While the COVID-19 pandemic is having profound effects on all Ontarians, it isn’t affecting us all equally.
Andrea Horwath, the leader of the NDP says women are being hit the hardest, and its time for the government to do something.
“They need to step up now and provide real financial support to workers and small businesses in Ontario. So that folks across the province, especially women, can make ends meet now and get on to a solid footing. Because their will be no recovery without a ‘she-covery.’.”
Horwath says “Since women are also doing the lions share of unpaid work like childcare, household work and elder care. They are disproportionately impacted by the shutdowns of schools and childcare centres during the pandemic. That pandemic recession is definitely a ‘she-cession’.”
On Friday, Statistics Canada indicated the provincial unemployment rate hit 11.3%, the highest its been since 1981-82.
Horwath notes “Women have lost the majority of the jobs since this crisis hit Ontario. Women entrepreneurs are also more likely to own businesses that are self-financed or in the service industry. Making their businesses among the hardest hit.”
(Files from Tim Davidson: Acadia News Kenora)
Women have lost the majority of the jobs since #COVID19. This is a SHE-session, and there will be no recovery without a SHE-covery.
The Ford govt needs to step up now and provide real financial support so small biz and workers, and especially women, can get onto a solid footing. https://t.co/WkEtDkauMv— Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) May 8, 2020
