Canada Takes Steps To Make ‘Feminist’ Budget Addressing Women’s Post-Pandemic Challenges

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada on Monday took a step to ensure that
its upcoming spring budget, which will also outline a promised
post-pandemic stimulus package, includes measures to get women
working and address gender inequality.

The finance department set up the Task Force on Women in the
Economy to advise the government on actions to address gender
imbalances exacerbated by COVID-19, a statement said. It will be
co-chaired by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

“Canada’s future prosperity and competitiveness depend on the
ability of women to participate equally – and fully – in our
workforce,” Freeland said in a statement.

Since being named finance minister in August, Freeland has
repeatedly spoken about having a “feminist agenda,” and has
promised a national childcare plan will be part of a stimulus
package worth up to C$100 billion ($79 billion) over three
years.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the stimulus – to be
detailed in the spring budget – is needed to jump-start Canada’s
post-pandemic recovery.

“This crisis has created a she-cession and has threatened to
roll back the hard-fought social and economic progress of all
women,” Trudeau said in a statement in honor of International
Women’s Day.

“To build a fairer and more equal Canada, we must ensure a
feminist, intersectional recovery from this crisis.”

Canadian women are more likely than men to have lost jobs in the
pandemic, and three times more women than men have left the labor
force entirely since February 2020. Mothers, racialized women and
young women have all been disproportionately affected.

“There is definitely plenty of runway to help shape the budget,”
a government source said of the panel, which is made up of a
diverse group of women from across Canada, including politicians,
academics, social advocates, economists and business leaders.

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada on Monday took a step to ensure that
its upcoming spring budget, which will also outline a promised
post-pandemic stimulus package, includes measures to get women
working and address gender inequality.

The finance department set up the Task Force on Women in the
Economy to advise the government on actions to address gender
imbalances exacerbated by COVID-19, a statement said. It will be
co-chaired by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

“Canada’s future prosperity and competitiveness depend on the
ability of women to participate equally – and fully – in our
workforce,” Freeland said in a statement.

Since being named finance minister in August, Freeland has
repeatedly spoken about having a “feminist agenda,” and has
promised a national childcare plan will be part of a stimulus
package worth up to C$100 billion ($79 billion) over three
years.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the stimulus – to be
detailed in the spring budget – is needed to jump-start Canada’s
post-pandemic recovery.

“This crisis has created a she-cession and has threatened to
roll back the hard-fought social and economic progress of all
women,” Trudeau said in a statement in honor of International
Women’s Day.

“To build a fairer and more equal Canada, we must ensure a
feminist, intersectional recovery from this crisis.”

Canadian women are more likely than men to have lost jobs in the
pandemic, and three times more women than men have left the labor
force entirely since February 2020. Mothers, racialized women and
young women have all been disproportionately affected.

“There is definitely plenty of runway to help shape the budget,”
a government source said of the panel, which is made up of a
diverse group of women from across Canada, including politicians,
academics, social advocates, economists and business leaders.