43rd Annual Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women

July 10, 2025 – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Today, Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women concluded their 43rd annual meeting in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Co-chaired by the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Canada’s Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), and the Honourable Lucy Kuptana, Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women for the Government of the Northwest Territories, the meeting addressed critical issues affecting women.

During the meeting, Ministers noted achievements highlighted in the first Annual Progress Report on the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence*, marking a united commitment to support and respond to the needs of victims, survivors, their families, and the organizations that serve them. They also emphasized the need to continue working together to strengthen services and programs that are evidence-based and recognize the specific realities of the provinces and territories. They highlighted the need for engagement with men and boys to prevent gender-based violence from occurring. Reflecting priorities discussed during the June 2, 2025, First Ministers’ Meeting, FPT Ministers emphasized the need to keep working together to address intimate partner and gender-based violence to help create safe communities, strengthen the criminal justice system and address coercive control.

FPT Ministers reiterated the importance of increasing participation and retention of women in high-growth and high-paying sectors and ensuring that women have equal opportunities in Canada’s evolving economy.

They also examined the growing influence of artificial intelligence and its impact on online harassment and gender-based violence. Ministers emphasized the need for more data and research to inform strategies to address the issue, foster safer digital environments, and include opportunities for women in the field.

Ministers concluded the 43rd annual FPT Ministers’ meeting with a renewed resolve to work together on advancing gender equality, increasing women’s economic empowerment and prosperity and ending gender-based violence. Ministers agreed to make further efforts to communicate, coordinate, and further improve the complementarity of funding offered to women’s and gender equality organizations in the provinces and territories.

The FPT Ministers’ meeting was preceded by a distinct meeting with Indigenous leaders and representatives. It focused on common priorities, including addressing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, combatting human trafficking, and promoting economic empowerment. These important conversations ensure Indigenous perspectives are included to help shape strategies that are responsive to the distinct realities, histories, and needs of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people and foster lasting progress in gender equality through culturally informed, community-driven solutions.

Ministers look forward to continuing this important work at next year’s FPT meeting, which will be hosted by the Province of New Brunswick — Canada’s only official bilingual province — offering a unique opportunity to advance inclusive, collaborative leadership for gender equality across the country.

Quotes

“Achieving gender equality requires bold leadership, strong partnerships, unwavering persistence, and decisive action. As Canada’s new Minister of Women and Gender Equality, I am proud to stand beside provincial and territorial Ministers, Indigenous leaders and community partners in moving this critical work forward. This meeting reinforces our shared responsibility to create safer, more inclusive communities for everyone in Canada to thrive, lead, and succeed.”

The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

“In the North, we know that safety, healing, and empowerment begin with listening to communities and honouring cultural strengths. By sharing perspectives from across the country, we can shape solutions that reflect the lived realities of all women and gender-diverse people. This year’s meeting reinforced our shared commitment to advance culturally grounded approaches, elevate regional voices, and work together to build safer, more inclusive spaces for all Canadians.”

The Honourable Lucy Kuptana, Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women for the Government of Northwest Territories

Quick facts

• The FPT Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women have met annually since 1982 to gather information on, discuss, and provide guidance on ongoing key issues related to the status of women and gender equality.
• Meetings between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments offer an important opportunity for Ministers responsible for the Status of Women from coast to coast to coast to discuss shared priorities, strengthen collaboration, and work together to make life better for all Canadians.
• The work by the FPT Ministers has included the development of resource guides, tools, and reports that have supported initiatives in Canada to address gender-based violence, human trafficking, gender-based analysis (GBA) Plus, and economic equality.
• Since 2017, FPT Ministers have conducted separate meetings with Indigenous leaders and representatives.
• In January 2021, FPT Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women endorsed the Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-based Violence.**
• At the 40th meeting in November 2022, FPT Ministers, with the exception of Québec,* announced the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence, which reiterates the long-standing commitment of governments to preventing and addressing GBV and advancing gender equality for all Canadians.

* Gender-based violence is a priority for the Government of Québec, which has invested significant funds to end violence against women. However, although it supports the overall objectives of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, the Government of Québec cannot adhere to it because it intends to retain its full responsibility in this area on its territory. Through an agreement that respects its autonomy, the Government of Québec expects to receive its fair share of federal funding to support the programs, initiatives, and services to end gender-based violence that it puts in place based on the needs of its territory.

** Québec supports the general principles of the joint declaration and will continue to be active in the fight against gender-based violence by prioritizing its own actions and measures. It also intends to continue to share information and best practices with other governments on this issue.

Associated links

• Forum of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women
• National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence a significant step towards gender equality
• 2023-2024 Annual Progress Report on the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence
• Backgrounder: National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence
• Joint Declaration for a Canada free of Gender-based Violence
• Women Entrepreneurship Strategy

Contacts

Callie Franson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Callie.Franson@fegc-wage.gc.ca

Media Relations
Women and Gender Equality Canada
media@fegc-wage.gc.ca
819-420-6530