Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, issued the following statement on International Women's Day with a focus on an inclusive response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“This International Women's Day, our government salutes the women on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. While all Canadians are feeling the impacts of the pandemic, it's clear that women are feeling these effects to an even greater extent, particularly racialized women who have been most affected.

Not only have women been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response as frontline workers and primary caregivers, but they have also been disproportionately impacted by the social and economic effects. Women have faced job losses, a reduction of work hours, over representation in frontline work, and the additional burden of unpaid care work at home. Childcare should not be a barrier to full-time employment for women.

As Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, it’s been humbling to reflect on the progress we have made as a country, but I acknowledge that there will always be work left to do. I have convened many meetings with entrepreneurial women in my riding of Brampton South to hear about the hardships they continue to face. Their voices are essential and I have been inspired by their continuous work.

When we asked Canadians to stay home to limit the spread of COVID-19, our Government recognized that not every home is a safe home. That is why we took swift action to support women and children fleeing violence by providing $100 million to frontline GBV organizations, helping to support 1000 organizations and over 800,000 Canadians.

In order to ensure an inclusive and sustainable response and recovery, the needs of Canadian women must be prioritized. Recognizing that the impacts of COVID-19 are not being felt equally, on February 11, 2021, our Government launched the Feminist Response and Recovery Fund, making $100 million in funding available for organizations and projects supporting marginalized or underrepresented people. Applications remain open until March 25, 2021.

On this International Women’s Day, I encourage all residents of Brampton South to reflect on the impacts of the pandemic on women in our community and commit to taking action to address them, especially as we continue to work to address gender-based violence. Everyone has a role to play in creating a stronger, fairer, more equal Canada, during COVID-19 and beyond.

To all women that have been impacted by COVID-19, including those in my riding of Brampton South, I see you and I hear you. It remains my top-priority that all economic policies are implemented with a lens of inclusivity so that no Canadian woman is left behind.

We must work together as a community, to uplift the women within our communities and further Canada’s journey towards gender equality. Canada’s economic recovery from this pandemic depends on our women and a gender-responsive plan.”