Government of Canada announces funding for women’s organizations in Manitoba

Eleven organizations across Manitoba are receiving funding to ensure women’s and Indigenous organizations can continue providing essential supports to women and their families

April 18, 2019 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Department for Women and Gender Equality

Women’s organizations provide vital services in our communities, supporting women and girls to be financially secure, free from violence, and able to fully participate in all aspects of our economy and society. Yet for far too long they have been chronically underfunded, underestimated and undermined. The Government of Canada recognizes that women’s organizations are the lifeblood of the women’s movement and that maintaining and growing their ability to do this important work is the most effective way to advance gender equality.

That’s why today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced that the Government of Canada is investing over $3.7 million for 11 women’s organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women across Manitoba.

Parliamentary Secretary Duguid highlighted the organizations that will receive funding (please see the Backgrounder for more information and testimonials):

Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute Inc.
Infinity Women Secretariat Inc.
Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.
Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters Inc.
Manitoba Moon Voices Inc.
Nellie McClung Foundation
North Point Douglas Women’s Centre
North End Women’s Centre Inc.
Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre
Taking Charge! Inc. – Se Prendre En Main! Inc
The Pas Family Resource Centre Inc. – Minisewin Waska

These organizations are 11 of the more than 250 women’s and Indigenous organizations serving women across Canada in which the Government of Canada is investing under the Capacity-building Fund. Funding stems from the Budget 2018 announcement of $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women’s movement across Canada.

Quotes

“With our historic investment, we recognize the women and women’s organizations breaking through barriers and express our gratitude to those who have been doing this work for decades on little more than a shoestring budget. The women’s movement across Canada has been asking for a reliable, predictable and accessible source of funds to ensure the sustainability of their work; our government listened. With stable and flexible funding, we are helping these 11 organizations across Manitoba scale up so they can grow and endure, because we know that investing in women’s organizations is the most effective way to advance gender equality. By supporting a movement that has achieved amazing results, we are growing the middle class, strengthening families and communities, and creating lasting change that benefits everyone.”

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

“I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is providing support to 11 organizations across Manitoba. By providing these organizations with greater capacity to carry out their important work, they’ll now be able to reach more families, and change more lives.”

Terry Duguid
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South

Quick facts

Budget 2018 announced $100 million over five years to support a viable and sustainable women’s movement across Canada. Adding to this historic investment, Budget 2019 proposes to invest a further $160 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, in the Department for Women and Gender Equality’s Women’s Program. This means that by 2023–24, the Women’s Program, which supports eligible organizations to carry out projects to advance equality by addressing systemic barriers, will total $100 million annually.
This funding will enable women’s organizations and Indigenous organizations serving women to tackle systemic barriers impeding women’s progress while recognizing and addressing the diverse experiences of gender and inequality across the country.
Women continue to be disproportionately affected by economic insecurity. In 2015, women in Canada earned on average just 88 cents for every dollar earned by men. They are also much more likely to work on a part-time basis, making up 76% of all part-time workers, with 25% of women reporting childcare responsibilities as their reason for working part-time.
Some populations are more likely to experience violence and may face unique barriers and challenges that put them at particular risk (Statistics Canada, 2015).
Canada will host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference from June 3 to 6, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Held every three years, it is the world’s largest gathering on gender equality and the health, rights and well-being of women and girls.
The conference is part of a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide that gives voice to a broad spectrum of people, including Indigenous peoples, youth and those living in conflict and crisis settings. It will bring together more than 6,000 individuals—world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, youth and journalists—from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people joining virtually.

Government of Canada announces funding for women’s organizations in Manitoba

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