Joint News Release on Minister of WAGE

Women Transforming Cities, together with women's organizations across the country, signed a joint news release by the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRAW) following the announcement of the Canadian government eliminating the Minister for Women and Gender Equality cabinet position.

We echo the sentiment that the elimination of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth (WAGE) position in the new Canadian Prime Minister's cabinet is a regressive step.

Read the statement in full.

March 14, 2025

Canadian Government Eliminates Minister for Women and Gender Equality Amid United Nations Women’s Rights Summit

For Immediate Release

New York UNHQ – It is unacceptable that the new Canadian Prime Minister has eliminated the position of Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth (WAGE) in his newly announced cabinet. This regressive step undermines decades of progress toward gender equality and political representation in Canada. Even in a lean cabinet, which purports to be responding to specific economic pressures, the absence of this dedicated minister sends a troubling message about the current government’s priorities and commitment to advancing rights for intergenerational women, 2SLGBTQIIA+ people and gender equality at large. A strong economy demands that we invest in feminist policies, like healthcare, pharmacare, childcare, the national action plan to end gender based violence, and so much more. Gender equality is not an afterthought; it is the backbone of a strong economy and resilient society.

WAGE must retain a dedicated cabinet position. Consolidating these responsibilities into a broader portfolio undermines the focus, expertise, and resources required to tackle systemic issues effectively. Simply put, it will not work. Gender equality demands dedicated leadership, accountability, and sustained attention—none of which can be adequately achieved when it is treated as an afterthought within a larger, unrelated ministry.

This move, dismantling the national machinery for women’s rights and gender equality, has far-reaching implications. This decision comes amid a broader international backlash on women and gender rights, with countries rolling back protections and support structures. We are also deeply concerned about the deprioritization of the young feminist portfolio. This pushes young feminists in Canada back into the footnotes of decision-making, ripping away a hard-won seat at the table when it is most critical.

This week 189 countries, including Canada, are reviewing 30 years of progress on women’s advancement. The removal of this cabinet position is a betrayal of the principles outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which Canada has long supported. Furthermore, it contradicts the spirit of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and the ongoing efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIIA+ people.

The removal of this cabinet position is not just a symbolic loss; it has real-world implications for millions of women and gender-diverse people and workers in Canada who rely on the government to protect their rights and advance their interests. Furthermore, Canada’s commitment to women’s rights, equality and full participation in society depends on this department’s sustained funding, policy making and accountability measures.

It is imperative that the Prime Minister reconsider this decision and reinstate a dedicated Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth to ensure that these critical issues remain at the forefront of Canada’s political agenda. People in Canada do not have to choose between the economy and critical social priorities.

Media Contact

Anuradha Dugal – Women’s Shelters Canada 514-994-6804 adugal@endvaw.ca

Jackie Neapole – Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW-ICREF) 343-324-1927 jackie@criaw-icref.ca

Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah – Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights (613)-519-2788 Ext. 13900 debbie@actioncanadashr.org

We, the undersigned, demand better.

SIGNATORIES

‘Ksan Society

Aboriginal Legal Services

Aboriginal Mother Centre Society

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC)

AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception in BC

AccessNow Nova Scotia

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights

Action LGBTQIA+ avec les ImmigrantEs et Réfugiés (AGIR Montréal)

Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes

Actions Femmes Île-du-Prince-Édouard

AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area, auth by Dr. Stacey Mayhall, Executive Director

Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de 2e étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence conjugale

Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux

Alternatives for Women in Prince Edward County

Amelia Rising Sexual Violence Support Centre

Ann Pederson

Anova: A Future Without Violence

Anti-Racism Coalition NL (ARC-NL)

Archway Society for Domestic Peace

Armagh House

Arthritis Research Canada

Assaulted Women’s Helpline

Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens

Association Québécoise de coopération internationale

Aura Freedom

Aura Freedom International

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

BC Civil Liberties Association

BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH)

Be the Peace Institute

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria Capital Region

BizKids Practical Education ASSN

Black Femme Legal

Black Lives Matter Sudbury

Black Women In Motion (BWIM)

