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Advocacy

ADVOCACY

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YWCA Muskoka

National Advocacy

YWCA Muskoka is one of 32 YWCA Canada member associations across the country. Led by YWCA Canada, national advocacy efforts are conducted to end gender-based violence; implement national child care; achieve economic equality and end homelessness for women, youth and gender diverse people.


Ontario Advocacy

YWCA Muskoka is also part of The YWCA Ontario Coalition made up of YW member associations across the province. Together, we engage in systemic advocacy to advance substantive gender and racial equality in our province. Combined, we serve more than 50,000 people every year across Ontario.


Local Advocacy

YWCA Muskoka conducts ongoing advocacy at the municipal level that is centered around the individuals we serve and rooted in educating our community leaders, partners and the broader Muskoka community about the barriers and challenges they face and the importance of investing in programs that ensure everyone can thrive.


Here's the latest...

September 20, 2023 - YWCA Ontario Statement on 2SLGBTQIA+ Solidarity 


YWCA Ontario believes in fostering a society where all women, girls, and gender diverse people can thrive. Collectively, we work tenaciously to break down barriers that perpetuate systemic inequity and gender inequality. YWCA Ontario’s work includes creating safer spaces for people of all gender and sexual orientations including Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and additional sexually and gender diverse people (2SLGBTQIA+).


The recent rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric and pushback against gender equity and inclusion has been alarming. At school, at work, and at home, all people should feel safe to be their most authentic selves. We denounce bigotry and hate in all its forms and our commitment to working towards a world where the rights of Trans and gender diverse people are permanently upheld is unwavering. There is no future for gender equality, equity, or justice without the inclusion and support of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

Nov. 7, 2022 - This week, the Ontario government passed legislation invoking the Notwithstanding Clause. This decision not only overrides rights laid out in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but threatens to fine individuals and unions who choose to strike while forcibly imposing a four-year contract.


YWCA Ontario supports the 55,000 education workers in Ontario, who are predominantly women, and opposes the Ontario government’s decision to use the notwithstanding clause to override constitutionally protected labour rights.


We support workers’ rights to fair collective bargaining. We do not support anti-labour legislation that poses a grim threat to the lowest-paid education workers across our province. Education workers, who

support the youngest members of our community, deserve to be paid an adequate wage. Education workers ensure schools are safe for children, ensuring that students receive the critical care and support they need. Education workers are essential workers and are vital to our society. It is critical that their labour is respected, recognized and fairly compensated.


We encourage the Ontario government to negotiate and not legislate.

Oct. 2022 - YWCA Muskoka advocates in Ottawa


This October, members of YWCA Muskoka joined other YWCA Member Associations from across Canada to spend a "Day on the Hill" advocating for a gendered lens to be put on the affordable housing crisis. We met with MPs (including MP Scott Aitchison for Parry Sound-Muskoka who is now the Shadow Minister for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion), Senators and other influential organizations to advocate for two main asks as a national movement:

  1. 1.Increased funding under the National Housing Strategy for a grants-based system to fully fund shelter, transitional housing and permanent affordable housing specifically dedicated to women and gender-diverse people, including wrap-around services and supports;
  2. Develop a national definition of homelessness that reflects the unique causes, conditions, and experiences of homelessness for diverse women, girls, and gender diverse people.

We also had the honour of joining the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) for the Annual Sisters in Spirit Vigils to honour the lives of Indigenous women, gender-diverse, two-spirit, and transgender people who have been murdered or gone missing as part of what a National Inquiry has determined to be a genocide.

Want to join the movement? Become a Member of YWCA Muskoka today to help champion positive change for women and girls .


Sept. 6, 2022 - The YWCA Ontario Coalition submitted a letter to Minister Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, indicating our coalition’s desire and willingness to be a part of the consultative efforts to develop the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence.  Read the letter here.

May, 2022 - YWCA Ontario Campaign Urges Political Candidates to “Choose Gender Equity” This Election - read the five-point plan and sign the petition here.

April 2022 - YWCA Ontario’s Response to 2022 Provincial Budget - With a provincial election looming, YWCA Ontario hoped to see a range of critical investments in women and gender-diverse people in the budget delivered yesterday by Ontario Minister of

Finance, Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy. However, while the 2022 budget poses a record $198.6 billion spending plan, the investments fall short of addressing the troubling rise in gender-based poverty and inequity in the province.  Read more>>>

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 - The YWCA Ontario Coalition of 11 Member Associations from across this province watched the Fall Economic Statement for signs of progress in this direction. While we welcome its mission to ‘Build Ontario’ and ‘Work for Workers,’ we did not see any indication of the bold, transformative action that is required to see women enter or re-enter the workforce in ways that will address this province’s dire labour shortages and stimulate our economy. Read the full statement here.

