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Liberal government’s budget still lacking in gender-based analysis: advocates

Apr 11, 2022 | 12:46 PM

OTTAWA — Despite the Liberal government long styling itself as feminist, advocates say the recent federal budget lacked a sufficient gender-based analysis of its measures.

Shalini Konanur, executive director at South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, says the budget’s promises around employment equity are not enough to improve the poor labour market outcomes for racialized women.

Diana Sarosi, director of policy and campaigns at Oxfam Canada, says she is disappointed the federal government continues to lag on the analysis since the mandate to incorporate the framework took force in 2018.

Sarosi says the budget was vague about how some initiatives would be implemented and would involve equity-seeking groups, such as the federal LGBTQ action plan.

The government’s statement and impacts report on gender and diversity says 44 per cent of the budget’s measures would benefit both men and women, 42 per cent would benefit men, while 14 per cent would benefit women.

Gender-based analysis involves examining how a policy or process could affect men and women in different ways, while taking other factors into account.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2022.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press

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