Blooming House Women’s Shelter

Blue Pinion Films

Bryony House (Halifax Transition House Association) Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Build a Dream

Building a Bigger Wave Ontario Network

BWSS Battered Women’s Support Services Association

C.E.F.S.O. – Council of Elizabeth Fry Societies of Ontario

CALACS des Rivières Haute-Yamaska Brome-Missisquoi

CALACS du Saguenay

CALACS L’Ancrage

CALACS L’étoile du Nord de Val-d’Or

CALACS Lueur d’espoir

Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty

Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (CASWLR)

Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS)

Canadian Center for GBA+ – Monika Imeri, Senior Researcher & Policy Analyst

Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking

Canadian Council for Refugees

Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU)

Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA)

Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR)

Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW-ICREF)

Canadian Teachers’ Federation

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce | Chambre de Commerce des Femmes Canadiennes

Canadian Women’s Foundation

CARE Canada

Carrefour des Femmes du Grand Lachute

Carrefour des Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario

CBA National Women Lawyers Forum

Centrale des syndicats du Québec

Centre de Sante communautaire Hamilton/Niagara

Centre de solidarité lesbienne

Centre d’encadrement des jeunes femmes immigrantes

Centre des Femmes de Longueuil

Centre for Civic Governance

Centre for Family Equity

Centre for Feminist Research (York University)

Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC)

Centre Novas-CALACS francophone de Prescott-Russell

CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women)

CFUW Ontario Counci

Chair’s Circle for Gender Equality

Chair’s Circle for Gender Equality

Child Care Now

Chimo Community Services, Richmond, BC

Choice in Health Clinic

Chronically Queer

Circle Community LandTrust

City for All Women Initiative (CAWI)

Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat Canada

Coalition de Prescott-Russell pour éliminer la violence faite aux femmes

Coalition Féministe contre la Violence envers les Femmes (CFVF)

Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador (CSCNL)

Community Sector Network of PEI

Concertation des luttes contre l’exploitation sexuelle (CLES)

Corner Brook Status of Women Council

CORNERSTONE Family Violence Prevention Centre

Counselling and Family Service Ottawa / Service familial et counseling Ottawa

Creston Valley Den Society – Creston, BC

DAWN Canada

Dawson Shelter Society

Diana Rivington

Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society

Domestic Violence Association of New Brunswick

Dr Evelyn Vingilis

Dr Ramneek Dosanjh

Dr. Amanda Dale – Women’s Rights Institute; Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa

Dr. Denise Koh Medical Corporation

Dress for Success Orillia and Barrie

Eastern Edge Artist-Run Centre, St. John’s, NL

Eastman Crisis Centre Inc. – Agape House

EcoEquitable

Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)

Elizabeth Fry Society of Northeastern Ontario

Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario

Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa

Elizabeth Fry Society of Quebec

Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan

Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka

Ellevive

Elliot Lake Women’s Group Inc.

Embrave Agency to End Violence

End FGM Network Canada

End Sexual Violence Newfoundland and Labrador

Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada

Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVABC)

Equality Fund

Equity Subcommittee

Family Dynamix Association

Family Transition Place

Faye Peterson House

Fédération autonome de l’enseignement

Fédération des femmes du Québec

Fédération des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes

Fédération du Québec pour le planning des naissances

Fédération interprofessionelle de la santé du Québec

Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC)

Filipino BC

Flemingdon Health Centre

Fora: Network for Change

Fòs Feminista Canada

FrancoQueer

FuseSocial

Future North – Sudbury

Génération Cinq

Gillian’s Place

Girls Studies Research Network at York University

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women Canada

Global Women in STEM

Good Shepherd Centres

GOOD TO BE GOOD

Green Haven Women’s Shelter

Growing Years Family Resource Centre

Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace

Han Knakst Tsitxw Society

Haven Society

Heartwood Healing Centre

Hiatus House, Windsor Ontairo

Highwire Collective

Hope for Refugees International

Hope Haven Transition House

Huron Women’s Shelter Second Stage Housing and Counselling Services

Huronia Transition Homes

Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO)

