FEWO Committee Report

CONCLUSION

Issues related to funding are evidently very significant for equality-seeking organizations across Canada. On short notice, almost all the groups which the Committee invited to speak about funding issues submitted briefs and made time to appear. The Committee wishes to thank all those who took the time to give careful consideration to the funding issues being discussed, and for the valuable advice witnesses shared with the Committee.

Commenting on the ongoing evaluation of its Women’s Program, Status of Women Canada noted in its brief to the Committee that it had engaged in a process of reflection which “will allow the program to develop the foundation for the next iteration of a funding mechanism which has been a key partner in the advancement of women’s equality for more than 30 years” ^[10]. The Committee recognizes the importance of ensuring that the concerns raised by women’s organizations and equality-seeking organizations in their presentations to this committee are appropriately reflected in the current evaluation of the Women’s Program. As a result, the Committee recommends:

RECOMMENDATION 10:

That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women be granted intervenor status in the ongoing review of the Women’s Program to ensure that the comments contained in this report are appropriately reflected in the review process.

As this report has demonstrated, it will be important to ensure that the women’s organizations and equality seeking organizations are meaningfully engaged in the development of the renewed funding mechanism in the Women’s Program. In the two meetings the Committee held with equality seeking organizations and women’s organizations, we were unable to resolve the complex issues organizations face with funding through the Women’s Program. It is incumbent upon this committee and the Government of Canada, however, to make a strong plea for Status of Women Canada to listen to these groups, and to engage them in a process which recognizes their valuable contribution and commitment to women in Canada. The Committee remains hopeful that such a collaboration could lead to an improved relationship which will allow these organizations to continue to work toward closing the gender gap.