On November 5th, 2025 the Ontario Legislature unanimously passed a motion recognizing intimate partner violence (IPV) as an endemic, an important acknowledgment that IPV is a persistent, long-standing and systemic problem requiring sustained attention.
This milestone reflects the strength of survivors and the tireless work of VAW advocates, organizations, and municipalities who have championed the declaration of IPV and/or GBV as an epidemic for years to stress the urgency and magnitude of the issue.
Building on this foundation, we continue to advocate alongside communities across Ontario for comprehensive responses to IPV. Together, we can match words with the meaningful, sustained commitments needed to build a safer, more equitable Ontario for women, gender-diverse people in all communities.
WomanACT’s research on The Current State of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Ontario has shown that preventing violence and supporting survivors requires coordinated, system-level change. In our written submission to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy for their study on IPV, in collaboration with community stakeholders, we outlined evidence-informed recommendations to strengthen prevention, improve survivor-centered responses, and address the structural conditions, such as housing, economic insecurity, and digital abuse, that contribute to violence.
WomanACT remains committed to collaborating with survivors, government partners, and service providers to ensure that this declaration leads to concrete, long-term action and meaningful support for those affected by Gender Based Violence.
This recognition during Woman Abuse Prevention Month and ahead of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) reflects growing awareness and commitment across all parties to address this critical issue. We welcome this step forward and remain committed to working collaboratively toward even stronger action.
We are grateful to work in partnership with all levels of government and community stakeholders committed to ending intimate partner violence and gender-based violence.
With commitment,
Harmy Mendoza
Executive Director
WomanACT
Endorsed by the following WomanACT members:
Abrigo Centre
Barbara Issett, Individual WomanACT Member
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Bina Patel, Individual WomanACT Member
Child Development Institute
Colleen Rogers, Individual WomanACT Member
Elizabeth Fry Toronto
Kimberly Gillespie, Individual WomanACT Member
Kris Boyce, Individual WomanACT Member
Nellie’s
North York Women’s Centre
Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre
Shanice Harris, Individual WomanACT Member
Shivangi Sawh, Individual WomanACT Member
West Neighbourhood House
Yorktown Family Services
Aakanksha Mathur (she/her)
Manager of Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications
WomanACT
416-944-9242 Ext. 231
amathur@womanact.ca
womanact.ca
WomanACT welcomes the passage of Budget 2025 and the federal government’s continued commitment to advancing gender equality, safety, and opportunity for women, girls, and gender-diverse people across Canada. We appreciate the recognition that preventing and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) requires sustained investment, cross-sector collaboration, and an unwavering focus on equity and inclusion.
We are encouraged by the government’s proposed $660.5 million over five years in new and ongoing funding for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). Since its establishment, WAGE has played a vital role in eliminating discrimination, strengthening economic participation, and advancing the rights of women and 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Furthermore, we are grateful that WAGE’s budget reduction was kept to 2%, helping shield the department from wider austerity measures and enabling it to sustain progress on gender equity nationwide.
The budget’s reaffirmation of long-term funding, including $382.5 million to advance women’s equality and economic security, $54.6 million to support and strengthen the 2SLGBTQI+ community sector, including Pride Security, and $223.4 million to bolster federal action on gender-based violence represents meaningful steps toward ensuring women’s organizations and 2SLGBTQI+ groups can continue delivering essential supports, addressing systemic barriers, and responding to violence in all its forms.
These investments will help sustain prevention programs, strengthen survivor supports, and advance our vision of a future where all women live free from violence. We also welcome the reaffirmed commitment to ongoing work with provinces and territories through bilateral agreements that fund community-based prevention and direct services for survivors. As implementation progresses, we look forward to clarity on continued funding for the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence beyond March 2027.