ImmigrantsCAN IEHDC

Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia

Institute for International Women’s Rights Manitoba

Inter Pares

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada

Interval House of Ottawa

Japna Sidhu-Brar

Jocalyn Clark

John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights

Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society

Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre

Kemlin Nembhard, Executive Director, Women’s Health Clinic, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Kootenai Community Centre Society – Creston, BC

Krishana Sankar, PhD

Kristina Fifield, EMDR Certified Therapist

L’Euguélionne – Feminist and Queer Bookstore

La Maison de Marthe

La pointe du Jour CALACS Sept-Îles

Lakehead University Student Union

Laurier Centre for Women in Science

Leadership féminin Prescott-Russell

Lesley Ackrill, Executive Co-Director Interval House

Linda Krystina Housing Society

Lisa Schmidt ‘Ksan Society

Live Educate Transform Society

Living in Community

London Abused Society

London Abused Women’s Centre

Luke’s Place

Maama Watali

Maison d’hébergement pour femmes francophones – La Maison

Maison Interlude House Inc.

Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters

Manitoulin Family Resources

Marjorie House

Marlo Turner Ritchie, Founder & Principal Consultant, Social Impact Consulting / Conseil impact social

Martha Paynter – Director of Research at Wellness Within

Medical Herstory

Migrant Workers Centre BC

Minerva Foundation for BC Women

Mokami Status of Women Council

Monthly Dignity

Mothers Matter Canada

Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services

Nadine Chan, Executive Co-Director Interval House

National Alliance for Children and Youth

National Association of Women and the Law / Association nationale Femmes et Droit

National Indigenous Circle Against Family Violence – Catherine Lelievre, Executive Director

National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Strategy for Agencies Serving Immigrants Project

Nelson Community Services

New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity

Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto

NorPen Status of Women Council

North Shore Women’s Centre

North York Women’s Shelter

Northern Society for Domestic Peace, BC

NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (ON)

NSERC Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering – Atlantic

Nunavut Association of Non-Profit Organizations

Oasis Centre des femmes

OCASI-Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants

Ontario Association of Interval & Transition Houses

Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care

Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC)

Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association

Ontario Federation of Labour

Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN)

Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation

Options for Sexual Health (BC)

Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW)

Our Community Bikes

Oxfam Canada

PACE Society

Pacific Immigrant Resources Society

Parkland Crisis Centre & Women’s Shelter

Pathways to Leadership With Racialized Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Society (BC)

Patricia M. Barkaskas, Associate Professor, Allard Law, UBC

Pavilion Women’s Centre

PearlSpace Support Services Society

PEI Coalition for Women’s Leadership

PEI Family Violence Prevention Services Inc

PerSIStence Theatre Company, St. John’s, NL

Peterborough AIDS Resource Network

Peterborough Community Legal Centre

Phoenix Transition Society, Prince George, BC

Pillar Nonprofit Network

Plaidoyer Victimes

Planned Parenthood NL Sexual Health Centre

Planned Parenthood Toronto

Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society

Progressive Intercultural Society

Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan (PATHS)

PSAC NORTH

Public Service Alliance of Canada

qathet SAFE

QMUNITY, BC’s Queer Trans and Two Spirit Resource Centre

Quinte Coordinating Committee Against Violence, Hastings County Ontario

RaiseHER Co.

Ralph Thornton Community Centre

Regina Transition House/La Maison the Transition de Regina

Regroupement des groupes de femmes de la région de la Capitale-Nationale – RGF-CN

Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale

Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick

Regroupement québécois des CALACS

Réseau ACCESS Network

Réseau d’action des femmes en santé et services sociaux (RAFSSS)

Réseau des femmes des Laurentides

Réseau des groupes de femmes Chaudière-Appalaches

Réseau des lesbiennes du Québec

Réseau des Tables régionales de groupes de femmes du Québec (RTRGFQ)

Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society

REVIVE, Sexual Assault Rape Crisis Centre of Peel

Robson Valley Community Services, McBride BC

Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia

Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre (previously WAVAW Rape Crisis Centre)

