Question Period Note: Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women

What is the status of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women?

• Women and Gender Equality Canada works closely with provinces and territories through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women.
• The value and strength of the FPT Forum has been evident during the pandemic, particularly in responding to COVID-19’s gendered impacts. This close collaboration enabled timely action on gender-based violence (GBV) priorities and recovery measures.
• In January 2021, FPT Ministers endorsed a Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-Based Violence. The FPT Forum is currently working to finalize the GBV National Action Plan.
• FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women are planning to meet for their 39th annual meeting in December 2021. This will include a pre-meeting with National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives (NILRs) to discuss and advance issues of common interest.

FPT Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women
• Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) plays a leadership role in advancing the Government of Canada’s priorities on women and gender equality through strong intergovernmental relations across the country. The FPT Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, established in 1972, has been meeting annually since 1982.
• FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women meet annually to share information, exchange best practices and explore issues and opportunities to advance gender equality. They also discuss options for mutually beneficial collaboration to support improved social and economic prosperity for women and girls and to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV).
• The Ministerial co-chairs of the FPT Forum include Canada and a provincial or territorial counterpart that rotates on an annual basis. The co-chair for 2021 is Saskatchewan, led by the Honourable Laura Ross, Minister responsible for the Status of Women and Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport.

FPT Collaboration in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery
• From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WAGE has communicated regularly and collaborated closely with provincial and territorial (PT) partners.
• For example, thanks to strong relationships and joint work with PT colleagues, emergency response measures were rolled out quickly and effectively to support women and children fleeing violence across the country.
• Stemming from the January 2021 Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-Based Violence, on August 6, 2021, WAGE announced $2.8 million in funding for eight joint projects to address GBV in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Yukon.

39th Annual FPT Meeting of Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
• The next annual meeting of the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women is expected to be held virtually in December 2021. A meeting between the FPT Forum and the National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives is also being planned at that time.

Engagement with National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives (NILRs)
• The FPT Ministers last met with the National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives (NILRs) on January 15, 2021, for the fourth year in a row, to discuss how to address GBV against Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people, as well as discuss the impacts of COVID-19.
 

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