Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), along with Leslie Church, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth, and to the Minister of Jobs and Families (Persons with Disabilities), announced $15.5 million to strengthen the capacity of national women's organizations across Canada.
National women's organizations play a critical role in promoting the full participation of women and girls in Canada's economic, social and democratic life, contributing to stronger economic growth, democratic engagement, and inclusive leadership.
The federal government will invest $14.5 million to support national women's organizations, distributed by the Canadian Women's Foundation. This investment will help advance the work of organizations focused on justice, leadership, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender-based violence. The organizations that will receive funding will be selected in the coming weeks.
The Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) will receive up to $1 million to collaborate with other national women's organizations, as well as key stakeholders beyond the women's sector. This initiative will support a more sustainable and coordinated sector that is better positioned to advance action on persistent gender inequalities over the long term.
