What We Hoped For
We were hoping to see a budget that strengthened the systems that make freedom real, a plan that ensured everyone in Canada can make and act on decisions about their bodies, health, and futures. Sexual and reproductive health and rights is foundational for of a healthy, equal, and prosperous society.
From the Government, we hoped to see clear investments in care: in access to contraception and abortion, in robust health care systems that include community sexual health centres, and in the programs that help young people get accurate, inclusive sexual health information and education. We were looking for a plan that treated these as essential public goods, not optional services, because when people can plan their lives, every other investment performs better.
What We Got
There is no mention of sexual and reproductive health and rights anywhere in Budget 2025. But absence in text doesn’t always mean absence in action. Policies in health transfers, information technology, immigration, and infrastructure shape whether people can get care, information, and support when they need it.
That’s why we combed through more than 500 pages of the budget to look beyond the line items and see what this government’s choices mean for people’s autonomy and wellbeing. We asked: will young people have the information and skills they need to build healthy relationships and keep themselves healthy? Will people have to choose between groceries and birth control? Will those seeking abortion care be able to get it in their own communities or going into debt?
Because at its heart, sexual and reproductive health and rights are about freedom: the freedom to decide what happens to our bodies, our health, and our lives. A budget that invests in that freedom invests in everyone’s wellbeing, dignity, and opportunity.