Preventing Economic Abuse
WomanACT is especially heartened to see significant progress on preventing economic abuse, a common yet often hidden form of gender-based violence. Economic abuse affects many women and gender-diverse individuals in Canada, with rates as high as 1 in 3 women experiencing it from intimate partners. Budget 2025 proposes a voluntary Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Economic Abuse for federally regulated banks, overseen by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. This code will establish clear expectations for how financial institutions can better identify, prevent, and respond to economic abuse, supporting safer financial pathways for survivors and promoting financial independence.
Financial systems are not neutral, they are embedded in and shaped by broader social and gendered contexts. Integrating trauma-informed principles into banking technology is essential to address tech-facilitated financial abuse. WomanACT looks forward to collaborating with all levels of government and financial institutions to grounding this code in survivor-centered principles, accessibility, financial empowerment, collaboration, and continuous improvement. By acknowledging the powerful role that Canada’s financial sector plays in recognizing signs of coercion, manipulation, restricted access to money, sabotage of employment, or forced debt, the government takes an important step toward comprehensive violence prevention.
Housing as Safety Infrastructure
Budget 2025 also takes meaningful steps to improve safety and well-being by addressing one of the most urgent and persistent needs for survivors of gender-based violence: safe, affordable, and stable housing.
WomanACT’s research and policy work has consistently demonstrated the critical link between housing stability and survivor safety. This recognition naturally aligns with Canada’s National Housing Strategy Act (2019) that recognized housing as a human right, obligating governments to ensure access to safe, affordable housing for all, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women, gender-diverse people, and survivors of violence. Access to secure housing is often a determining factor in whether a survivor can safely leave an abusive situation.
In addition to affordability challenges, hidden homelessness disproportionately affects women. Hidden homelessness refers to temporary or unstable housing arrangements — staying with family, friends, or in unsafe environments — that are not captured in official statistics. For women fleeing violence, this often involves moving between precarious arrangements or returning to abusive partners.
The expansion of affordable and non-market housing through Build Canada Homes is especially critical. Increasing supply, affordability, and access will particularly support single-parent households, 81% of which are led by women, who are disproportionately at risk of housing instability after leaving violence.
By embedding gender and diversity considerations across decision-making, Budget 2025 acknowledges that economic security, housing access, and community safety are deeply interconnected. These measures reflect a growing recognition that preventing gender-based violence is not only about crisis response, it is about building the structural conditions that allow women and gender-diverse people to live independently, rebuild their lives, and thrive.
Looking Ahead
As a Toronto based organization working within Canada’s national GBV prevention ecosystem, WomanACT recognizes the progress reflected in Budget 2025 and looks forward to continuing our collaborative work with all levels of government, community partners, financial institutions, and survivors. Together, we can build a future where every person, regardless of gender, background, or circumstance, can live safely, independently, and with dignity.
Aakanksha Mathur (she/her)
Manager of Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications
WomanACT
416-944-9242 Ext. 231
amathur@womanact.ca
womanact.ca
WomanACT welcomes and commends the federal government’s announcement of $660.5 million over five years for the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) in the proposed Budget 2025. This landmark commitment affirms that advancing gender equality and ending gender-based violence (GBV) are not only moral imperatives, but essential foundations for building safe, inclusive, and economically secure communities.
We applaud the government for recognizing that safety is the cornerstone of equity and opportunity – no one can work, learn, or lead without it. These investments represent a critical lifeline for survivors and a step toward strengthening communities across Canada. At WomanACT, we witness every day how economic insecurity, financial abuse, housing precarity, and unsafe workplaces intersect to undermine safety and independence. Renewed federal commitments to GBV crisis supports, evidence-based research, and wraparound community services are key to closing systemic gaps and driving lasting change.
We extend our gratitude to Minister Richie Valdez and her team at WAGE for their steadfast leadership and responsiveness to the sector’s calls for sustained funding and coordinated action. WomanACT remains deeply committed to collaborating with governments, partners, and survivors to advance a National Action Plan that prioritizes prevention, housing, and economic safety, ensuring all women and gender-diverse people can live free from violence and thrive.
