Budget 2025 to include more than $660 million for women, girls and LGBTQ+ groups

Author Sharlene Gandhi

The Ministers of Finance and Women and Gender Equality have announced more than $660 million in funding over five years dedicated to equality, safety and inclusion for women, girls and the LGBTQ+ community. 

Part of the upcoming federal budget, the funding will include pots for “improving women’s and girls’ economic security and participation in leadership roles,” operations and security costs for Pride events, and federal responses to gender-based violence. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney had initially eliminated the Minister for Women and Gender Equality role in his first cabinet, which even drew criticism from the UN Special Rapporteur. The position was later reinstated, with Rechie Valdez appointed as the new Minister for Women and Gender Equality. 

The Department for Women and Gender Equality, WAGE, has long been speculated to be one of the main victims of budget cuts. This sent ripples through the charity and non-profit sector, as WAGE is a significant funder.  

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  • Sharlene Gandhi is the Future of Good editorial fellow on digital transformation.

    Sharlene has been reporting on responsible business, environmental sustainability and technology in the UK and Canada since 2018. She has worked with various organizations during this time, including the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business at Lancaster University, AIGA Eye on Design, Social Enterprise UK and Nature is a Human Right. Sharlene moved to Toronto in early 2023 to join the Future of Good team, where she has been reporting at the intersections of technology, data and social purpose work. Her reporting has spanned several subject areas, including AI policy, cybersecurity, ethical data collection, and technology partnerships between the private, public and third sectors.

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