Standing Committee on the Status of Women

Comité permanent de la condition féminine

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 03, 2024 -

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (the Committee) tabled its report entitled "Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment in Canada" today.

Achieving gender equality and creating inclusive economic growth are crucial to women’s economic empowerment in Canada. While women in Canada have made significant gains in workforce participation, entrepreneurship and in leadership positions, barriers to their economic empowerment persist. The Committee heard from expert witnesses about these barriers and possible solutions.

The Committee’s report focusses on:

• Women’s participation in the labour force, particularly in fields traditionally dominated by men, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the trades, as well as women in leadership positions and women entrepreneurs.

• Barriers to women’s economic empowerment, including workplace and social cultures, gender-based violence, access to financial support, as well as to education and skills training, to childcare and to other support services.

• Supporting women’s economic empowerment through various measures, including poverty reduction supports, changes to workplace cultures, networking and mentorship opportunities, changes to financial support and funding structures, improving data collection and access to new and diverse markets.

In its report, the Committee put forward 12 recommendations to improve women’s economic empowerment in Canada. The Committee calls on the Government of Canada to implement them rapidly.

The report can be consulted on the Committee’s web page on the Parliament of Canada website.