Media Contact:
Aakanksha Mathur (she/her)
Manager of Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications
WomanACT
416-944-9242 Ext. 231
amathur@womanact.ca
womanact.ca
A Joint Statement From The Toronto GBV/IPV Working Group On The Elimination Of The Minister For Women And Gender Equality Canada.
Women’s rights and safety are non-negotiable.
As professionals working to end gender-based violence (GBV) in Toronto, and as organizations that led the advocacy for Toronto to declare GBV and IPV an epidemic, we recognize our responsibility to highlight gaps and raise our voices on behalf of the one in three women in Canada who will experience violence in her lifetime.
On March 14, 2025, the Government of Canada announced its new Cabinet, which no longer included the Minister for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE), a department which oversees the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan, among other crucial files.
The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (NAP) was a hard-won federal action plan that many of our organizations consulted on. With all Provincial and Territorial agreements in place as of 2024, the NAP can finally be implemented, funded, and tracked. Unfortunately, this crucial work is now at risk with the WAGE Minister no longer in existence and the work of the department moved under another ministry.
The intricate and multifaceted nature of gender-based violence, along with the expertise needed to address it and promote gender equality, requires the focused leadership of a specialized minister and department. By moving these issues under another ministry, the government diminishes its accountability for women’s rights, gender equity, and gender-based violence. Without a dedicated Minister for Women and Gender Equality, the federal government risks undermining vital progress in key areas like preventing and addressing gender-based violence, ensuring sexual and reproductive health, supporting 2SLGBTQQIA+ rights, and advancing broader gender equity initiatives.
The removal of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality sends a clear message: the rights, safety, and well-being of women, girls, and gender-diverse people living in Canada are not a top priority of this government. At best, they are seen as secondary concerns in “challenging times,” disregarding the critical role women play in overcoming such challenges. Beyond the concerning message this sends, there are significant implications for funding, policy development, and government accountability. The removal of this role coincides with a global regression of women’s rights. In such a period, it is more crucial than ever to maintain dedicated leadership and strong accountability systems to address the unique challenges, inequalities, and violence faced by women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals in Canada.
The new and significantly leaner Cabinet has been described by government officials as one that is focused on protecting workers during a trade war and building the economy during a moment of crisis. As Canada weathers the impact of tariffs on our economy, cost of living, and employment prospects, it is important that we recognize the disproportionate impact of such changes on women and children. These economic downturns have historically led to an increase in rates of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence in our homes and communities. Now, more than ever, we need a dedicated Minister for Women and Gender Equality to continue to support the elimination of gender-based violence and promote gender equity.
We understand the unprecedented time that Canadian leadership finds itself in at the moment, however we must highlight that sidelining gender equity will ultimately harm Canada’s economic prosperity – not improve it. Issues such as the gender wage gap, gendered poverty, unequal access to economic opportunities, and workplace discrimination directly undermine Canada’s economy. However, as GBV advocates and frontline organizations working with survivors and in GBV prevention, we must highlight that any government looking to address a struggling economy must zoom out and address gender-based violence. The long-term effects of GBV are well-documented, influencing a range of critical areas such as homelessness, physical and mental health, reproductive health, food insecurity, financial instability, limited access to education, and beyond – all of which have grave financial consequences. Canada’s Department of Justice reports that sexual assault and other sexual crimes cost the country $4.8 billion annually, while spousal violence alone accounts for a staggering $7.4 billion in losses. In short, gender-based violence costs Canada billions every year.
As advocates who are also active in global GBV work, we have witnessed Canada’s international leadership in advancing women’s rights and addressing gender-based violence, including international funding for GBV projects around the world, support for international resolutions addressing GBV, and much more. We encourage the Government of Canada to remain leaders in this space by abiding by our international commitments and laws and restoring our own internal mechanism for accountability and oversight on gender-based violence.