October 13, 2021 - We Need a Plan to End Ontario's She-cession: The YWCA Ontario Coalition and more than 30 community advocates support open letter to the Province to demand a concrete plan that includes: 

  • Investment in long-term, sustainable, gender-focused upskilling and training to help women access well-paying jobs;
  • Signing on to the federal child care plan to create a public and non-profit-led, universal, high-quality, affordable child care system; and,
  • Enactment of standards for decent work conditions to improve labour and employment standards in feminized industries.


Read the full letter here.

September 2021 - A Federal Election is just around the corner and YWCA Muskoka Executive Director, Hannah Lin, sent the following letter to the candidates in Parry Sound-Muskoka.  The letter brings our voice to what our sister YWs - including YWCA Canada - have been advocating for over the past year and aligns with our values and mission as a feminist organization. The letter also includes some helpful links you may be interested in.  Read here>

June 21, 2021- The YWCA Ontario Coalition issued this letter to federal Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra.  We hope he will be receptive to our call for a national, affordable public transportation system in Canada to ensure the safety of community members who face poverty and gender-based violence.  Read here>

May 4, 2021 - YWCA Muskoka is proud to join over 100 feminist and social justice organizations across Canada in declaring our support for trans inclusion and trans rights. Supporting the rights of trans people is essential to protecting ALL women from violence and discrimination.


Read the collective statement here:  https://www.wisdom2action.org/transinclusivefeminism/

On March 8, 2021, The YWCA Ontario Coalition, along with 10 other provincial stakeholders, supported The Toronto Youth Cabinet and released a joint statement calling on the Ontario government to ensure free menstrual products are available in all Ontario elementary & secondary schools by the end of 2021:  TYC Joint Statement on Promoting Menstrual Equity in Ontario Schools (thetyc.ca)

YWCA Ontario 2021-2022 Provincial Pre-Budget Submission

An Equitable, Gender-Responsive Budget

February 12, 2021
YWCA Ontario is a provincial coalition of YWCA Member Associations. We offer a range of housing
programs and services including Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters, employment and training
programs, community supports, child care services, and girls’ programs – all designed to address the
needs of women, girls, and gender-diverse people and their families. We also engage in systemic
advocacy to advance substantive gender and racial equality in our province. Combined, we serve more
than 50,000 people every year across Ontario.

We are presenting this submission during the second provincewide shutdown of the COVID-19
pandemic – one that has failed to institute meaningful supports for women and families. While the
Province has made efforts to support VAW shelters, families and businesses, we have not seen the kinds
of additional funds required to support people to safely stay at home and to help working women with
school age children remain in the workforce. We also continue to be concerned about the situation
facing women fleeing violence, as well as the lack of affordable housing in Ontario to help survivors of
violence rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. 
READ MORE...


COVID-19 - Impacts and Resources

YWCA Muskoka is working in partnership with YWCA Canada and other YWCA Member Associations across Canada to navigate these unprecedented times and the effect it will have on the women, youth, two-spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people we serve.


As a women-serving organization, we are acutely aware of the unique impacts COVID-19 will have on women and gender-diverse people around the globe, here in Canada and in our own community. 


We enourage you to read this article from The Canadian Women's Foundation about the Gendered Impacts of Coronavirus.


Below you will find links to a gendered approach to advocacy efforts around COVID-19:


All Candidates Debate

YWCA Muskoka co-hosted a community-based event with Muskoka Conservancy and support from YWCA Canada to draw attention to environmental concerns, women's rights and gender equity.

Protest Against Cuts To Local Women's Programs

Muskoka, April 8, 2019 - A group of local residents concerned about the cuts to women’s programs in Ontario protested in front of Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller’s Manitoba Street office.


Protest organizer Leda Story says local funding cuts made by the Ford Government include YWCA Muskoka's Women In Business Program, self-employment and entrepreneurial skills programs and various local boys and girls programs.


The protesters are members of the YWCA Muskoka, the Grandmothers To Grandmothers Group, which is part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and various local arts groups.

#NOTokay Campaign

Advocacy From Our Youth

Read the petition addresses to the Premier by one of our own participants titled "Mandatory Indigenous Studies petition" by Amanda Steel-Coke.

Mandatory Indigenous Studies Petition

Fairly Foul

Katie Ungard & YWCA Muskoka's Fairly Foul Project; Chemicals, Cosmetics and YOU, was designed to engage youth and all cosmetic users, particularly those living in Canada, to be aware of the contents of the cosmetics they use. This film highlights the connections between cosmetic products and an individuals health and well-being.

Fairly Foul Pocket Guide

YWCA Day on the Hill 2017/2018

2018 - YWCA Muskoka Project Coordinator, Krishma Goraya, along with representatives from YWCA Toronto and YWCA Hamilton spoke on a panel advocating for investment in affordable child care, girls' programming, and safe, affordable housing ahead of the 2018 provincial election. This event was part of the Women Vote for Action campaign initiated by the Ontario Coalition of YWCAs calling on Party Leaders to put issues of gender equity front and centre.


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