LGBTQ+ and women’s groups in Canada are preparing for potential funding cuts in the federal budget scheduled for November. Activists have been encouraged by the minister overseeing Ottawa’s gender policy to speak out, and many organizations are ramping up advocacy efforts on Parliament Hill to safeguard programs supporting their communities.
Mitzie Hunter, president of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that without assurances of continued funding, the communities these programs support could face increased hardship. Prime Minister Mark Carney has mentioned gender issues less frequently than his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, though the government has committed to maintaining the gender-based analysis initiative that evaluates the impact of federal programs on women and minority groups.
Despite this commitment, Ottawa has indicated that an austerity budget is coming, and departmental schedules suggest funding for multiple programs may expire, with allocations potentially dropping from $407 million in 2025-26 to $76 million by 2027-28, alongside a reduction in full-time department staff. Groups say they have yet to receive clear confirmation that these programs will be replenished.
Concerns over funding cuts were highlighted at a September reception hosted by the Canadian Pride Caucus, a cross-partisan group of LGBTQ+ MPs, senators, and allies. Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez called on community members to continue advocacy, stressing that government efforts alone are not enough to protect LGBTQ+ rights.
Fae Johnstone, head of advocacy group Queer Momentum, noted that transgender people are facing heightened challenges as provinces restrict access to medical services and youth outreach programs. Her organization is increasing lobbying efforts to ensure that community supports and funding remain intact.
Groups also expressed worry that government focus may shift exclusively to employment equality programs, while services addressing gender-based violence and safety at Pride events could see reductions. Brice Field of Fierté Canada Pride highlighted that threats from far-right extremists are forcing some Pride festivals to scale back or cancel events, despite federal allocations for festival security.
Hunter pointed out that gender-based violence and sexual assault tend to rise during times of economic hardship, and cuts could further jeopardize initiatives like childcare expansion that help women participate in the workforce and strengthen the economy. She called for permanent funding for the national action plan on gender-based violence to bolster the capacity of women’s organizations.
Senator Marilou McPhedran criticized the potential reductions, arguing that the current government risks undermining programs that have been crucial to women’s support and political engagement. She highlighted concerns from women within the government about the direction of funding priorities under Carney’s leadership.
This year’s Pride Caucus included participation from Conservative MPs, a shift from the previous year, alongside continued engagement from Liberal, NDP, and Bloc Québécois MPs. However, the two Conservative MPs who publicly identify as LGBTQ+ remain outside the Caucus.
