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Speaking Notes for The Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P. Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women On the Occasion of Launching International Women's Week and Announcing Support for Women and Girls Living in Rural and Remote Communities and Small Urban Centres

Toronto, Ontario
March 5, 2012

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Hello, Bonjour

I am very pleased to be here today to mark International Women's Week with my colleague Susan Truppe by announcing our Government's support for grassroots projects that will improve the lives of women and girls.

International Women's Week runs this year from March 4th to 10th, and includes International Women's Day on March 8th.

This year, Canada's theme for International Women's Day and Week is Strong Women, Strong Canada – Women in Rural, Remote and Northern Communities: Key to Canada's Economic Prosperity.

Our Government is committed to sustaining Canada's position as one of the world's top-performing economies.  Women are important to that success story.

In every region of Canada, women – particularly, in rural, remote and Northern communities - play important roles in their families and communities, and are key to our country's prosperity.

That is why I am pleased to announce Government of Canada support for community-based organizations from across Canada to carry out new grassroots projects that support the economic security and prosperity of women and girls in rural and remote communities.  We believe that women's safety goes hand-in-hand with their economic security.

These projects are as diverse as the communities they will serve, and the women and girls who live in them. ‘One size fits all' solutions do not work given the many different realities of rural, remote and Northern communities.

For example, a local project in British Columbia will develop a community response plan to make support services more accessible to women living in poverty who have also experienced violence.

In a community in Quebec, young women will work with community stakeholders to develop a new economic plan that addresses the barriers they face. And, in Nova Scotia, aboriginal women will be linked through a community plan that shares knowledge and helps address violence against women.

This year's theme reminds us that Canada is a vast country, where nearly 1 in 5 women live outside of large urban centres.  We hope this theme will inspire Canadians to celebrate the unique lives of more than three million Canadian women who live in over 5,000 rural, remote and Northern communities. 

Today, we add these new projects to our growing list of promising initiatives that help to create positive, concrete change for women and girls in every region of our country.

Thank you very much

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Date Modified:
2012-03-14