When it comes to ensuring our communities are healthy, thriving, and resilient, women have been at the forefront of advocacy and activism. Whether it be changing legislation, creating legislation, or simply ensuring that inherent human rights are upheld, women and gender diverse people have been leading their communities for years. Indeed, feminist organizing has resulted in huge advancements in all sectors and has boosted economies across Canada. Issues affecting women – which ultimately affect us all – like gender equity, human rights, pay gaps, workplace harassment, gender-based violence, and more, cannot be put aside for any interim timeframe. They must be at the forefront at all times, and there can never be a justification for the removal of such an important Minister or portfolio. Women, girls and gender diverse people, after all, make up more than half of Canada’s population. We deserve better.
We, along with a growing number of feminist organizations, call for the reinstatement of the WAGE Minister, along with its dedicated department, to ensure that we continue to move forward – not backward – in our efforts to create a healthy, thriving, safe, equitable, just and prosperous Canada for everyone.
In the same light, as members of the GBV/IPV Working Group in Toronto, we call upon our city’s leadership to ensure that efforts to address the GBV and IPV epidemic as stated in Motion CC8.2 remain a City priority, particularly those under Section 5, which direct City Council to request the Provincial and Federal Governments to provide the necessary support to meaningfully address the gender-based violence and intimate-partner violence epidemic.
We are certain that these actions will result in a stronger, healthier, and more just Canada for everyone.
Sincerely,
Aura Freedom International
WomanACT
Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke
White Ribbon
YWCA Toronto
PRESS RELEASE: TORONTO, ON – On Sunday, March 23rd, 2025, a federal snap election was officially called, with Canadians set to go to the polls on April 28, 2025. Since the announcement, all official political parties have begun outlining their policy priorities. This follows the dissolution of the dedicated Ministry for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE), with its portfolio shifted under the Ministry of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada, and the Quebec Lieutenant.
The policies implemented by the next federal government will have far-reaching impacts on economic and social justice. These most often impact those who are already vulnerable, including those in poverty, women and gender-diverse people, Indigenous, and racialized people. Canada needs strong federal leadership and coordination across all levels of government to ensure sustained investments in gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, affordable housing, and comprehensive data collection. Evidence-based, survivor-centered policies and programs are essential to providing safety options for survivors and fostering economic empowerment.
WomanACT remains steadfast in our vision: a world where all women and gender-diverse people live free from violence and have economic security. We firmly believe that women’s full participation in policymaking, national action plans, and the workforce is essential to strengthening Canada’s economic and social outcomes. Gender equality is the foundation of a strong economy and a more resilient Canadian society.
According to Statistics Canada, between 2018 and 2023, police-reported rates of Family Violence (FV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) rose alarmingly—17% and 13%, respectively. In 2023 alone, nearly 4 in 5 IPV victims (78%) and over 6 in 10 FV victims (68%) were women and girls. Family violence against seniors (65+) also reached an all-time high, with nearly 6 in 10 victims (57%) being women. With one woman or girl killed every 48 hours in Canada, it is critical that the next federal government upholds its commitment to ending gender-based violence.
As part of our election advocacy, WomanACT will engage in non-partisan education on evidence-based policy recommendations and share our priorities with all political parties and candidates. These priorities include:
We will continue to push for feminist policies and sustained investments in women’s safety, security, and economic empowerment because Canada’s future depends on it. We encourage you all to join us in making gender equity a priority this election. Stay informed, ask questions, engage in discussions, and participate in the democratic process.
WomanACT works collaboratively to eradicate gender-based violence through research, education and advocacy. We work to create a world where individuals and systems are primed to address gender-based violence, and survivors get the support they need from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Our partners include academics, survivors, government, gender-based violence organizations, and many more.
