"Today is International Women’s Day - a time to celebrate all the remarkable advancements made by women and gender-diverse people across the world. Today, we recommit to the ongoing fight for gender equality and human rights for all women and gender-diverse people in Canada and across the globe.
The impacts of gender inequality, misogyny and patriarchy remain far too common in Canada. This is especially true for women, girls and gender-diverse people who are Indigenous, Black, people of colour, have a disability, or face precarious housing. Trans women and girls have faced a disturbing escalation in hateful violence and harassment. Racialized women, Indigenous women and women with disabilities face higher levels of pay inequity, a contributor to gendered poverty. Over the last year, we have seen unprecedented attacks on reproductive rights. I have been appalled watching the U.S. introduce the death penalty for individuals exercising the right to choose.
This year has marked numerous and unprecedented attacks on gender equality from the Liberal government.
Despite the former Prime Minister acknowledging that the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Two-Spirit people (MMIWG2S+) amounts to a genocide, the Liberal government has failed to fulfill the National Inquiry into MMIWG Calls for Justice to end this genocide. Budget 2025 contained zero dollars for MMIWG2S+ but devotes billions towards fast-tracking resource extraction projects while neglecting the increased gender-based violence associated with boomtown man camps. Internationally, Prime Minister Carney walked back Canada’s progress and commitment to gender equality worldwide and stated, “I wouldn’t describe our foreign policy as feminist.”
Amidst these failures, gender equality organizations and advocates have pushed back and championed major victories protecting vital gender equality infrastructure. When Prime Minister Carney eliminated a Minister of Women and Gender Equality from cabinet, women’s organizations came together to force him to reinstate this essential role. And when the Liberals planned massive departmental cuts to Women and Gender Equality, over 300 women’s organizations joined in condemnation and solidarity, ultimately forcing the government to limit cuts to WAGE in the budget. While recognizing this monumental achievement, we must remember this lesson and continue standing shoulder to shoulder to protect the progress we have made on gender equality.
This last year has shown us that attacks on gender equality are increasing at an unprecedented rate. And yet, it provided a reminder that we are most powerful when we join together in solidarity. Let this underscore the power of feminist solidarity and the importance of recognizing the interconnection of individual struggles against patriarchy.
Now more than ever, we need a movement that uplifts human rights for all, including women and gender-diverse individuals. When we stand together, we are unstoppable."