New federal funding will help improve women's economic security in Prince Edward Island

Project will help find daycare solutions for women who work irregular hours

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Government is committed to advancing gender equality and understands the important role that creating more opportunities for women in all aspects of Canadian life can play in promoting women's empowerment. By investing in projects that improve women's economic security, we are helping to ensure that women, their families and communities can prosper.

Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women, today announced Government of Canada funding for a project that will increase women's economic security in Prince Edward Island.

The Adventure Group of PEI will receive $305,750 in funding for their project, "Working Together – Planting Seeds for Change". This project will help vulnerable women with children who are obliged to work irregular hours in different areas of the economy. Through this 36-month project, the Adventure Group will collaborate with key partners to identify gaps, priorities and opportunities to implement childcare solutions for women in the agriculture, health and retail sectors. The Adventure Group has been an active supporter of women's social and economic inclusion for many years, and they have been particularly effective in providing opportunities for women to learn and develop the skills they need to find employment and build economic security.

Women continue to be disproportionately affected by economic insecurity. In 2015, women in Canada earned just 87 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 child care responsibilities as their reason for working part-time.

In October 2017, Status of Women Canada invited organizations to propose projects that support women's economic security across Canada by addressing some of the root causes of inequality, including barriers such as access to childcare, unequal pay and the gender wage gap. Through this call for proposals, entitled Support for Women's Economic Security, more than 30 projects have been approved for a total of $10 million in funding. These projects will unfold over a period of three years, and funding builds on our ongoing efforts to support women's economic empowerment and advance gender equality for all Canadians.