What does a gender-balanced budget mean for students?
The Canadian Federal Budget of 2018 has officially been released and brings with it a much needed, gender-focused approach to practically everything it encompasses.
The new budget focuses on growing a stronger middle class while promoting equality using Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+), an analytical tool that assesses how policies affect women, men, and other gender identities.
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And, according to the Government of Canada’s budget website, the GBA+ also takes into account factors such as:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Age
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
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The federal government hopes to create a more equitable Canada by providing funds to improve public services, promote research, and help students find employment. Specific legislation funded by this budget include a bill ensuring men and women receive equal pay for the same job, paid paternity leave for up to five weeks — allowing women to return to work earlier — and the biggest increase in funding for scientific research the country has ever seen, The Globe and Mail reported. Post-secondary researchers studying health sciences, or natural sciences and engineering, can expect $354.7 million in funding for each discipline, while those in social sciences and humanities will receive $215.5 million distributed through Canada’s three federal research councils over five years, according to Universities Canada. $3.8 billion will be used for funding grants, scientific infrastructure, and fueling new discoveries, a component praised by U of G President Franco Vaccarino on Feb. 27.
Funding towards youth employment in Canada will flow into the summer jobs program, which is part of the Youth Employment Strategy that receives $448.5 million in the new budget. The Canada Summer Jobs program helps to provide work opportunities and experience to over 70,000 students currently. The government has already doubled the number of summer job placements available, and is seeking to do it again, according to CTV News.
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By far one of the most important policies being funded in the budget is increased support for sexual assault survivors. According to the new budget, 41 per cent of women between the ages of 15 to 24 who reported sexual assault were students. The need for a national standard, which allows survivors to freely speak out against these crimes, is driving the investment of $5.5 million in Status of Women Canada in order to create a national framework of support, The Gauntlet explains. Furthermore, the pressure for action against sexual violence is high, as the budget states that post-secondary institutions not implementing the “best practices,” regarding the issue, risk having their funding withdrawn.
The 2018 budget will see lots of promising new legislation realized in the near future. While some are concerned about the running of a deficit for funds, they should also be happy about the focus on progressive legislation, investments in scientific innovation, and gender equality — qualities that a nation as diverse and developed as Canada should already be known for.
Image by Alora Griffiths/The Ontarion