NAWL gathers Members of Parliament to discuss Urgent Reforms for Women’s Economic Security

©Joshua Beeston / @jbees.photo

NAWL gathers Members of Parliament to discuss Urgent Reforms for Women’s Economic Security

On Tuesday, October 7, the National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL) had the honour of hosting an important discussion on Parliament Hill about the economic challenges facing women in Canada, and the policy solutions needed to strengthen their financial security and autonomy.

Alongside dedicated Members of Parliament, we discussed key reforms to strengthen Canada’s social safety net, including strengthening the Canada Disability Benefit, supplementing the Canada Child Benefit and addressing gender discrimination in the Employment Insurance Act. NAWL was privileged to welcome guest speaker Leila Sarangi, Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation at Family Service Toronto and National Director of Campaign 2000, whose work is devoted to ending child poverty in Canada.

Also in attendance were Minister of Justice, Sean Fraser, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, as well as MPs Rachel Bendayan, Mona Fortier, Karina Gould, Lisa Hepfner, Linda Lapointe, Andréanne Larouche, Ginette Lavack, and Chi Nguyen, along with representatives from the offices of Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Rechie Valdez, MP Charles Sousa, Senator Rosemary Moodie and Senator Suze Youance. NAWL extends its sincere thanks to MP Karina Gould for sponsoring the event and for her inspiring feminist leadership.

“Our work is so far from done,” reminded Suzanne Zaccour, Director of Legal Affairs at NAWL. “It’s not done as long as women in Canada work in underpaid and precarious jobs. It’s not done as long as women bear more than their fair share of caregiving. It’s not done as long as a single woman stays in a violent relationship she can’t afford to lead. We have work to do, and we need to do it together.”

Urgent Reforms and Policy Recommendations

During this roundtable discussion, participants focused on three urgent reforms that promise to deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for women across Canada.

First, Amanda Therrien, staff lawyer at NAWL, advocated for strengthening the Canada Disability Benefit by increasing the monthly benefit amount, raising income thresholds, streamlining the application process, and basing eligibility on individual rather than household income, to ensure that women with disabilities can live with dignity and financial security.

Second, Leila Sarangi urged the federal government to implement a new supplement to the Canada Child Benefit for families living in deep poverty, to provide immediate support to those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

“Our latest research found the largest increases in child poverty on record between 2020 and 2022. In that timeframe, 359,000 children fell into poverty, bringing the total to nearly 1.4 million across Canada. Extensive research shows that childhood poverty negatively affects physical health, cognitive development, educational outcomes, mental health and socio-emotional wellbeing.”

– Leila Sarangi, National Director of Campaign 2000

Finally, Amanda Therrien emphasized the need to reform the Employment Insurance Act to eliminate gender discrimination and ensure that women who lose their jobs after maternity leave are eligible for regular EI benefits. “It’s heartbreaking to speak to someone who has just gone through the transformative experience of having a baby only to then lose their job and then be plunged into economic uncertainty. Denying regular EI benefits to women in these circumstances increases their dependence on their partners, forces them to draw down on their savings, or pushes them to access social assistance. It also prevents them from leaving an abusive relationship,” she explained.

©Joshua Beeston / @jbees.photo

Sustaining the Feminist Movement

In her closing remarks, Thaïs Laborde, Executive Director of NAWL, underscored that this event was made possible thanks to the support of Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). “Like many organizations across the country, NAWL is deeply alarmed by the expected sunsetting of vital programs representing more than 80% of WAGE’s budget. For organizations like ours, with no access to core funding, the reality is stark: we are always one project away from closing our doors.

For fifty years, NAWL has brought a feminist legal voice to Parliament. Many of you have stood with us as strong allies, and your support truly makes a difference. If you believe that work must continue, we ask for your help in securing stable, long-term funding. Without it, Canada risks losing the most essential and unwavering voices for women’s equality.”

Women’s economic security is not a ‘nice to have.’ It is a lifeline for millions of women in Canada who deserve access to opportunities and a workforce that is inclusive and accessible. NAWL extends heartfelt thanks to all the Members of Parliament who took part in this important discussion and who are committed to building a more just and prosperous society for all.