Media Contact:
Aakanksha Mathur (she/her)
Manager of Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications
WomanACT
416-944-9242 Ext. 231
amathur@womanact.ca
womanact.ca
TORONTO, ON – At WomanACT, we train community, corporate, and government partners on the challenges women and gender-diverse people face in the workplace. A key part of this involves helping participants move beyond the idea that gender-based violence and discrimination are caused by a few “bad actors.” Instead, we show how workplace culture, policies, and structures don’t just allow inequality to persist, they actively shape and reinforce it.
What gets called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training is only superficially about changing the behaviours of individuals. At heart, it’s about challenging systems to move beyond performative gestures and commit to meaningful shifts in power, decision-making, and accountability. This is because bias, contrary to what has been thought, isn’t just a personal trait; it is shaped by the systems and structures in which people live and work.
This systemic nature of bias is evident in the motherhood penalty, where workplace and governmental policies and cultural expectations disproportionately disadvantage mothers.
The motherhood penalty means that taken as a group, mothers earn less over their lifetimes than fathers and women without children. A recent study found that Canadian mothers experience a substantial decline in earnings after the birth of their first child, decreasing by 49% in the first year with a persistent 34.3% reduction even a decade later. Most mothers never recover from the lost income, making it nearly impossible to catch up to men financially.
“Canadian mothers experience a substantial decline in earnings after the birth of their child, decreasing by 49% in the first year with a persistent 34.4% reduction even a decade later.”
The impacts of the motherhood penalty aren’t distributed equally. Immigrant mothers are significantly less likely to be employed compared to their Canadian-born counterparts, with a gap as large as 30 percentage points. Several factors contribute to this gap, including difficulties in getting credentials recognized, limited access to affordable childcare, lack of social and professional networks, discrimination in hiring, and language barriers. But the motherhood penalty isn’t just about money. Not only do they earn less, but mothers also get fewer chances for promotion and are seen as less capable at work.
In contrast, fathers’ earnings remain largely unaffected; dads even see a boost not only in income but in the way they are perceived by their employers. Judged as less committed and less competent, mothers are sidelined in the hiring process and for promotion. The motherhood penalty also isn’t just about what happens in the office; it’s about what happens at home. Hochschild and Machung first introduced the concept of “The Second Shift” over thirty years ago. In essence, a woman works her first shift in the office and then starts her second shift—housework and childcare—when she gets home.
Decades later, women are still showing up for that second shift.
“A recent study from researchers at the University of Alberta found there were no household tasks where men did more than women or even split the work equally . Women do over 6 hours more housework per week compared to men in Canada.”
Even as women in Canada increase their workforce participation, they still do more housework and childcare. A recent study from researchers at the University of Alberta found there were no household tasks where men did more than women or even split the work equally. Women do over 6 hours more housework per week compared to men in Canada, or what amounts to almost an additional workday. This imbalance creates an ongoing cycle where the extra responsibilities at home make it harder to advance in their careers, while workplace challenges leave them with fewer resources to manage their home lives, reinforcing gender inequality both at work and at home.
It’s tempting to frame the unequal division of labour in the home as a personal relationship problem—one that couples need to sort out for themselves. In reality, it is a social and systemic issue deeply rooted in ideas and values about gender roles and what a “good mother” should do.
For generations, the ideal mother has been portrayed as selfless, ever-present, and emotionally available at all times. For mothers who don’t fit the narrow mould of the “ideal mother,” like single, racialized, and working-class mothers, the pressure is even greater, as stereotypes and social biases create additional barriers to being seen as a “good” parent.
“The struggle for mothers is about a society that demands self-sacrifice while offering little structural support in return. It’s not a personal problem; it’s a systemic one that requires meaningful, systemic solutions.
At its core, the struggle for mothers is about a society that demands self-sacrifice while offering little structural support in return. It’s not a personal problem; it’s a systemic one that requires meaningful, systemic solutions. This means that changing how household duties are shared isn’t the only thing needed to close the gender pay gap; workplace culture, policies, and employment structures also play a critical role.
