 15, and are also more likely to experience inappropriate behaviours in public, online and at work than cisgender individuals.

Post-secondary student population (provinces only):

• In 2019, almost one in seven (15%) women students was sexually assaulted in the postsecondary setting at least once since they started their studies – three times the proportion of men students who experienced the same (5%).
• 45% of women students and 32% men students experienced unwanted sexual behaviours in a public place in the year preceding the survey.
• 20% of women students and 13% of men students experienced discrimination based on their actual or perceived gender, gender identity or sexual orientation in the year preceding the survey.

Issue: Gender Results framework

Recommended response

• In support of the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act, the Government of Canada introduced a Gender Results Framework to guide future decision-making on policies and programs, including budget decisions, to ensure they are responsive to the diverse needs of people in Canada.
• The Framework represents the Government of Canada's goals with respect to gender equality, how we will get there, and how we will measure success under 6 pillars:
  • Education and skills development;
  • Economic participation and prosperity;
  • Leadership and democratic participation;
  • Gender-based violence and access to justice;
  • Poverty reduction, health and well-being; and,
  • Gender equality around the world.
• The Gender Results Framework online platform was launched in March 2019 to provide up-to-date information to Canadians on results.
• This information continues to be expanded and updated as investments in research and data collection advance.

Background

• In 2018, The Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) worked with the Department of Finance Canada, Global Affairs Canada and other departments to develop a whole-of-government Gender Results Framework to inform all departmental initiatives. This framework was released in Budget 2018.
• The Framework represents the Government of Canada's goals with respect to gender equality, how we will get there, and how we will measure success under six pillars: education and skills; economic participation and prosperity; leadership and democratic participation; gender-based violence and access to justice; poverty reduction, health and well-being; and, gender equality around the world.
• Each pillar is supported by relevant objectives and indicators for monitoring progress towards Canada's gender equality goals. In total, the Framework contains 35 objectives and 43 indicators, which were selected through consultation with other federal departments, by reviewing international and domestic best practices, and by consolidating these with Canada's international commitments, specifically the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Indicator Framework and the Beijing Platform for Action. In fact, in May 2019, Canada's National Review of the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was structured against the 6 pillars of the Gender Results Framework.
• Through Budget 2018, the government is providing a total funding of $25 million over 5 years and $5 million per year ongoing, beginning in fiscal year 2018-19, to support research and data collection for the Gender Results Framework.
• This funding also allows WAGE to support more robust GBA+, better policy advice to other government departments and more informed decision-making across the federal government. This is achieved by increasing the evidence base for gender equality through research and data collection, knowledge translation, evaluation and impact measurement, and by supporting interdepartmental coordination, monitoring and reporting of an evidence-based approach to advancing gender equality, as described in the Framework.
• With Budget 2019, WAGE launched a website outlining the framework and including up-to-date sources of data for each of the Gender Results Framework indicators. As a complement to the framework, links to key Governments of Canada initiatives (announced in Budgets 2018 and 2019) that are contributing to the advancement of gender equality have also been included on the website. This public facing tool allows for regular tracking of progress against each of the goals.
• In October 2018, Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women identified 32 common indicators from the Gender Results Framework that will be used to monitor progress related to collaboration of Federal-Provincial-Territorial work.

Issue: 2020-21 Departmental financial overview

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada is taking action to protect our economy, and the health, safety, and jobs of all Canadians during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• This is why, as part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada announced up to $90 million to be delivered through the Department for Women and Gender Equality for women and children experiencing gender-based violence.
• The Government of Canada is also taking action to advance gender equality and address persistent gender inequalities that affect all Canadians.
• To support the Department for Women and Gender Equality in its strengthened mandate and continue to advance gender equality in Canada, Budget 2019 invested $160 million over five years to advance gender equality and $20M over three years to support capacity-building and the community-level work of Canadian LGBTQ2 organizations, both starting in 2019-20.
• The Department for Women and Gender Equality will receive $222.0M in fiscal year 2020-21, including $169.4M in Grants and Contributions.
• Since 2015, the Government has made investing in the vital work of grassroots and community organizations a priority.
  • In 2020-21, the Department's budget for Grants and Contributions to support the work of equality-seeking organizations is more than four times what it was in 2015-16.
  • This is the result of investments in new programming, including the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Commemoration Fund, the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund, the Gender-Based Violence Program, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, capacity-building funding for women's organizations, as well as increases in the Women's Program funding.

Background

• Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates are part of the normal parliamentary approval process to ensure that previously planned government initiatives receive the necessary funding to move them forward, therefore meeting the needs of Canadians.
• The 2020-21 Department Budget Overview includes the Main Estimates, the Operating Budget Carry-forward from 2019-20 and the Supplementary Estimates (A) and (B) adjustments.
• The total funding of $222.0 M to be received in 2020-21 includes:
  • COVID-19 Economic Response Plan ($90M):
    • Additional funding to address gender-based violence during COVID-19 pursuant to the Public Health Events of National Concern Payment Act ($50M)
    • Grants and Contributions to support Women's shelters and sexual assault centres pursuant to the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act ($30M)
    • Emergency response measures to Canadians – COVID-19 ($10M)
  • Increase Capacity and Sustainability of the Women's Movement ($73.9M)
  • Gender-based violence against women and girls ($22.7M)
  • LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund ($9.6M)
  • Advancing Gender Equality – Budget 2019 ($8.9M)
  • Evidence-based policy to advance gender equality and undertake research and data collection to support Gender-based Analysis Plus ($4.1M)
  • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls ($3.4M)
  • National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking ($2.6M)
  • Operating Budget Carry-forward from 2019-20 ($2.2M)
  • Other Adjustments ($0.1M)
  • Statutory funding (Employee Benefit Plan and Minister's salary & car Allowance $4.5M)

*Total amounts have been rounded.

