May 21, 2019 - Toronto, Ontario - Department for Women and Gender Equality
Advancing gender equality and investing in women is essential to growing the middle class, strengthening the economy, and building a healthier, more secure future in Canada and around the world. As Canada prepares to host the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, the world's largest gathering on the health, rights and well-being of women and girls, the Government of Canada is mobilizing all sectors to take action on gender equality by investing in innovative cross-sector partnerships.
That's why today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced two new initiatives, one with BMO Financial Group and the other with the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CanWaCH) to stimulate partnerships between diverse communities, civil society, and public and private sectors to advance gender equality:
- BMO Financial Group will design and deliver a training program for women's organizations across Canada to improve their strategic and financial planning. A recent of survey of Canadian women's organizations conducted by the Government of Canada and BMO identified gaps in these areas, which can result in challenges to these organizations receiving much-needed funding. The training program will include a series of three webinars, available in both English and French, which will be hosted by BMO experts and will include an interactive Q&A. The webcasts will be available at no cost to all women's organizations nationally, including those that applied under the Department for Women and Gender Equality's Capacity-building Fund. Each webcast will be aired twice live and will be available as archived versions in to maximize audience viewing.
- CanWaCH is receiving $366,800 to coordinate domestic mobilization efforts leading up to and following the Women Deliver 2019 Conference. Through this project, CanWaCH will rally partners and leaders from diverse sectors to highlight critical discussions, events, and initiatives that are needed to promote and achieve equality for all gender identities and expressions. CanWaCH will also use part of this funding to award over 50 bursaries to gender equality advocates and mobilizers from across Canada to sponsor their participation at the conference.
The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is an important opportunity for all Canadians to seize global momentum and call attention to the work we must still do to make our country and the world a safer, more equal place for women, girls, and people of all gender identities and expressions.
"We are in the midst of a critical moment for women and girls. In the lead up to Women Deliver 2019, our government is seizing the global momentum, and mobilizing Canadians to advance gender equality in their communities, in Canada, and around the world. All of us - in all sectors - have to do our part to ensure that everyone has an equal and fair chance at success, and innovative partnerships between government, business and civil society are essential to achieving lasting equality for all."
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality
"BMO is committed to economic inclusivity and gender equality within our workforce, and in our communities. Empowering women and girls is a critical ingredient to strengthen our national and global economy. BMO is proud to partner with the Government of Canada to grow the capacity of non-profit women's organizations, which are integral to securing a strong economic future for Canada."
Joanna Rotenberg
Group Head, BMO Wealth Management
CanWaCH is proud to host Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Canada, a rallying cry for unity in gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women. We know that it takes multiple sectors, industries and communities to bring about change. We thank the Government of Canada for this investment and its continued support to Canadians from coast to coast to coast who are preparing events, discussions, and actions leading up to the Women Deliver 2019 Conference."
Julia Anderson, Executive Director
Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health
Quick facts
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The Women Deliver 2019 Conference is part of a global movement to promote gender equality worldwide and give 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 7,000 individuals-world leaders, influencers, advocates, academics, activists, youth and journalists-from more than 160 countries, with an additional 100,000 people participating virtually.
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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 a year.
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The Bank of Montreal (BMO) is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. BMO is the first Financial Services company to sponsor the Women Deliver Conference.
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Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health (CanWaCH) is the secretariat for Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Canada to facilitate cross-issue dialogue and multi-sector collaboration for the advancement of gender equality.
