There is absolutely no justification for the Liberal government’s recent indication of extreme funding cuts for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE). This move demonstrates that women and gender diverse people are not a priority for this government, full stop.
According to a Departmental Plan, the Liberals are set to cut funding for WAGE by as much as 80% and reduce WAGE staffing by over 35% within the next three years. It is already unacceptable that Prime Minister Carney is planning the largest public sector job cut in modern history, but the fact that he has singled out WAGE for exceptionally far-reaching funding cuts is a highly disturbing sign of where exactly his government’s priorities lie.
In Canada, gender-based violence has reached crisis proportions, particularly impacting those who are Indigenous, 2SLGBTQAI+, and/or unhoused. Many municipalities have labeled intimate partner violence an epidemic, while the House of Commons has unanimously agreed the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people is a Canada-wide emergency. Similarly, we’ve seen a disturbing rise of violence against gender diverse people, undermining the right to freedom of expression and safety for those who are simply being themselves. Governments at all levels have ignored these rising forms of violence, and the Liberals’ cuts represent a total negligence of the life and death issues facing countless people across Canada.
Even before these cuts, lack of attention to gender equality has been felt everywhere. Failure by successive governments at all levels to fund sexual and reproductive healthcare have made safe, trauma informed abortion services inaccessible for countless women and gender diverse people, particularly in rural and remote regions. And gender-based income inequality has persisted across the country, something which could become even worse if the Liberals fail to adequately support programs like $10/day childcare, which economically empowers women and gender diverse people.
Despite accelerating inequality, Prime Minister Carney has repeatedly demonstrated he is not concerned with promoting rights for women and gender diverse people. In one of his first acts upon taking office, he eliminated a ministerial position for women and gender equality, something he only reversed after women’s organizations across Canada openly condemned him for it. More recently his government tabled Bill C-2, which would undermine women’s privacy and safety by providing law enforcement sweeping powers for warrantless healthcare data and information requests, including at abortion clinics.
While cuts to WAGE will not be confirmed before the Fall budget, we must come together and demand the Liberals reverse course and support women and gender diverse people’s rights and empowerment. If they fail to do so, we will know without a doubt that Carney is ‘elbows up’ against women and gender equality.
On Thursday, October 30th, 2025, MP Leah Gazan released the following statement:
Open letter from MPs Leah Gazan and Jenny Kwan
We are writing to you to express growing concerns regarding the significant challenges for permanent resident applicants under the Provincial Nominee Program in renewing expiring work permits. These challenges are creating significant hardships for skilled workers and their families, undermining their ability to contribute fully to the Canadian economy and society, as well as impacting multiple local employers including small businesses, non-profit organizations and government departments.
On Friday, October 17, 2025, MP Leah Gazan issued the following statement: