Press Release: Supporting the Department of Women and Gender Equality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
”Brand New Investment in Gender Equality from Canada’s Federal Government”
TORONTO, October 30, 2025 — Fora joined the Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Rechie Valdez, and the Minister of Finance, Francois Philippe Champagne for a monumental announcement promising $660.5 million worth of investment in gender equality and safety for women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ folks over the next 5 years.
This means stable, predictable and consistent resourcing for life-saving and changing gender equity initiatives when and where they are most needed.
We were heard loud and clear. Over the course of this year, Fora joined feminist and gender equity organizations across the country to sound the alarm on the negative implications of depleting funding for women’s programs. We collectively raised concerns for what cuts could mean for an entire generation of young women and gender diverse youth navigating an increasingly uncertain economy and gender-based backlash.
This is a huge win for the gender equity sector and a testament to our collective advocacy efforts.
We extend our sincere gratitude. On behalf of Fora's staff and community of diverse young leaders, we extend our congratulations and gratitude to everyone who played a part in helping secure guardrails for young women, gender-diverse youth, and feminist organizations over the next five years.
We look forward to working closely with our partners in government and across sectors to build a resilient, strong, and inclusive Canada through our research, programs, and initiatives that support the leadership and careers of young women and gender-diverse youth.
From the Department of Finance Canada
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