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March 6th, 2020

Women Can’t Afford to Wait, Let’s Bring in Real Solutions to Help Make Their Lives Better Now

LONDON – To mark International Women’s Day, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was joined by NDP MP Lindsay Mathyssen (London – Fanshawe) at My Sisters' Place in London to call on Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to bring in real progress with affordable housing, affordable childcare and a plan to end gender-based violence to make a difference in women’s lives now.

“This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Each for Equal. And while it is a day to celebrate the progress made around the world, it’s also a sad reminder that Canada still has a lot of work to do to become a country where women have equal opportunities,” said Singh. “It doesn’t have to be this way, but the Liberal government is only prioritizing helping women when it is convenient. It is not enough for Justin Trudeau to say he is a feminist, the Liberals need to show it with concrete actions and real solutions.”

Today, women are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis, are still paid less and face more employment discrimination. Half of women in Canada will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime and an average of 620 women and children a day were turned away from domestic violence shelters across Canada. That's nearly 19,000 times a month.

“We know that women do not have access to equal opportunities in Canada. Trudeau’s Liberals are failing to help Canadians with the issues they are facing, and women are most feeling the impact of their failure,” added Singh. “Women need help now. They cannot wait until the next election. With the upcoming budget, the Liberals have a chance to propose solutions that will genuinely help women with real solutions to help make their lives better now."

New Democrats are calling for the Liberals to include in the upcoming budget, funds for affordable housing, so that no woman escaping violence is forced to choose between staying with her agressor or being homeless; for affordable childcare, so that no woman should have to choose between having a family or having a career; and a real plan to end gender-based violence, so that women and their children are not being turned away from a shelter because of lack of funding.

Key Facts:

  • New Democrats are calling on the Liberals:
    • To create half a million homes of quality, affordable housing across the country by investing $14 billion over four years and expand the rental benefit to help women now, by saving them up to $5000 each year.
    • To significantly invest in child care to create half a million child care spaces in partnership with provinces, territories and Indigenous governments in the next five years.
    • To keep women across Canada safe by investing in shelter services and a plan to end gender-based violence. A place like My Sister’s Place need significant and long-term funding to provide services to women.
  • My Sisters’ Place is a safe, welcoming and inclusive centre that supports women through drop-in and wrap-around services.