Overview
The Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women (PACSW) is an arms-length, external agency that reports to the Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality on matters relating to the status of women in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was established in 1980 by the Status of Women Advisory Council Act. Since then, the Act has received minimal amendments. Click the button below to view the current Act.
Status of Women Advisory Council Act
In 2021, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador underwent a restructuring process that resulted in changes to the then-named Office for the Status of Women. These changes included expanding the office's mandate to include the needs and issues of concern for gender diverse individuals in the province. The name of the office was also changed to the Office of Women and Gender Equality (WGE). These changes meant that the expanded mandate of WGE was no longer in alignment with that of PACSW.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has decided to repeal and replace the existing Act to address identified gaps, strengthen language, and realign the Act with the Office of Women and Gender Equality.
The proposed act will:
- Update the name of the Act and the advisory council to reflect gender diversity and better align them with the updated name of the Office of Women and Gender Equality;
- Allow the PACSW to continue under its new name;
- Clearly outline PACSW’s mandate and expand it to include the needs and issues of concern for gender diverse individuals;
- Re-define/restructure the responsibilities, duties, and powers of all council members and staff, including the President and CEO;
- Clarify the composition of the council, including membership criteria and term limits;
- Strengthen mechanisms of accountability; and
- Modernize the language of the Act.
How Can You Get Involved?
Online Questionnaire
The online questionnaire will be available until March 1, 2024. It will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and will ask you to share what you want to see in a new act. Replacing the current Act with one that recognizes the importance of advancing equality with respect to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression would mark yet another significant milestone in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s commitment to advancing inclusivity for all genders.
Please note you must log in or register to complete the questionnaire.
Click Here to Complete the Online Questionnaire
If you have any questions related to this questionnaire or require an alternate format, please contact the Office of Women and Gender Equality at:
Office of Women and Gender Equality
(709) 729-5009
SOWAct@gov.nl.ca
Executive Council
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
P. O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
Written Submissions
If you prefer to participate with a written contribution, please send your submission to:
Mail: Susan Furlong
Office of Women and Gender Equality
4th Floor, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
Fax: 709-729-2331
Email: SOWAct@gov.nl.ca
The deadline for written submissions is March 1, 2024.
How Will Your Input Be Used?
The information we receive will be reviewed by the Office of Women and Gender Equality. All feedback will be considered when developing the new act.
Privacy Statement
Please do not include your name or any information that could identify you. The collection of information is done under the authority of section 61(c) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015, for the purpose of collecting public feedback on the Repeal and Replacement of the Status of Women Advisory Council Act.
If you have any questions about how this information will be collected, used, and disclosed, please contact Heather Elliott, ATIPP Coordinator at HeatherLElliott@gov.nl.ca.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or additional comments, please contact Susan Furlong, Senior Program and Policy Development Specialist at SusanFurlong@gov.nl.ca.