27th Annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women
NEWS RELEASE – FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATUS OF WOMEN MEET IN WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, April 8, 2009 – Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women gathered in Winnipeg from April 6 to 8, 2009, for their 27th annual meeting. During their talks, they identified the urgency of exploring ways to facilitate women’s labour force participation and economic security, considered actions toward improving the lives of Inuit, Métis and First Nations women, both on and off reserve, and discussed measures to address violence against women in Canada.
The FPT Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to working to improve women’s economic security. While significant investments are being made in infrastructure, Ministers recognize the under representation of women in non-traditional employment. They agreed to share best practices and explore options for future work to strongly support women’s employment in fields such as engineering, trades and technology. Ministers discussed and agreed to share strategies for poverty reduction. They further agreed to continue discussions on these matters at next year’s FPT meeting.
They discussed measures to increase women’s participation in the labour force, including proposed changes to maternity and parental Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. PT Ministers will forward an economic analysis on the proposed changes to EI to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada for consideration. A discussion paper will be developed on options for a modernized parental benefits plan to be presented at the June 2010 annual meeting.
In discussing the situation of Aboriginal women, the FPT Ministers took stock of progress in areas of leadership, economic prosperity and violence since the first National Aboriginal Women’s Summit (NAWS) in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador. They look forward to receiving the report from NAWS II, which took place in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in 2008.
Ministers support and join Prime Minister Harper in calling on the Afghan government, in the strongest terms, to honour its human rights treaty obligations under international law, including respect for the equality of all women before the law.
Ministers also discussed a number of issues related to violence against women. The RCMP made a presentation to Ministers on human trafficking that outlined this growing international and domestic problem. Ministers acknowledged that trafficking manifests itself in different ways across the country, and that addressing this issue will require a multifaceted approach.
Ministers also discussed how to promote a healthy, realistic body image for girls and young women in cooperation with the fashion industry and the media.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Helena Guergis, Minister of State (Status of Women), and the Honourable Nancy Allan, Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration, Minister responsible for Multiculturalism, Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Minister charged with the Administration of The Workers Compensation Act.
Since their first meeting in 1981, FPT Ministers have met annually to explore ways to achieve equality for women, and to exchange information on issues affecting women in Canada, particularly in the areas of economic security, violence and human rights.
The next annual meeting of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women will take place in Ontario, in June of 2010.
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For more information, please contact:
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Nancy Bishay |
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Diane Coble-Kendall |
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Nanci-Jean Waugh |
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For news releases and information on Status of Women Canada, go to http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.