NEWMARKET – The Ontario government is expanding the Investing in Women’s Futures program to 10 additional locations across the province to create more economic opportunities for women. This expansion is part of a $6.9 million investment over three years to enhance the program and help more women who experience social and economic barriers to connect to supports and develop the skills they need to gain financial security and independence.
“These 10 new Investing in Women’s Futures program locations will support more women to become economically empowered and live safely with a greater sense of well-being,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “Investing in Women’s Futures empowers them to achieve the success they deserve through good-paying jobs or further education, and it contributes to a strong Ontario economy.”
The Investing in Women’s Futures program provides a range of flexible services and employment readiness supports for women facing social and economic barriers, including those experiencing gender-based violence and social isolation. These services and supports help women to overcome any barriers, increase well-being, build skills and gain employment. The addition of 10 new sites brings the total number of service delivery locations to 33, providing greater access for more women across the province.
The 10 new Investing in Women’s Futures program locations are:
- Huronia Transition Homes in Midland
- Community Resource Center (Killaloe) Inc. in Killaloe
- Keepers of the Circle in Kirkland Lake
- Achēv in Mississauga
- Resolve Counselling Services Canada in Kingston
- Women’s Centre of York Region in Newmarket
- Roots Community Services Inc. in Brampton and Mississauga
- Up with Women in Toronto
- Women’s Multicultural Resource & Counselling Centre of Durham in Pickering
- Counselling Centre of East Algoma in Elliot Lake.
“As a girl dad, I want to build a province where no girl sees barriers to entering the trades. We need all hands on deck to build a stronger Ontario for all of us,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “This investment in the expansion of the Investing Women’s Futures program will help more women access the training and supports they need, start their own businesses, and find meaningful work so they can earn bigger paycheques while inspiring the next generation of girls.”
This $6.9 million investment builds on the $18 million funding from 2022-2025 to support the Investing in Women’s Futures and Women’s Economic Security programs.
Quick Facts
- As a result of COVID-19, women and gender-diverse Ontarians have faced additional challenges, such as increased economic insecurity, greater burden of caregiving responsibilities and a rise in the incidence of domestic violence. Young women, mothers of young children, racialized women, single mothers, Indigenous women, immigrant women, women with disabilities and women without university degrees have been most affected.
- In June 2021, the government launched Ontario’s Task Force on Women and the Economy to provide advice on addressing the unique and disproportionate economic barriers women face. Building on the work of the task force, the government is taking action to address the challenges women face in the workforce.
- In 2021-22, the Investing in Women’s Futures program helped more than 1,300 women across the province secure employment, start their own businesses or pursue further training and/or education.
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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