Windsor advocates hopeful 2018 budget will encourage women to work in trades

Two Windsor women are hopeful the 2018 budget, aimed at bringing more women into the country's workforce, will help end the traditionalmale domination of a particular field skilled trades.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau revealed the federal spending plan aimed at boosting productivity and offsetting the effects of Canada's ageing population by helping women stay workingon Tuesday.

• Budget 2018: Liberals spend billions to close gaps for working women, Indigenous families

Titled "Equality + Growth, A Strong Middle Class," it includes $1.2 billion for parental leave, as well as funding for gender equality and anti-harassment initiatives.

The budget is also aimed at attracting women to high-quality, well-paid jobs in the trades.

'We're talking very much about the long term'

7 years ago

Duration 7:15

Finance Minister Bill Morneau weighs in on the Liberal government's 2018 budget.

Jessica Fontaine, a University of Windsor student and women's advocate, said the new budget could really shake things up in the skilled trades locally.

"I think it will change things, especially in Windsor-Essex where that's such a dominate field and a good field to get into," she explained."I think they won'tfeel so intimidated and they will feelvalued there. Hopefully there's some positive change in that."

For author JenSadai, who has written extensively about women and work, the new budget was a "step in the right direction."

"Too often these fields seem to be male-dominated and women don't feel that they can enter them," she explained, adding she knows women who have broken into traditionally male-dominated fields and become successful.

• ANALYSIS | The 2018 budget is a pitch to Canadian women voters. But is it enough?

"We've proven we can do it," she said. "We just need more confidence and the resources to know that if we do pursue those opportunities we'll be paid fairly."