Val-saint-francois sets up gender-equality committee

The Val-saint-françois Regional County Municipality (MRC) Council of Mayors has decided to create a joint committee on women’s equality that will focus on developing a policy and an action plan to promote equality between men and women in the region. Martha Hervieux, Mayor of Kingsbury, and Gérard Messier, Mayor of Saintfrançois-xavier de Brompton, will lead the committee with an advisory body to promote communication between male and female elected representatives and the participation of women in the development of the region.

The creation of a joint equality committee is part of the Défi Parité project wherein municipalities and MRCS are invited to recognize the principle of gender equality and to contribute to gender equality in local governance.

“MRCS can play an important role in various fields of action that have an impact on gender equality, such as the participation of women in decision-making bodies, the setting up and promotion of gender equality measures like work-family balance, taking into account the needs of women in spatial planning, as well as their involvement in economic development" said Joanie Martin-guay, a coordinator for the Promotion des Estriennes pour initier une nouvelle équité sociale (PEPINES).

PEPINES is an organization that promotes women's access to decision-making and empowerment, as well as the participation and involvement of women in the development of their region.