OTTAWA,
ON, Sept. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister,
Justin Trudeau, today issued the
following statement on Gender Equality Week:
"Today, we start Gender Equality Week in Canada. This week celebrates the resilience
and remarkable achievements of women and gender-diverse communities
across the country. It reaffirms our belief that a world with fewer
barriers and equal opportunity is also a better one.
"Gender equality shouldn't be controversial – it's good social
policy and smart economic policy. It creates jobs, strengthens our
economy, and makes Canada fairer
for everyone. That's what this year's theme, 'Unlocking Potential:
Economic Power Through Gender Equality', is all about.
"Gender equality is central to everything we do. The federal
government is investing in $10-a-day
child care across the country and bringing more women into the
workforce. For parents – and especially mums – that means being
able to raise a family while growing your career. Because of our
program, families across the country are saving up to $14,300 per child each year and we are holding
provinces and territories accountable to ensure they create the
child care spaces they promised. And since we introduced it in
2016, the Canada Child Benefit, with its monthly payments, has
supported families and lifted hundreds of thousands of children out
of poverty.
"We are also working to make contraception medications and
devices free – from birth control pills, to IUDs, to implants, to
the morning-after pill – so women are free to choose if, when, and
how they plan their family. With this coverage, women will have
more choices and, importantly, more affordable choices to make
decisions about their bodies, their health, and their future.
"We are implementing the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, tackling
the inequalities faced by 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians. With the National
Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, we are addressing the
root causes of gender-based violence and strengthening supports for
victims, survivors, and their families. And with an advocate like
Marci Ien, the Minister for Women
and Gender Equality and Youth, we are ensuring that the interests
and voices of women and gender diverse Canadians are represented at
the leadership table.
"With our Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada remains a fierce advocate of gender
equality on the world stage. This includes recent investments to
help eliminate gender-based violence, including to the UN Trust
Fund to End Violence against Women, which has supported more than
160,000 women and girls in the past year alone.
"We are focused on the success of Canadians, and that includes
breaking down barriers. On this Gender Equality Week, let's
celebrate our progress so far and renew our commitment to a world
where everyone has a fair chance to succeed."
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office