On every front, the COVID-19 pandemic has eroded hard-fought gains to gender equity. From massive layoffs to increased unpaid work to the rise of domestic violence, women have been disproportionately impacted by the health and economic crisis of COVID-19.
Released today, the ‘A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for Canada: Making the Economy Work for Everyone’ report co-authored by the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and YWCA Canada offers an 8-point Plan to tackle systemic barriers and improve economic security for women, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people.
The Plan calls for specific attention to address the unique needs and experiences of Black, Indigenous, racialized communities, people with disabilities, 2SLGTBQAA+ communities, migrant workers, low-income populations, newcomers and other communities facing systemic barriers, marginalization and oppression.
The Plan proposes 8 major recommendations to build Canada’s economy back better, so that it becomes more inclusive and ultimately more resilient for future crises.
The eight pillars of the Plan’s include:
- Intersectionality: Understanding Power
- Addressing Root Causes of Systemic Racism
- Care Work is Essential Work
- Investing in Good Jobs
- Fighting the Shadow Pandemic
- Bolstering Small Businesses
- Strengthening Infrastructure for Recovery
- Diverse Voices in Decisions
The Plan begins with a recognition that systemic racism against Black and Indigenous communities must be the top priority for post-pandemic recovery, including implementation of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Calls to Justice of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry Report and the Parliamentary Black Caucus’ recommendations.
At the heart of the Plan is a focus on the care economy. Even before this crisis, access to affordable, accessible and high-quality child care was in short supply. The pandemic has shown that child care is an essential service. Without it, the rest of the economy can’t re-start and we risk losing a whole generation of parents, mainly women, from the workforce.
