Coco Yang has heard from students of all ages and professions that, during her sewing classes at EcoEquitable, that they can take a step away from hectic daily life. The Ottawa charity works to reduce textile waste and empower women through sewing programs.
EcoEquitable has received funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), which supports organizations to develop plans for the future. But now, EcoEquitable, along with many women’s and 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations, is concerned about potential for cuts in the federal budget on Nov. 4.
“Even if one non-profit disappears because of this lack of funding, I think that will have a bigger impact on the community than we could ever know,” said Yang.
In June, WAGE’s 2025-26 departmental plan forecast an 81 per cent reduction in its budget over the next three fiscal years. Planned spending will decrease from $407,142,146 in 2025-2026 to $76,266,802 in 2027-2028.
In response, the advocacy organization Queer Momentum has launched a campaign urging the federal government to maintain current funding for WAGE in the budget.
The campaign, with the support of more than 170 organizations, argues cuts would seriously hurt the delivery of health and social services for women and 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Ottawa.
Yang said that the grants have helped EcoEquitable keep its services affordable for people. She said if the funding disappears, students might stop attending sewing classes because of increased costs for supplies.
Fae Johnstone, executive director and co-founder of Queer Momentum, said with no new funding pledge, organizations relying on federal funds will not survive.
“The communities they serve will have a harder time getting the support they need and deserve.”
Johnstone said under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, there were several multi-year investments were made into WAGE. However, the majority of these investments will expire within the next two to three years.
“This funding has been a lifeline over the past eight years,” said Johnstone.
Johnstone said she has seen how Ottawa-based organizations support communities and strengthen services despite limited budgets, noting one she attended as a youth.
The Ten Oaks Project is an organization based in Ottawa that supports children, youth and families from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through camps, programs and workshops.
It was “one of the best experiences of my young adulthood, meeting and being in community with other queer and trans folks, and it was incredible,” said Johnstone.
Kymani Montgomery, the executive director of Ten Oaks Project, said the organization does not receive funding from WAGE, but has signed Queer Momentum’s statement to support other programs and increase its chances of obtaining future grants.
Ten Oaks Project receives the majority of its funding through donations and camp fees, with additional support from grants and fundraising.
“Our programs are helping folks understand that they’re not alone and that there are resources out there that exist and that there’s a future for them,” said Montgomery.
Montgomery says the Ten Oaks Project could use potential WAGE funding to improve the accessibility of its programs. Families pay what they can for camp programs — sometimes nothing — while other programs are free.
Planned Parenthood Ottawa, which provides care, education and counselling for sexual and reproductive needs, also signed the statement. It helps individuals access abortions and navigate personal health and relationships.
“I think a significant portion of the purpose of government is to provide services to the people,” said Lyra Evans, executive director of Planned Parenthood Ottawa. “That includes funding non-profits that catch people falling through the cracks.”
Planned Parenthood Ottawa is receiving $125,000 in funding from WAGE for a two-year project focused on lowering barriers for marginalized people. Evans said less funding could lead to staff cuts, impacting key programs.
“The Queer Momentum campaign is trying to get the government to recognize that it needs to adequately fund these things,” said Evans. “Otherwise significant portions of the community will just not be served.”
In early September, Mark Carney said the upcoming budget will focus on austerity and investment. Federal government spending increased more than seven per cent year over year over the last decade, growing faster than Canada’s economy, the prime minister said.
Carney said the main focus of the budget will be on investments in major projects and a cut in operational spending because Canada has been facing economic uncertainty in 2025.
According to Ian Lee, a federal budget and economic growth expert at Carleton University, this budget will “set the stage” beyond the next few months.
“We are in a crisis,” said Lee. “These times call for very tough, difficult, draconian decisions that are going to involve very significant expenditure reductions.”
Lee recognizes the valuable work campaigns, NGOs and lobby groups do for social programs, but said, while politicians don’t like to make difficult and unpopular decisions, the country is facing a critical moment.
“We’ve been going down the wrong road, taking policies, adopting policies that harmed the economy, harmed economic growth, harmed productivity,” said Lee. “Now the government has to decide if it’s going to make these tough decisions that will be controversial.”
More Stories
