Policies and legislation that have improved women’s equity in Canada in the last 10 years

There are many milestones that showcase the advancement of women’s equity in Canada. From fighting for the right to divorce in 1926, to opening a bank account without a man’s signature in 1964, women have made incredible progress in ensuring that all women have access to choice and freedom.

But, there are dozens of 21st century examples of women fighting for policy change that have yet to enter the canon. Women have been fighting for guaranteed childcare, an end to gender-based violence, 2SLGBTQIA+ support, and advancing women’s leadership in all sectors.

At first, we thought about spotlighting specific women on this list, but the truth is that no one accomplishes anything alone. The advocacy work required to shift policy was accomplished by dozens, if not hundreds or thousands of people working towards the same goal. So instead, we’re going to share some of that incredible work and the amazing organizations behind it! 

Universal Access to Contraception (2024)

The cost of contraception is one of the primary reasons for non-use. This is an equity and access issue. In 2024, the Federal Government introduced Bill C-64, which aims to provide universal, single-payer coverage for a range of contraception medications and devices in collaboration with provinces and territories.

Currently only 4 Provinces and Territories have signed funding agreements for contraceptive coverage for women, which includes Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon. Unfortunately, more advocacy needs to be done to ensure that everyone has access to contraception.

Who advocated for this?

Many groups advocated for access to universal contraception, including the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Project EmPower Her, and many others. These groups understood the importance of strengthening women’s reproductive rights in Canada. Their efforts give women the freedom of choice unconstrained by financial barriers, allowing them to better plan for their futures and move one step closer to gender equity.

National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (2022)

In 2022, governments across Canada came together to affirm in its budget an investment of $600 million dollars over 5 years to fund a National Action Plan (NAP) to End Gender-Based Violence. Bilateral agreements were made with all of the Provinces and Territories, but were purposely made flexible to address each jurisdiction’s respective challenges, needs, and priorities under the five pillars of the NAP.

Backed by major federal funding, which will require tracking results, the plan marked a big step in Canada’s efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and gender-diverse people.

Who advocated for this?

Women’s shelters, anti-violence coalitions, and feminist advocates played a major role in pushing for a National Action Plan. Women’s Shelters Canada, in collaboration with partners from across the country, had been advocating for a National Action Plan on Violence against Women and Gender-Based Violence since 2015.

Their work helped shape public discussion and policy over years of tireless work advocating for victims of gender-based violence. 

At the federal level, Women and Gender Equality Canada helped bring partners together and worked closely with stakeholders to design the action plan.

$10-a-day Affordable child care and parental supports (2021)

It took years of advocacy from child care advocates, educators, and parent groups for the Federal government to implement a $10-a-day daycare plan across all 13 Provinces and Territories for 5 years.

In 2017, the cost of child care was rising across Canada. In some cities, it had increased by as much as 20% from 2014. It forced families and women to make difficult choices, like reducing household savings, leaving the workforce, or relying on informal care. 

By lowering fees and expanding regulated child care spaces, the $10-a-day plan was intended to ease financial pressure on families, support workforce participation, and improve long-term outcomes for children.

National and provincial policies moving toward accessible childcare have been critical in supporting women’s equity by reducing barriers to paid work.

Who advocated for this?

Advocacy groups were central to pushing these changes forward. Organizations like Child Care Now, Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC, along with partners such as the Canadian Women’s Foundation and other grassroots groups, consistently highlighted affordable child care as essential to women’s economic security. Sector leaders also came together through the Gender Equality Network Canada to develop strategies that emphasized the importance of child care in supporting women’s participation in the workforce.

Pay Equity Act (2018)

In December 2018, the Federal Government passed the Pay Equity Act, which establishes a proactive pay equity regime to federally regulated workplaces with 10 or more employees.

Under this plan, employers are forced to  establish and periodically update a pay equity plan. With 3 years to establish a plan and implement it (which would have been in 2021), pay would have to increase for any woman being paid less than their male counterparts for the same work.

Of course, there is still work to be done outside of the public sector. According to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the gender wage gap is a persistent problem. In 2020, a woman in Canada earned 0.89 cents for every dollar a man earned. That is equivalent to a $3.52 hourly wage rate gap (or 11%) between men and women.

Who advocated for this?

There have been many groups across Canada advocating for gender pay equity. Some of the unions who led the charge are the Public Service Association Canada (PSAC), Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), the United Steelworkers (USW), and others. UCTE’s website explains: “UCTE and PSAC continue to monitor its implementation and advocate for its effective enforcement to ensure that workers receive equal pay for work of equal value.

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We hope these examples of policy and legislative change remind you that progress toward women’s equity has always been made possible by people working in unison towards a single goal. Not a single item on this list was achieved alone.

Every policy, fund, and action plan exists because women, girls, and gender-diverse people shared their stories, organized in their communities, and demanded better, often in the face of resistance and countless hours of unpaid labour. 

While the past 10 years have brought meaningful change, it also reminds us how much work is still to be done. The fight for equity isn’t over, and it never will be. Rights can be won as easily as they can be lost. We must continue to use our voices, courage, and collective power to continue to push for a future where everyone can live with safety, dignity, and choice.