Mark Carney Just Cut the Cabinet Ministers for Women and People with Disabilities. We’re Not Having It.

This musing is in response to a March 14, 2025, decision by the newly sworn in Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, to cut specific ministries impacting equity deserving groups, and Action Canada’s response.

Less than one day into his new gig, Prime Minister Mark Carney has already made his priorities crystal clear—and they don’t include women, gender equity, or people with disabilities. With barely a moment to settle into his new office, he cut the cabinet positions responsible for Women and Gender Equality, as well as Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities.

This? This is a choice. And not a good one.

Carney and his team clearly hoped this decision would fly under the radar—just another quiet shuffle that wouldn’t make headlines. But thanks to Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, who immediately called this out in a powerful open letter, we all see this move for exactly what it is: an attempt to erase the leadership and accountability needed to protect the rights of women, non-binary folks, and people with disabilities in Canada.

What Cutting These Ministers Actually Means

For years, these ministerial roles existed to push for policies that support gender equity, protect women’s rights, and advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities. They weren’t just titles; they were direct lines to power—people whose sole job was to make sure these communities had a seat at the table.

Now? That table just got a lot smaller.

Yes, the departments still technically exist. And yes, there are public servants still working hard to continue this essential work (and shoutout to them—we see you and appreciate you). But the reality is that without a dedicated minister, these issues are going to get shuffled to the bottom of an already overcrowded priority list.

Policies that protect survivors of gender-based violence? Less leadership to push them forward.

Funding for women’s programs and disability supports? Expect more red tape and delays.

Representation of marginalized voices at the highest level of government? Gone.

This is Happening at a Dangerous Time

Let’s zoom out for a second. Globally, women’s rights are under attack. We’re seeing rollbacks on reproductive rights, rising domestic violence rates, and political leaders actively trying to erase the progress we’ve fought for. And now, here in Canada—a country that loves to call itself a leader in gender equality—we’re watching our own government take a giant step backward.

This decision isn’t just disappointing. It’s dangerous.

We know that when governments deprioritize gender equality and disability inclusion, it has real-world consequences. Women and non-binary folks face higher rates of poverty, gender-based violence, and barriers to leadership. People with disabilities already struggle to access basic supports. Cutting these ministers won’t make those issues disappear—it just makes them easier to ignore.

We’re Not Going Quietly

If Carney thought this move would go unnoticed, Action Canada made sure it didn’t—and now it’s our turn to keep the pressure on.

We need to demand answers. We need to demand that gender equity and disability rights remain a top priority in this government. We need to hold our leaders accountable for the decisions they make on day one—because they tell us exactly where their values lie.

This isn’t just about politics. This is about people. And if our government won’t prioritize us, you better believe we’ll make sure they hear us anyway.

Let’s go.