Amidst international uncertainty and the looming threat of DEI being victim to the chopping block, one thing is certain: International trade policies, including tariffs, are never neutral. They reshape economies and exacerbate inequalities, widening socio-economic disparities that disproportionately impact women, racialized communities, and low-income households. As economic policies deepen existing inequalities, the fight for social progress becomes even more urgent.
“International trade policies, including tariffs, are never neutral. They reshape economies and exacerbate inequalities, widening socio-economic disparities that disproportionately impact omen, racialized communities, and low-income households.”
Throughout Canadian history, every push for equality has been met with resistance. From desegregation to securing reproductive and voting rights, the belief that equality for all means taking from some to give to others is used to justify exclusion. But this is a false assumption.
Now more than ever, Canadians recognize the need for unity. We are coming together to protect what matters most.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not about creating division; they are about strengthening our country and our communities by ensuring that all voices are heard, all talents are valued, and all people have the chance to succeed. This is not just a policy goal; it is a reflection of the Canadian way. Undermining this by positioning DEI as a divisive force misunderstands its true purpose—securing our collective future and reinforcing the values that define us as a nation.
“Promote flexible work arrangements that accommodate caregiving responsibilities without penalizing career advancement.”
At WomanACT, we know that conversations about topics like gender, race, and violence often make people uncomfortable. We also know that this is exactly why it is important to keep having these conversations, and we believe that now, more than ever, Canadians are ready to do so.
Now is the time for action. The future of DEI in Canada depends on our collective willingness to challenge systemic barriers and create workplaces—and societies—where everyone can thrive.
TORONTO, ON – WomanACT stands with community advocates to call for the Ontario government to take decisive action by passing Bill 173, formally declaring Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic. As the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign begins today, highlighting the urgent need to address IPV as a preventable public health and safety crisis.
“Intimate Partner Violence is an epidemic, but it is preventable,” says Harmy Mendoza, Executive Director of WomanACT.
The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that there is one. Bill 173 is a unified call “from frontline services providers…community organizations, and most notably survivors of IPV themselves,” she says.
The 2022 Coroner’s Inquest into the triple femicide of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam called for Ontario to “Formally declare intimate partner violence an epidemic”. Building on the advocacy efforts of the anti-violence sector, 95 municipalities across Ontario have formally declared IPV an epidemic. Ontario needs to do the same.
Recent data highlights the magnitude of the crisis: as of this year, the Toronto Police Service has reported 15,210 IPV-related incidents, marking a 1.39% increase from the previous year. The Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) reported 59 femicides in the month of October for 2024 alone.
WomanACT’s “Bill 173 – The Current State of Intimate Partner Violence in Ontario” resource package directed to Premier Doug Ford and other Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) includes evidence-based recommendations and a joint letter endorsed by eighty-three organizations and individuals from sectors including anti-violence, health, homelessness, legal services, and Indigenous communities.
How can you engage as a community member?
Over the next 16 Days of Activism, individuals and organizations across Canada will unite in action to end Gender-Based Violence. Contact your MPPs using Bill-173 Community Mobilization Letter Writing Campaign to share how IPV has affected you, families, or the community. Together, we can amplify survivors’ voices, push for systemic change, and demand meaningful action to end IPV —today and every day.
For more information, please contact:
Aakanksha Mathur
Manager of Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications, WomanACT
amathur@womanact.ca
As the nation prepares to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we emphasize the critical importance of this day in shedding light on the heartbreaking issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. WomanACT, a non-profit organization dedicated to gender equality and anti-violence against women, recognizes the urgent need to address this issue as part of our commitment to social justice and equity.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation serves as a solemn reminder of our collective responsibility to confront the truth of our history, including the tragic legacy of violence against Indigenous communities, particularly Indigenous women. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the systemic issues that have disproportionately affected Indigenous women, including the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Indigenous women have endured unimaginable suffering, with their lives tragically cut short or forever altered due to violence and systemic inequalities. This is a deeply disturbing reality that demands our unwavering attention and action. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation compels us to acknowledge and reckon with these injustices, fostering a society where all women are valued, protected, and empowered.
