Spotlight on Solutions: Women's Issues

Posted on March 01, 2022

Spotlight on Solutions is our regular blog post that cuts through the partisan spin favouring positive, pragmatic and solutions-oriented politics. 

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women and a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. To acknowledge International Women’s Day we’re shining the spotlight on five Liberal policies that can help bring about true gender equality in Alberta. 

Pass Pay Equity Legislation

Alberta has the largest gender pay gap in Canada. That’s no surprise when we’re also the only province without pay equity legislation. Pay Equity legislation requires companies to prove they pay men and women equally not just for doing the same job, but for doing substantially similar work as well. 

Invest in Affordable Childcare

Women do nearly twice as much unpaid labour as men and a large portion of that is childcare. Alberta needs affordable and universal childcare to close the unpaid labour gap and create more economic opportunities for women. We fully support the Federal Government’s $10-per-day affordable childcare plan. 

Fund Women’s Shelters

Over half of women who enter shelters face “severe” or “extreme” danger. We must do all we can to protect them. Alberta’s women’s shelters need more funding Alberta. Alberta also needs to develop specialized programs for remote and rural areas and expand and increase accessibility to counselling services. 

Expand Reproductive Rights

Alberta must continue to improve accessibility to abortion, especially in rural areas where there are serious barriers to access. Alberta should also explore free birth control. Access to birth control creates significant savings in healthcare, boosts the economy, and improves health outcomes for women. 

Adopt Gender-Based Analysis Plus Budgeting (GBA+)

GBA+ budgeting helps promote equality by examining and assessing budget impacts on women and minorities to ensure that policies, programs, initiatives, and funding support the goal of equality of opportunity for all.