Federal funding to help increase opportunities for women in Quebec and build a more resilient economy for everyone in Canada
QUEBEC CITY, March 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Women continue to face persistent pay equity challenges, underrepresentation in high-paying jobs, a disproportionate load of caregiving responsibilities, and a lack of pathways for career growth. Unlocking economic and leadership opportunities for women will lead to a more prosperous and resilient economy for everyone in Canada.
Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Québec, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant, who is responsible for the Department for Women and Gender Equality , highlighted $533,029 for Corporation de développement économique communautaire (CDEC) de Québec. Their project Towards a More Inclusive and Equal Entrepreneurial Ecosystem will target entrepreneur support organizations working across the province of Quebec to address systemic barriers that hinder women's entrepreneurial success. Their work will raise awareness of the challenges women entrepreneurs face, develop tools and activities to enhance support practices, provide training for employees and management in entrepreneur support organizations, and help transform policies and programs to build a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This funding is part of the previously announced investment of up to $100 million for 163 projects to improve economic and leadership opportunities for women across Canada. The projects will advance gender equality through one or more of the following ways:
Changing gender norms and attitudes by working to change beliefs, assumptions, and stereotypes based on gender and other identity factors.
Supporting changes to authority, voices at the table, and decision-making power by working to address power imbalances to ensure women are part of the dialogue and solution.
Increasing networks and collaboration by building and strengthening partnerships to work across sectors and break down silos.
Encouraging more effective and equitable sharing of resources by sharing, mobilizing, and redistributing resources to support equality.
Changing policies and practices by creating, changing, or removing policies and practices to address sexism and other barriers to gender equality.
This funding supports Women and Gender Equality Canada's continued work to advance equality through the inclusion of people of all genders, including women, in Canada's economic, social, and political life.
Quotes
'By supporting organizations like CDEC de Québec, we are continuing our work to advance gender equality in the entrepreneurial sector. This project will help create a more inclusive business environment for women across Quebec as it seeks to address systemic barriers and equip organizations with tools and training. Together, we are working to ensure that women entrepreneurs have what they need to succeed and contribute to the growth of our economy.'
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant
'In Québec, women's entrepreneurship is a driving force that deserves support equal to its potential. By breaking systemic barriers and making support more inclusive, the CDEC paves the way for bold women entrepreneurs shaping the local economy of tomorrow.'
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Québec
Quick facts
Women's wages have grown steadily since the 1990s, but disparities persist. In 2024, women in Canada earned 0.89 cents for every dollar earned by men. The pay gap is wider for immigrant women who earned 0.82 cents for every dollar earned by men.
Women are overrepresented in low-wage occupations. 28.2% of women, compared to 16.2% of men, work in the five lowest-paid occupations in Canada (sales and service jobs, care providers, and administrative support roles).
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No action has been or will be taken in the United States or any other jurisdiction that would permit the possession, circulation or distribution of this news release, the Offer to Purchase or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Offers to (i) any person in the United States; (ii) any U.S. person; (iii) anyone in any other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized; or (iv) any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Accordingly, neither this news release, the Offer to Purchase nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the Offers may be distributed or published, in or from the United States or any such other jurisdiction (except in compliance with any applicable rules or regulations of such other jurisdiction). Tenders will not be accepted from any holder located or resident in the United States. 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Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe our expectations at the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the proposed Offers referred to above. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. About Bell Bell is Canada's largest communications company,1 providing advanced broadband Internet, wireless, TV, media and business communication services. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more, please visit or Through Bell for Better, we are investing to create a better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and economic prosperity of our communities. This includes the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To learn more, please visit 1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections. Media Inquiries: Ellen Murphymedia@ Investor Inquiries:Richard SOURCE Bell Canada (MTL) View original content:
