UFCW Canada joins sector call to support WAGE funding

Toronto – September 24, 2025 – UFCW Canada is standing in solidarity with community partners to demand the federal government protect and strengthen funding for Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). With reports of potential cuts, UFCW Canada is joining the call led by Queer Momentum and the Enchanté Network, with support from Dignity Network Canada and Pride at Work Canada, to ensure vital investments in equity are not rolled back.

WAGE funding is essential to women-serving, 2SLGBTQIA+, and equity-advancing organizations across the country. These organizations provide frontline programs and supports to some of Canada’s most vulnerable communities. An internal WAGE forecast has already raised alarms, projecting an 81% cut by 2027–2028 if new commitments are not made. With Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget set for release this fall, the next six weeks represent a critical opportunity to act.

Activists and supporters can add their voice to the campaign by visiting momentumcanada.net/budget, calling on Prime Minister Carney to show his commitment to 2SLGBTQI+ equality and women’s rights in the upcoming federal budget.

In an environment marked by rising hate, a gender-based violence crisis, and economic instability, federal support is more critical than ever. Cuts to WAGE would mean cuts to life-saving services and programs that countless Canadians depend on.

UFCW Canada is proud to support this coordinated call to action and urges members, allies, and supporters to join in demanding that the federal government sustain and expand WAGE funding.