YWCA Canada congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney and the elected Members of Parliament across all parties. As the country’s largest and oldest gender equity organization, YWCA Canada stands ready to partner with the federal government to advance critical priorities including gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and intervention, affordable child care, and safe, affordable housing. 

“At YWCA, we celebrate our Canadian democracy and Canadians’ right to vote—a right denied to countless women and marginalized people around the world. We look forward to working with elected leaders to advance gender equity, support women and gender diverse people, and build a more just and inclusive Canada,” says Aline Nizigama, National CEO of YWCA Canada. 

Prime Minister Carney’s election win was propelled by strong support from female and gender diverse voters. Now, we urge the government to act swiftly to protect the rights, prosperity and safety of those very supporters, and all Canadians.  

We call on the federal government to prioritize the following in its first 100 days: 

• Reinstate a Dedicated Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth: This role, with a 50-year legacy, was removed from Cabinet in March 2025. Its absence undermines Canada’s ability to protect the rights and well-being of millions of women, girls and gender diverse people. Sustained leadership, funding, and accountability through this dedicated role are essential to advancing gender equity nationwide.  

• Invest in Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Intervention: In 2024, 187 women and girls were killed in acts of gender-based violence – a 26 percent increase since 2018.  Violence Against Women shelters are full and waitlists for affordable housing are stretching years. This escalating crisis demands federal leadership. As a first step in addressing the epidemic of GBV, we call on the government to honour the commitment made in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement of $50 million to accelerate the construction and renovation of women’s shelters. 

• Prioritize Safe, Affordable Housing for Survivors: Maintain the commitment to dedicate at least 25% of all housing investments to women, and ensure women fleeing violence remain a priority for future housing programs.  

• Strengthen and Expand the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Program: Child care is essential infrastructure and critical to women’s full participation in the workforce. 

• Advance Economic Justice for Women and Gender Diverse People: Removing barriers to full economic participation could add up to $12 trillion to our GDP. 

• Honour Commitments to Truth, Reconciliation and Justice: Make meaningful progress towards the full implementation of the Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and the Calls for Justice in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry Report. 

Building a stronger, safer, and more inclusive country starts with safeguarding women’s rights and advancing gender equality. YWCA Canada is ready to work alongside the government and all Parliamentarians to deliver real and lasting change.