YWCA Toronto regularly contributes feminist insights to the public discourse in response to government initiatives and policies. We also participate on coalitions, sector tables, and committees and partnerships to advance meaningful social change. See below for selected links to YWCA Toronto’s recent policy recommendations to improve the lives of women, girls and gender-diverse communities.
An Intersectional Approach to COVID-19 She-Covery There can be no economic or social recovery from COVID-19 without a she-covery! Learn more about the intersectional impacts of COVID-19 and YWCA Toronto's recommendations for a recovery plan centered on the needs of women, girls and gender-diverse communities.
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YWCA Toronto Calls For Proper Investment In Alternative Community Safety Measures
Deputation to the City of Toronto's Executive Committee
January 2021
YWCA Toronto Calls For A Crisis-Responsive City Budget
Deputation to the City of Toronto's Budget Committee
January 2021 YWCA Toronto Urges the City to Lead an Equitable Recovery Plan
October 2020 Reinstate Pandemic Wage Enhancement for Front-Line Workers
Deputation to the City of Toronto's Board of Health
October 2020 Fall 2020 Pre-Budget Consultation
Deputation to Minister Phillips and MPPs
October 2020
In Support of HousingTO
Deputation to the City of Toronto's Housing and Planning Committee
September 2020 Business as Usual is Not Enough
Deputation to the City of Toronto Budget Committee
January 2020 Applying a Gender Equity Lens to Gun Violence
November 2019 We Urgently Need Gender Equity in Toronto
Deputation to the City of Toronto Executive Committee
September 2019
The Provision of Housing is a Human Right
February 2019 Put A Gender Equity Lens On The City Budget
January 2018
What Makes A City World-Class? Investment In Poverty Reduction
January 2017
Response to Housing and Health: Unlocking Opportunity
Deputation to the City of Toronto Board of Health
October 2016
Building the Toronto We Want Starts with Poverty Reduction
January 2016
Ontario Needs a Gender Analysis of Homelessness
Deputation to Ontario’s Expert Advisory Panel on Homelessness
May 2015
Working Together to End Sexual Violence and Harassment
Deputation to Ontario’s Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment
Recommendations for a Gender-Responsive Workforce Recovery Plan YWCA Toronto Submission to Ontario Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee
July 2021
Ontario YWCA Coalition Releases Vision for an “Equitable, Gender-Responsive Budget” in Joint Pre-Budget Submission to the Minister of Finance
February 2021
2021 Capital and Operating Budgets
Joint submission to the Toronto Budget Committee
Rethinking Community Safety: A Step Forward for Toronto
Joint report with Toronto Neighbourhood Centres and other community partners
Fall 2020 Ontario Pre-Budget Submission
Submission to the Minister of Finance
Recommendations for a Gender-Responsive Recovery Plan
Submission to the Hon. Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance (Ontario)
August 2020
Priorities for an equitable recovery
Joint submission from non-profit leaders to inform Toronto Office of Recovery and Rebuild final recommendations to City Council
July 2020
Ensuring an Inclusive and Equitable COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Plan
Submission to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology regarding the Canadian Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Study on the Government's Response to to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
June 2020
Poverty Reduction Strategy
YWCA Toronto Written Submission to Ontario's New Poverty Reduction Strategy
March 2020
Lifting Women Out of Poverty
Pre-Budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (Ontario)
January 2020
Put A Gender Equity Lens On Income Security Reforms
Submission to the Hon. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services (Ontario)
Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment
Submission to the Hon. Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister of Status of Women (Ontario)
July 2017
Bill 148: Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act
Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (Ontario)
Investing in Ontario’s Women and Girls
Working Together To Create Safe, Affordable, Supportive Homes for Women
Submission for the National Housing Strategy consultations
Working Together To End Violence Against Women
Submission for the National Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence
September 2016
Building an affordable and national public transportation system Letter to Minister of Transport June 2021 More than 80 Nonprofits calling for Adequate, Permanent Paid Sick Days Letter to Premier of Ontario May 2021 YWCA Toronto CEO Letter RE: Child Care Worker Vaccinations Letter to Minister of Education April 2021 Joint Statement on Promoting Menstrual Equity in Ontario Schools Letter to Minister of Education March 2021
Call to Action on Ontario's 2021 Budget Letter to all provincial party leaders and MPPs February 2021
Advancing the Community Benefits Framework Letter to the Mayor of Toronto January 2021
Action Plan on Women in the Economy Taskforce Letter to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance November 2020
YWCA Toronto Response to Ontario's Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 Letter to the Minister of Education July 2020
The Use of a Restorative Approach to an Inquiry into the NS Mass Shooting Letter to the NS Minister of Justice and federal Minister of Public Safety and Minister of Justice July 2020
Funding Community Safety Letter to the Mayor and Toronto City Council June 2020
Letter on Re-Opening Child Care Letter to the Minister of Education June 2020
Ensuring a viable and successful reopening of child care in Ontario Open Letter to the Premier of Ontario and Minister of Education June 2020
'Extreme Intoxication' Ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal Letter to Ontario's Attorney General June 2020
Open Letter Urging Action on Gun Violence Letter to the Mayor and Toronto City Council June 2020
A Plan for a Resilient Recovery in Toronto Open Letter to Toronto City Council May 2020
Ensuring marginalized children have first call on federal resources in the pandemic response and recovery Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada May 2020
Ontario Needs a COVID-19 Plan for People in All Group Living Settings Open Letter to Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services April 24, 2020
Open Letter to the Right to Housing Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada August 2018
End Sex Discrimination in the Indian Act Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada October 2017
Fix the Backwards Budget Process Open Letter to Toronto City Council May 2017
Gender Equity in the City Budget Open Letter to Toronto City Council February 2017
Take Action to Combat Islamophobia and Hatred Open Letter to all levels of government February 2017
Act Now on Inclusionary Zoning Open Letter to Toronto City Council March 2016
Stop Proposed Child Care Regulatory Changes Open Letter to the Premier of Ontario March 2016
Support Supervised Injection Services in Toronto Open Letter to Toronto City Council March 2016
Support Postal Pay Equity Open Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada August 2016