Government of Canada announces over $3 million for six organizations advancing gender equality in the North
Ontario: Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people face intolerable inequities – something that has been made worse by the COVID19 pandemic in communities from coast to coast to coast. The Government of Canada is taking concrete action to address these inequities by supporting, and working with, organizations that empower Indigenous women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and other underrepresented people to overcome the challenges they face and fully participate in all aspects of economic and social life.
Today the Minister of Northern Affairs, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, on behalf of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, announced over $3 million in funding for six organizations advancing gender equality in Northern communities.
These organizations are:
Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre – $1.25 million
Nunavut Literacy Council – $683,246
Kitikmeot Heritage Society – $168,580
Arctic Children and Youth Foundation – $624,000
Yukon Status of Women Council – $141,160
Status of Women Council of the NWT – $145,000
These investments will help the organizations develop partnerships and strategies to promote full and equitable participation in the economy, advance women and underrepresented groups into leadership roles, address social and systemic change towards gender equality, and mitigate the effects the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yesterday on the second anniversary of the release of Reclaiming Power and Place, the final report by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the Core Working Group released the MMIWG National Action Plan that will set a new distinctions-based, regionally relevant, and accountable approach to end this national tragedy.
Much work still needs to be done to achieve gender equality, and the Government of Canada will continue to work together with Indigenous and Northern partners to build a more inclusive and equitable Canada for everyone.