Salmo Community Resource Society

SARA for Women

Scarborough Women’s Centre

Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District

Sexual Assault Centre Kingston

Sexual Assault Centre of Brant

Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region

Sexual en Gender Diverse Alliance of the Canadian Bar Association

Sexual Health Nova Scotia

Sexual Health Saskatoon

Shuswap Area Family Emergency (SAFE) Society

Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology

Society of Queer Momentum

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island

South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO)

South Asian Women Centre

South Asian Women’s and Immigrant’s Services

South Okanagan Women in Need Society

South Peace Community Resources Society (SPCRS)

St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival

St. John’s Status of Women Council / Women’s Centre

Stephanie MacQuarrie

Sunshine Coast Community Services Society

Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour (SNIWWOC)

Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR)

Surrey Women’s Centre Society

Survivors United Against Violence – New Brunswick

SWAN Vancouver

Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec

Syndicat de professionelles et professionels du gouvernement du Québec

Table de concertation de Laval en condition féminine

Table de concertation des groupes de femmes Bas-Saint-Laurent

Table de concertation des groupes de femmes de Lanaudière

Table de concertation du mouvement de femmes de la Mauricie (TCMFM)

Table de concertation du mouvement des femmes Centre-du-Québec (TCMFCQ)

Tamitik Status of Women Association

Tasha Henderson, City Councillor New Westminster BC

The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies

The Courage to Act Foundation

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia

The Elizabeth Fry Society of New Brunswick

The Honourable Jean Augustine

The Honourable Senator Marilou McPhedran

The Pas Committee for Women in Crisis

The Prosperity Project

The Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton & Area) – SACHA

The Women’s Centre Grey Bruce

There Management Consulting Inc.

Three Oaks Foundation, Belleville Ontario

Times Change Women’s Employment Service

Timmins and Area Women in Crisis

Timmins Family Counselling Center

Toronto Rape Crisis Centre Multicultural Women Against Rape Collective

Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre Society

Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS)

Tri-City Transitions Society

Un toit pour Elles – Québec

UNDPAD Push Coalition

Unifor

United Girls of the World (DBA Fire & Flower)

Universal Access to Contraception Saskatchewan

UPlift Black

Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society

Victim Services of Durham Region (Oshawa, Ontario)

Victim Services of Peterborough and Northumberland

Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre

Victoria Sexual Assault Centre

Volunteer Alberta

We’re Here For You Canada – National

Wellness Within, Auth by Chair, Natasha Hines

West Coast LEAF

Westcoast Community Resources Society

White Ribbon

Willowbridge Community Services

Wilmas Transition Society

Woman House

WomanACT

Women and Children Precious Shelter

Women and HIV / AIDS Initiative (Ontario), Molly Bannerman, Provincial Director

Women Lawyers Forum

Women Transforming Cities

Women Veterans Research and Engagement Network (WREN)

Women’s Centre for Social Justice (WomenatthecentrE)

Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region

Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke

Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)

Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network

Women’s Network PEI

Women’s Rural Resource Centre

Women’s Shelters Canada

Women’s Economic Council – Serah Gazali, Program and Impact Director

Women’s Health in Women’s Hands CHC

Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom Canada

WORTH – Women of Recreation, Tourism, & Hospitality

Xpey’ Selhni’ Lelum – Cedar Woman House

YEG Built For Life Foundation

Yellow Brick House

YMCA BC

York Region Centre for Community Safety

Yukon Status of Women Council

Yukon Women in Tech and Trades Association

Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society

Yukon Women’s Coalition

YWCA Agvik Nunavut

YWCA Banff

YWCA Cambridge

YWCA Canada

YWCA Durham

YWCA Edmonton

YWCA Halifax

YWCA HamiltonYW

YWCA Lethbridge & District

YWCA Metro Vancouver

YWCA Niagara Region

YWCA NWT

YWCA Peterborough Haliburton

YWCA Québec

YWCA Regina

YWCA Saskatoon

YWCA St. John’s

YWCA St-Thomas Elgin

YWCA Toronto

YWCA Westman