WomanACT stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities and organizations advocating for justice and accountability for missing and murdered Indigenous women. Our mission aligns with the imperative to address violence against women from all walks of life. We recognize that the fight for gender equality and social justice cannot be fully realized without addressing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous women, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation serves as a platform to amplify their voices and experiences.
As we observe this day, let us remember the lives lost and commit to taking meaningful action. We must work collaboratively to dismantle systemic barriers, promote healing, and ensure that the voices of Indigenous women are heard and respected. By acknowledging the truth and seeking reconciliation, we move towards a future where all women can live free from violence, discrimination, and fear.
Harmy Mendoza
Executive Director, WomanACT
hmendoza@womanact.ca
WomanACT is a Toronto-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing gender equality and addressing violence against women. We strive to create a society where all women are empowered, safe, and valued.
Connect with and support Indigenous Organizations:
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Donate – The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG) | ONWA
Indigenous Resources – Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
WomanACT’s submission for the National Housing Council’s Review Panel on the Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing.
Financialization is a growing trend toward the use of housing as an investment to acquire wealth. Financial firms develop housing with a goal of maximizing returns rather than providing affordable homes for the community.
In January 2023, the National Housing Council launched a review panel on the “financialization of purpose-built rental housing.” The Council has invited individuals and organizations to address topics such as the impact of financialization on the human right to adequate housing, especially for communities that experience marginalization. Respondents may outline the actions and inactions by the federal government that have exacerbated the negative impacts of financialization. The panel would like to hear suggestions on how Parliament could address financialization and protect the right to housing. WomanACT prepared the following response.
Survivors of gender-based violence face unique challenges to housing. These include landlord discrimination, poor rental histories and economic insecurity. Survivors require a range of housing options when leaving violence. Financialization of purpose-built rental housing is an obstacle for survivors to remain safely in their private rentals or move to a new private rental, due to limited availability, accessibility and affordability of tenure.
In 2022 WomanACT conducted primary research with survivors on their housing needs and preferences. In this study, affordability emerged as a key consideration for accessing housing—and ultimately acted as a barrier for many participants. Survivors often mentioned that their housing search was restricted due to finances. Moving expenses alone were prohibitive for some. Survivors faced various economic challenges such as insufficient social assistance rates, financial abuse that affected their credit scores or eligibility for income supports, and the inability to work due to trauma and harassment carrying over into the workplace. These challenges were exacerbated by the broader context of a housing crisis in which rents were becoming less affordable in general.
Survivors did not have one common housing trajectory when leaving a violent relationship. In the most prevalent experience, reported by 58% of participants, survivors left the shared home and their partners stayed. Survivors most often went to an emergency shelter (35%) or stayed with family (22%) or friends (18%). Some survivors initially remained in the shared home without their partners (14%). No participants reported moving to a new home in the private housing market immediately after separation; they had to choose inadequate accommodation options. Overall, 80% of participants reported first accessing a housing option that involved relocation. Many participants endured life disruptions after separating from their partners. At least half of the participants experienced a loss of control over their housing options, the risk of harm from their partner, and disruptions to their social and family relationships.
Impacts of the financialization of purpose-built rental housing on the right to housing
The financialization of purpose-built rental housing significantly impacts the housing system, by prioritizing short-term profits and driving up the prices of the most affordable housing. This further marginalizes women and survivors of gender-based violence. In 2022, WomanACT researched survivors’ experiences in the private rental market in Toronto; our study shed light on these impacts and highlighted how financialization exacerbated the challenges faced by these individuals.
WomanACT found that most respondents (77%) experienced core housing need, where affordability standards were unmet. Rising rental housing costs made it increasingly difficult for women and survivors of gender-based violence to access and maintain affordable housing options.