• In 2015-16, the Department's Grants and Contributions budget was $19.5M. Through a number of investments, it has increased each year, reaching $79.4M in 2020-21, excluding the COVID-19 funding. Some investments are ongoing, such as for the Gender-Based Violence Program and the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, while others are time-limited, such as investments under the Women's Program and the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund.

Issue: 2020-21 Main estimates 

Recommended response

• The Government of Canada is taking action to advance gender equality and address persistent gender inequalities that affect all Canadians.
• The Department for Women and Gender Equality will receive $129.8M in funding from the 2020-21 Main Estimates, representing an increase of $15.8M from the previous year's Main Estimates.
• The majority of the funding is for Grants and Contributions to support additional investments in capacity-building for women's organizations and LGBTQ2 service organizations. It also includes investments in support of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking.

Background

• The Main Estimates are part of the normal parliamentary approval process to ensure that previously planned government initiatives receive the necessary funding to move them forward, therefore meeting the needs of Canadians.
• The 2020-21 Main Estimates were tabled in Parliament on January 30, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and limited sessions in the spring for Parliament to study supply, the Standing Orders of the House of Commons were amended to extend the study period into the fall. As a result of prorogation of Parliament, Main Estimates were re-tabled on September 25, 2020.
• The Department will receive $129.8M in total funding for 2020-2021:
  • $45.9M Operating Expenditures;
  • $79.4M Grants and Contributions; and
  • $4.5M Statutory Funding (Employee Benefit Plan $4.4M, Minister's salary & car $89.3K).
• The following table indicates the variance in the funding to be received from the previous Main Estimates:

The increase of $15.8M is a result of:

*The Items voted in prior Estimates represent $10.0M announced in Budget 2019 to Advance Gender Equality. That funding was allocated to Operating Expenditures, Grants and Contributions and Statutory Authorities in 2019-20.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO)

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women's mandate gives it the broad authority to study the policies, programs, expenditures (budgetary estimates) and legislation of departments and agencies, including the Department for Women and Gender Equality, that conduct work related to the status of women and gender equality.

In the 42nd Parliament, for instance, the committee tabled substantive reports on several themes, including:

• Violence against women, sexual harassment in the Canadian Armed Forces;
• Shelters and transition houses available to women experiencing violence;
• Women's economic security; and
• Senior women's experiences of poverty and vulnerability.

In the 43rd Parliament, the committee has studied the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women with the goal of reporting back by the end of December. The committee has a series of topics of interest for future study (women's unpaid work, women's entrepreneurship, women living in rural communities, women in senior decision-making positions, human trafficking of women, girls and gender-diverse individuals, women in non-traditional sectors, online hate and cyberbullying), and it is anticipated that they will determine the topic of their next study in January 2021.

During their first meeting of the second session of the 43rd parliament, members agreed that witnesses who appear before the committee would have five minutes to make opening statements. Whenever possible, these opening statements should be submitted to the committee seventy-two hours in advance. This is followed by a question and answer period. Questions will proceed in the following order:

• Round 1 - 6 minutes each, CPC, LPC, BQ, NDP
• Round 2 - 5 minutes each, CPC, LPC, then 2.5 minutes each, BQ, NDP, and subsequently another 5 minutes each CPC, LPC

The committee also elected Ms. Marilyn Gladu (CPC) as Chair, Ms. Sonia Sidhu (LPC) as Vice-Chair and Ms. Andréanne Larouche (BQ) as Second Vice-Chair.

The committee has made requests for written documents from the Department for Women and Gender Equality, below is an overview of those requests and their status.

July Appearance Follow-up

At the July 8, 2020 appearance before FEWO, WAGE was asked to send details regarding the distribution of COVID-19 funding to organizations in Quebec. A written response was submitted to the committee on August 4, 2020.

New Request – Update on GBV and Women's Economic Security

On October 30, 2020, the Chair of the FEWO sent a letter requesting an update on the government response to two FEWO reports from the First Session of the 42nd Parliament: Taking Action to End Violence Against Young Women and Girls in Canada and Women's Economic Security: Securing the Future of Canada's Economy. More specifically, the committee is interested in updates on the progress made towards each of the report's recommendations since the Government Responses were provided (GBV was provided in 2017 and Women's Economic Security was in 2018).

The committee requested the response no later than Thursday, December 31, 2020. A response is currently being drafted by the department in consultation with other implicated departments.

FEWO Members

Liberal Party of Canada:

Conservative Party of Canada:

New Democratic Party:

Bloc Quebecois: