Question Period Note: Gender Equality in the Economy

What is the Government of Canada doing to support gender equality in the economy?

• Gender equality and economic recovery go hand in hand. Addressing economic vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic is key to recovery.
• The Government is committed to taking action and Budget 2021 proposes a number of key investments, including:
o $30 billion over five years and $8.3 billion ongoing to build a high-quality, affordable and accessible early learning and childcare system across Canada;
o $470 million over three years to establish a new Apprenticeship Service, through which employers in the construction industry and Red Seal trades will be incentivized to hire underrepresented Canadians, including women and persons with disabilities;
o Support to help more women and underrepresented groups enter and succeed in STEM and skilled trades, such as $250M over three years to upskill and redeploy workers to meet the needs of growing industries; and
o Up to $146.9 million over four years, starting in 2021-22, to strengthen the $5 billion Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.
• The Government will also create an Action Plan for Women in the Economy, to ensure a feminist, intersectional response to the pandemic and recovery.
• Since 2015, WAGE has approved $62.3M for more than 90 projects to improve women and girls’ economic security and prosperity.

Women continue to be less likely than men to participate in the labour force. The reasons for this are interrelated and include an inequitable share of unpaid domestic and care responsibilities that lead to workforce interruptions, as well as an overrepresentation of women in part-time or temporary work. This impedes women’s earning ability, which, over time, impedes their overall economic security, including as seniors.

Women are facing increased rates of unemployment and economic hardship during the pandemic. The economic burden has been disproportionately felt by already-vulnerable populations and those with intersecting identities. School and daycare closures impact women’s ability to participate in the labour force or continue their own education.

In Canada, women hold the majority of jobs in sectors first impacted by physical distancing measures: accommodation, food services and retail. As a result, at the start of the pandemic in March, women lost jobs at twice the rate of men. In May, when the economy started to reopen, increases in employment for men were double that of women. During the second wave of the pandemic, employment fell once again, with women impacted to a greater extent than men. In January 2021, employment losses among women were almost double that of men aged 15 and older, bringing employment to within 5.3% and 3.7% of its pre-COVID level for women and men, respectively. After rebounding in February and March 2021, employment among women remained 2.2% lower than its pre-pandemic February 2020 level, compared to 1.0% for men.

Additional Budget 2021 measures to improve the economic participation of women and underrepresented groups include:
• $55 million over three years for a Community Workforce Development Program with a national stream dedicating 75% of project funding to support underrepresented groups;
• $15 million over 2 years to extend the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot to improve employment outcomes and career advancement; and
• $30 billion over five years and $8.3 billion ongoing to build a high-quality, affordable and accessible early learning and childcare system across Canada.

These initiatives would build on previous ones, including: a Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework; flexible work arrangements as part of the Canada Labour Code; maternity and parental benefits; and programs to support more women in non-traditional economic areas, like skilled trades and entrepreneurship.

The Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) supports women’s economic security by funding organizations and building partnerships to address systemic barriers. On February 11, 2021, WAGE launched the Feminist Response and Recovery Fund, a $100M Call for Proposals under the Women’s Program. This Fund will allow organizations to respond to a wide range of issues, including improving women’s and girl’s economic security and prosperity, in order to accelerate progress on gender equality and ensure that Canada’s response to and recovery from COVID-19 is inclusive of diverse women.
 

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