Financialization can perpetuate discrimination and create additional barriers in the rental housing market. With the focus on maximizing profitability, landlords favour the most privileged tenants who, they assume, have higher and more stable income.
Our research revealed that 64% of respondents experienced discrimination from landlords during the rental application process, based on income source, family and marital status, or race and ethnicity. This discrimination limited the housing options available to women and survivors of gender-based violence, exacerbating their housing insecurity.
Financialization contributes to housing instability, which disproportionately affects marginalized groups. The research showed that almost one-third of respondents received eviction notices or were evicted from their rental units. Factors such as overdue rent payments and renovictions were cited as common reasons for eviction. The instability caused by financialization disrupted the housing stability of women and survivors of gender-based violence, making it difficult for them to find safe and secure housing.
The research highlighted that survivors relied on various supports and services, such as food programs and social support networks, to maintain their private rental housing and enhance their safety. The lack of affordable and adequate housing options caused disruptions in accessing food and other vital needs. It compelled survivors to constantly rely on social support mechanisms which often were limited.
These impacts demonstrate that the financialization of purpose-built rental housing deepens the existing systemic issues within the housing system. It reduces housing affordability, reinforces discriminatory practices, increases housing instability, and limits access to vital needs for women and survivors of gender-based violence.
What could the Government of Canada do to address the impacts of the financialization of purpose-built rental housing, and advance the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing?
There has been a lack of robust policy, investment in affordable and social housing, commitment to the Right to Housing, and implementation of the right in federal and provincial policies. Also, actions such as Federal withdrawal from social housing provision in the 1990s, deregulation of rent control and policy support for the securitization of mortgages catalyzed the forces driving financialization. As a result, financialization has limited the access to safe and affordable housing for all Canadians, including women and survivors of gender-based violence.
To specifically address the impacts of financialization on women and survivors of gender-based violence, while advancing the right to housing, the Government of Canada could do the following:
Adopt gender-responsive approaches that recognize the unique challenges faced by survivors in accessing adequate housing. Incorporate a gender lens into housing policies and programs to ensure that survivors’ specific needs are addressed.
The National Housing Council’s Financialization Review Panel is a good opportunity to look at the impact of a significant economic trend. In the research conducted by WomanACT, women and survivors of gender-based violence have shown how financialization marginalizes them further. There are important actions that the government can take to advance the right to adequate housing for communities left behind in the rush to economic growth.
Toronto, June 1, 2023 – YWCA Toronto, WomanACT, Social Planning Toronto, and City for All have joined forces with more than 45 community organizations to launch the Show Up for a Better Toronto – #ShowUpTO campaign. This initiative aims to rally Torontonians to show up for a better Toronto and urge mayoral candidates to take decisive action in addressing the escalating poverty and inequality afflicting the city.
Toronto is currently grappling with a housing crisis, the soaring cost of living, and an alarming rise in violence. These issues disproportionately affect women, Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, newcomers, seniors, youth, gender diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and those on fixed incomes. The #ShowUpTO campaign seeks to shed light on the urgent need for change and demand that mayoral candidates prioritize the pressing concerns facing its residents.
A better Toronto is possible. This election offers an opportunity to shape the city’s direction for the next three years.
Toronto needs a mayor who will actively engage with and address the needs of its diverse communities, focusing on affordability, safety, and systemic equity across racial, gender, and neighbourhood lines. The campaign calls on all candidates to prioritize gender and racial equity and to invest in poverty and violence reduction.
The #ShowUpTO campaign urges mayoral candidates to show up by:
To learn more about the #ShowUpTO campaign and take the pledge to show up for a better Toronto on June 26, visit www.ShowUpTO.ca.
MEDIA
Sami Pritchard, YWCA Toronto, spritchard@ywcatoronto.org
Devika Parsaud, WomanACT, dparsaud@womanact.ca
Melissa Wong, Social Planning Toronto, mwong@socialplanningtoronto.org