By David Opinko

Southern Alberta groups receive grants from federal Feminist Response and Recovery Fund

Jul 30, 2021 | 10:48 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Two local organizations are being recognized by the federal government for their work on issues of gender equality.

A total of $100-million is being given out through the Feminist Response and Recovery Fund to 237 different projects.

Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef says these initiatives will address systemic issues that vulnerable and underrepresented women face and will ensure an inclusive recovery from the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

“These caring professionals will support women’s economic security and improve health and safety. Representation matters. That’s why we are supporting 237 organizations, including with $35 million of dollars allocated directly to increase the representation of more diverse women, including Indigenous women, Black women and women of colour, and women who are members of LGBTQ2 communities in leadership positions”

Although it was not stated how much money each grant recipient will get, the Blood Tribe Department of Health and the Pro-Choice Society of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta (PCS) are among the successful candidates.

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PCS Vice President Chantal Parkinson says they mainly want to use the money for an educational campaign, adding that there is a disparity in services for things like family planning, IUDs, and abortion pills.

“We want to increase the amount of doctors in our community that are aware of their rights to prescribe an IUD or prescribe the abortion pill and have an awareness of the barriers of people accessing communities like Calgary to obtain a surgical abortion.”

PCS will also conduct a needs assessment for the area as well as consulting work.

LNN has attempted to contact officials at the Blood Tribe Department of Health, but have not heard back from anyone who can speak on their grant application.