Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), made the following statement to mark Women's History Month:
"Women's History Month is a time to honour the women's movement that helped advance Canada through organizing, advocacy, and courage - expanding rights, opening doors, and reshaping both the economy and Canadian democracy.
I have been meeting with and listening to women's organizations, advocates, and leaders across the country. The message is clear: progress must continue. The Government of Canada will keep working with the women's sector to protect rights, advance safety, increase leadership, and remove the barriers that still hold women back from full economic participation.
The federal government is helping more women return to the workforce through a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system, and in partnership with Food Banks Canada, the Menstrual Equity Fund pilot project makes menstrual products more accessible to those in need. Through the $7 billion investment in the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, we have supported over 400,000 women start up and scale up their businesses. As a result, more women are participating in the workforce than ever before, and increased participation by women in the workforce directly contributes to higher productivity and GDP growth.
At the same time, the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is an ongoing, 10-year effort to strengthen prevention and support survivors in every province and territory. This $525 million investment over four years will continue to work towards every woman being safe at home, at work, and in her community.
We know the path to equity is not the same for everyone. Indigenous women, Black women, racialized women, women with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ women face compounding barriers. This work is guided by solutions that meet people where they are at and ensure no one is left behind.
This month, let us recommit to the work of the movement: protect rights, expand opportunities, advance equity, and sustain progress."
