March 29, 2018

The Quebec government claims it has taken steps to achieve gender equality, such as providing daycare services, which have made it easier for women to integrate the work force, but what about measures encouraging women to occupy positions of power? When will there be equality at the municipal and government level? Yes, the government is planning to adopt a framework legislation with a strategy for achieving gender equality in 2021, but, once again, why are we putting off until tomorrow what we can do today? The FIQ believes that the government could have been proactive and set out measures to achieve equality within municipal and government bodies.

With regard to violence against women, the Quebec government is planning to invest $119 million between now and 2022-2023, of which $69.7 million will go toward fighting against conjugal violence. However, the FIQ is disappointed that no funds have been set aside to implement a front-line care team dedicated to victims of conjugal violence.

To promote family-work-study balance, the government would like to start a childcare pilot project for workers with irregular schedules. The FIQ is requesting that a pilot project adapted specifically for healthcare professionals be implemented in the hospital network in order to meet an urgent need for childcare services.