Since its establishment in 2018, the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) has empowered women and 2SLGBTQI+ people through programs that enhance meaningful participation in our economy.
WAGE's work extends across government, helping departments and agencies include more Canadians in shaping and strengthening our country's social and economic fabric.
Budget 2025 will propose to provide WAGE with funding totaling $660.5 million over five years, with $132.1 million ongoing, to ensure WAGE is able to conduct its critical work.
Advancing women's equality in Canada
Budget 2025 will propose $382.5 million over five years, with $76.5 million ongoing, to renew funding for the Women's Program, in support of the women's equality sector.
The Women's Program supports time-limited projects that address systemic barriers to women's equality in Canadian society. Its objective is to achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada. Funding is provided to eligible organizations in support of projects at the local, regional and national levels that address three priority areas:
- Improving women's and girls' economic security and prosperity
- Encouraging women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles
- Ending violence against women and girls
Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ communities
Budget 2025 will propose $54.6 million over five years, with $10.9 million ongoing, to renew funding for the 2SLGBTQI+ programming.
This will support the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund, which aims to build the capacity of 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations and networks to protect rights and advance equality across Canada. The fund supports organizations' activities that increase their capacity to reach their goals. This includes helping organizations to:
- Establish formal networks
- Become legally constituted
- Develop strategic and financial plans
- Improve knowledge about the needs of 2SLGBTQI+ communities
- Improve technical skills so they can effectively run their organizations
Budget 2025 funding to support the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund will include $7.5 million over five years, with $1.5 million ongoing, for Pride security. This will help respond to community requests for assistance to cover the rising costs of security and insurance for Pride festivals which are a result of rising anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate.
Strengthening federal action in response to gender-based violence
Budget 2025 will propose $223.4 million over five years, with $44.7 million ongoing, to strengthen federal action in response to gender-based violence (GBV).
This will enable ongoing funding for crisis hotlines, GBV research and the federal GBV Secretariat, to enhance data collection and research on GBV.
This funding will be provided through the Gender-Based Violence Program. This program supports organizations and projects at the local, regional and national levels, to address gaps in support for specific populations who have experienced GBV, including:
- Women and girls
- Indigenous women and girls
- Black and racialized women
- Immigrant and refugee women
- 2SLGBTQI+ people
- Women with disabilities
- Women living in Northern, rural, and remote communities
