In a setback for gender equity and the human rights of women and gender diverse folks in Canada, the new Canadian federal government has eliminated the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, effectively compromising a dedicated department to oversee important files regarding women’s equality, equal pay, gender-based violence and more.

The complex nuances, intersections, and expertise required to understand and achieve gender equity, let alone end gender-based violence, requires the careful attention of a dedicated minister and department. This decision compromises the Canadian government’s accountability for women’s rights, gender equity, and gender-based violence rates, reducing it under the Ministry of Canadian Culture and Identity. Without a dedicated WAGE Minister, the federal government risks critical advancements in gender equity – including those around gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, 2SLGTQQIA+ rights, and much more. 

Gender equity does not have a simple solution. Working towards it requires more systems of accountability, more funding, more leadership, more focus, and more representation at the government level, not less. The complex nuances, intersections, expertise and experiences that must be understood to just address gender-based violence – let alone the issue of gender inequity as a whole – cannot be adequately handled under another ministry. 

The messaging sent by the elimination of the Women and Gender Equality Minister is clear: the rights, well-being, and safety of women, girls, and gender-diverse Canadians are not a clear priority. Or at the very least, they are collateral damage during ‘tough times’, failing to recognize the impact that women can have on getting through those tough times, or how it’s always ‘tough times’ for women experiencing violence. However, beyond the important messaging this sends all Canadians, we look further at the funding, policy-making, and government accountability impacts this will have. 

The Department of Women and Gender Equality has worked with gender-based violence survivors, frontline workers, academics, researchers, advocates, civil society organizations, and more to develop action plans such as the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, to implement research and policy initiatives working towards gender equity, and to advocate for gender equity on global platforms, including the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. 

Further, countless organizations addressing gender-based violence and working towards gender equity for women, girls, and gender-diverse people – including Aura Freedom – have been supported through life-saving funding from WAGE. The women’s sector has already faced “several decades of erosion in funding” according to the Canadian’s Women Foundation, and the federal funding that keeps many organizations’ doors open is now at risk. 

All this, amidst a global backlash against (and efforts to reverse) women’s rights. In times such as this, it is especially important to have dedicated leaderships and systems of accountability to address the unique challenges, inequities, and violence faced by women, girls, and gender-diverse people in Canada. 

We see that this Cabinet was built to signal a renewed focus on the economy. However, we know that deprioritizing gender equity only serves to harm Canada’s economic well-being. The gender wage gap, gendered poverty, gendered inequalities regarding economic empowerment and access to economic opportunities, and gendered experiences in workplaces (particularly gender-based violence in the workplace) all harm Canada’s economy. We know that sexual assault and other sexual offences costs Canada $4.8 billion yearly, and spousal violence alone costs Canada $7.4 billion, according to the Department of Justice. 

If addressing the economy is the focus, then working to end gender-based violence should be at the top of the list. We know the intergenerational impacts of GBV on rates of homelessness, physical, mental and reproductive health, food security, financial wellness, education, and more.

Working towards gender equality is not done at the expense of – but is a firm requirement for – economic growth. 

Aura Freedom, alongside over 200 feminist organizations, is urging the Canadian government to restore the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and its dedicated department/ministry. We will continue to advocate for the reprioritization of gender equity at the federal level and beyond. 

For the full joint statement, click the link below.