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Interministerial Women's Secretariat

Role of Interministerial Women's Secretariat

Every Canadian jurisdiction designates a minister responsible for status of women and assigns staff resources to support the minister in the role. The Secretariat assists the minister and government in the promotion and protection of gender equality. The Interministerial Women's Secretariat provides assistance to the provincial government to promote the legal, health, social and economic equality of women. The Secretariat is mandated to partner with community on projects to promote the status of women. Further, the Interministerial Women's Secretariat works in partnership with women's organizations to develop projects, programs and services that benefit women from Prince Edward Island. 

One aspect of this partnership is the Interministerial Women's Secretariat Grant.

The Secretariat funds the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, an arms-length from government advisory agency. Prince Edward Island is one of six jurisdictions with both an internal women's secretariat and a publically appointed Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Role of the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women

The Council has an appointed chair and eight appointed community members from across the Island. Its role is defined in the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. A-6.

The Council shall:

• develop public awareness of the issues affecting the status of women;
• promote a change in attitudes within the community in order that women may enjoy an equality of opportunity;
• encourage discussion and expression of opinion by Island residents on issues affecting the status of women;
• advise the Minister with respect to such issues as the Minister may refer to the Council for consideration;
• review policies and legislation affecting women and report its findings to the relevant governmental departments or agencies;
• provide assistance to the Minister in promoting changes to ensure the attainment of equality objectives of women; and
• provide assistance, as the Council deems appropriate, to organizations and groups whose objectives promote the equality of women.