The federal government’s Canada Strong Budget 2025 demonstrates a commitment to advancing gender equality and supporting women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people across Canada.
YWCA Canada commends the pledge of stable, long-term funding for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) — a necessary investment to help eliminate discrimination and advance the rights of women and gender diverse people. This investment in women’s leadership, economic opportunities, and efforts to end gender-based violence are essential to building a more equitable and inclusive Canada.
The launch of Build Canada Homes represents a historic opportunity to address Canada’s housing crisis with the scale, innovation, and urgency that the moment demands. Investments in affordable and non-market housing are also positive and important steps toward addressing housing insecurity, particularly for single-parent families—most of whom are women. We look forward to working with the government to ensure all women and women-led families have a long-term, safe and affordable place to call home.
YWCA Canada welcomes the federal commitment to ending gender-based violence, while also noting the lack of funding for the continuation of the 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. At a time when gender-based violence has reached crisis levels in Canada, we look forward to understanding how new investments will support measurable progress on safety and prevention.
We note other critical gaps in the budget, including the lack of new funding to expand the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program. Accessible, affordable, community-based childcare is essential to women’s economic participation. We continue to call for a $500 million investment over five years to expand non-profit and community-based childcare spaces.
Beyond housing, the budget includes limited long-term investment in social infrastructure that supports women’s safety and well-being.
While YWCA Canada recognizes investments in First Nations infrastructure and clean water, we also call for action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
“This budget takes encouraging steps on gender equality, particularly through stable funding for Women and Gender Equality Canada and investments in housing and safety,” said Aline Nizigama, National CEO of YWCA Canada. “At the same time, more work is needed to ensure affordable childcare and gender-responsive housing are prioritized as essential infrastructure. We remain hopeful and ready to work with the federal government to close these gaps.”
YWCA Canada remains committed to collaborating with government and community partners to ensure a just, safe, and equitable future for women, girls, and gender diverse people.
