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September 15, 2000

ACTION ON ECONOMIC, VIOLENCE, TAXATION, PENSION AND HEALTH ISSUES HIGHLIGHT ANNUAL MEETING OF FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL/TERRITORIAL MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR STATUS OF WOMEN

RICHMOND, British Columbia -- Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women concluded their 19th Annual Meeting today with a shared commitment to work together to address issues of central importance to achieving equality for women.

At the meeting, co-chaired by the Honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) and the Honourable Joan Smallwood, Minister of Women's Equality for British Columbia, Ministers addressed a number of issues that continue to impede women from achieving full social and economic equality.

Economic Issues:

Ministers discussed some of the main socio-economic trends in Canada and factors affecting women's economic independence and security such as labour market changes, market globalization and balancing work and family responsibilities. Ministers agreed to collaborate on some key initiatives to address both opportunities and challenges to women's economic independence and security. These include:

• Identifying key opportunities and challenges to women's participation in the non-traditional sectors of the labour market including the knowledge-based economy;
• Studying key gender issues related to the taxation system;
• Examining women's access to the current Employment Insurance program; and
• Exploring the lack of access of part-time, self-employed, contractual women workers to maternity, pension and other benefits.

Violence Against Women:

Reflecting their continuing concern for violence against women, Ministers agreed to develop indicators on violence against women that will provide a quantitative measure to monitor change in the prevalence and nature of violence against women. These indicators will result in increased information about the prevalence and severity of acts of violence against women and responses to it, as well as provide a public accounting of these activities. In addition, because they monitor trends over time, these indicators can highlight emerging issues.

Taxation and Pensions:

In addition, Ministers instructed Senior Officials to explore issues regarding taxation and pensions unique to women's work and life situation, including unpaid work.

Health:

Ministers heard from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research on the establishment of the 13 new institutes that will be set up over the coming year. Ministers expressed their continued interest in the Gender and Health Institute and agreed to monitor and offer their expertise as a resource.

The next meeting of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers is scheduled to be held in Quebec City in 2001.