On May 21, 2026, LEAF provided a written submission to the Standing Committee on Finance with three recommendations for the upcoming Federal Budget.
Overview of Submission
Building a stronger, more resilient economy cannot be done without investments in national infrastructure rooted in equality, a cornerstone of Canadian identity. LEAF’s budget submission makes three recommendations, with promising returns on investment, that contribute to the government’s goal of a resilient economy that is uniquely Canadian.
LEAF provided the following recommendations:
- That the government commit to investing in key infrastructure to address the gender-based violence (GBV) epidemic by:
- Fully funding the continuation of the National Action Plan to end GBV (NAP) for the full 10 years with a commitment of $200 million annually for the next five years, as of 2027-28.
- Funding the renewal of a comprehensive Federal GBV Strategy to address GBV at the national level with ongoing funding of $44 million annually.
- Creating an independent federal GBV Commissioner to monitor the implementation of the NAP and future efforts, with an annual budget of $3 million.
- That the government amend the Employment Insurance Act to ensure workers with family care responsibilities can have better access to income support following job separation.
- That the government commit to providing operational funding of $10 million per year for five years, starting in 2027-28, to support leading national women’s rights organizations – whose primary mandates are to advance systemic change for women in all their diversity in Canada – to protect women’s rights, address the epidemic of gender-based violence, and increase women’s economic security and prosperity.
Read and download the submission here.