Turning Feminist Promises Into Progress: 2019

Three years in, the government’s efforts have undoubtedly started to pay off. Just this past year there have been many wins for feminists to celebrate, including the passage of landmark pay equity and gender budgeting legislation, the creation of the Department for Women and Gender Equality and its broadened intersectional mandate, the doubling of federal funding to support the Canadian women’s movement, and the decision to put gender equality at the heart of Canada’s G7 presidency.

Unfortunately, new initiatives and comprehensive strategies to advance women’s rights and gender equality, often the result of consultative processes, too often fell short of the mark because they lacked the resource allocations required to achieve meaningful and long-lasting impact. Bold budget decisions are now needed in order to act on this evidence and make a real difference in the lives of women and girls.