Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy
Encourages Young Women Toward Political Engagement

As part of the recently launched Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy, the Williams Government today announced it will invest $35,000 to encourage more young women to become involved in voting and political activity.

"At present there is a disproportionately low number of young women involved in voting and political life," said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for Youth Engagement. "Youth have expressed that one of their priorities is increasing the participation rates of young people, and especially young women, in our democratic processes. Today's funding will support Equal Voice's Experiences program, which introduces young women to positive role models who can nurture their political literacy and inspire them to become politically active."

Equal Voice, the organization administering the program, is a non-profit organization devoted to addressing the fact that while women represent 52 per cent of Canada's population, they only make up an average of 21 per cent of Canada's municipal councils, provincial legislatures and the House of Commons. The organization's Experiences program addresses this by fostering mentorships between active politicians and girls aged 12-18 and young women aged 18-25. This is accomplished through education and awareness sessions, which has proven to be a successful approach in communities throughout Canada. This new funding will enable approximately 2,000 females throughout the province to take advantage of the Experiences program.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, women hold 24 per cent of elected positions in municipal government, which is slightly higher than the national average. The Provincial Government partnered with the regional status of women councils last summer to hold nine lunch and learn information sessions prior to municipal elections in the fall. Over 500 women attended.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is a place where strong female leadership is accomplishing great things in boardrooms, educational institutions, volunteer organizations and political circles," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Acting Premier and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. "It is important to encourage the next generation of women in our province to build on these accomplishments. I believe this particular initiative supports that, and builds on our commitment to advance women into important leadership roles and non-traditional occupations in the province."

"The Experiences program is similar to the province's own Make Your Mark campaign in that it encourages individuals to consider the many benefits of political participation," said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Municipal Affairs (Acting). "I certainly look forward to seeing young women become inspired by the many dynamic women who are currently serving in political life throughout this province."

"I'm thrilled that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has chosen to make Experiences available to so many young women in the province," said Fran Gagnon, Executive Director of the Experiences Program. "By encouraging young women to become more involved in the political life of Newfoundland and Labrador, the province is taking steps to ensure the perspectives put forward at all levels of government will become balanced and fully representative of all the population."

Creating a Province of Choice: A Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador was launched on November 5, 2009. Developed by youth, for youth, in close collaboration with business, labour, and community leaders, the strategy is supported by a three-year $15 million budget and contains 41 action items that are aimed at countering the impacts of out-migration, strengthening the labour market and supporting the economic development of the province.

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2010 02 05                                 9:25 a.m.