Released on June 17, 2013
Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for the Status of Women June Draude is representing Saskatchewan at the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women. The meeting runs tomorrow and Wednesday in Morell, Prince Edward Island.
The two-day agenda focuses on three key priorities:
- Increasing representation of women on public and private sector boards;
- Aboriginal women in leadership; and
- Eliminating violence against women and girls.
“Our government recognizes that women have an important role to play in the economic growth and vitality of our province, as outlined in our Plan for Growth,” Draude said. “At the same time, we also know that violence against women is unacceptable, and we will be looking for ideas and best practices from other jurisdictions that we can apply to our efforts here in Saskatchewan.”
The Government of Saskatchewan, through the Status of Women Office in the Ministry of Social Services, has formed numerous partnerships with community-based organizations with a goal of reducing the incidence of violence against women and girls. The government is also working on the development of a comprehensive anti-bullying strategy to address violence in schools.
Premier Brad Wall has tasked Saskatoon MLA Jennifer Campeau with identifying and encouraging qualified women, including those of First Nations and Métis ancestry, to use their expertise to sit on agencies, boards and commissions. In February of this year, nine women were added to the Crown Investment Corporation’s boards. There is currently 30 per cent female representation on the nine boards of the subsidiary Crowns, up from 19 per cent at the end of 2012.
The 31st annual meeting is co-chaired by Rona Ambrose, Canada’s Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, and Valerie Docherty, Prince Edward Island’s Minister of Community Services and Seniors and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. Next year’s meeting will be held in Yellowknife, N.W.T.
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For more information, contact:
Pete Paczko
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: pete.paczko@gov.sk.ca