A new change to the Canadian Labor Code that came into effect earlier this month means all federally regulated employers are now required to provide free menstrual products in all of their employees' restrooms.
The change was announced in May 2023 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government and took effect on December 15.
The regulations, posted on Canada's Employment and Social Development website, state that “menstrual products must be present in all restrooms, regardless of gender marking.”
“This means that all restrooms for women, men and all genders must have menstrual products.”
“Unrestricted access to menstrual products better protects menstruating employees and ensures they feel safe using the restroom space that best suits their gender.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is dealing with a number of crises, but his priority right now is ensuring free menstrual products are provided in the bathrooms of all government buildings for every gender
One such menstrual product vending machine was installed at the Winnipeg Airport earlier this year after the policy change was announced
Buildings where menstrual products must be stored include federal public service offices, crown corporations, banks, airports and train stations.
The policy change is the result of an update to the Canadian Labor Code. It was finalized after several rounds of negotiations with activist groups United Way, Period Packs and the Canadian Women's Foundation.
“Employee access to menstrual products contributes to better health and productivity in the workplace while reducing the stigma often associated with menstruation,” the federal government said in a statement about the new policy.
Rachel Ettinger, the founder of Here For Her, a campaign focused on health education in Canada, is the person who first started a petition calling for menstrual products in bathrooms in 2020.
The proposal was eventually presented in the House of Commons by Ettinger's MP.
Ettinger said the government should “view menstrual products as a commodity, just like toilet paper.”
“Without providing menstrual products, you can’t provide a truly inclusive space for your employees.”
Megan White, the CEO of Period Packs, said providing free tampons and other menstrual products creates a more equitable work environment.
“It makes a big difference knowing that they're always there and you don't have to carry them with you everywhere, like in the bottom of your purse, the bottom of your school bag, or in your bag,” she said.
“It is not appropriate to ask employees to go out during their lunch break, i.e. during their actual rest time, to get menstrual products.”
“When you get your period and there's no way to control it, it's remarkably isolating. “You essentially have to…use toilet paper or some other inappropriate mechanism to control your period.”
Reports from Ottawa suggest that menstrual products have already appeared in men's restrooms since the policy came into effect on December 15
The policy is largely the result of advocacy by several Canadian women's organizations
Ettinger also addressed the point that the menstrual products will be stocked in both men's and women's restrooms.
“It’s not just women or those who identify as women who menstruate,” she said.
“Trans men, gender non-conforming people, and two-spirit people also menstruate, and everyone who menstruates deserves to menstruate with dignity.”
She added that she hopes what started in the public sector expands to the private sector.
“As an activist,” she said, “she hopes that this will be a kind of domino effect for other public sector companies, for schools, and then of course for the private sector to realize that this is an issue of inclusion .”
But not everyone is happy that Canada is implementing socially progressive policies that continue to publicly blur gender lines.
Former Canadian Conservative senator Linda Frum posted on her X account as the changes took effect jokingly criticizing the policy.
“In the past, when only women menstruated, we had to pay for our products ourselves. But now that men also menstruate, starting this week, these products must be available free of charge in all men's washrooms in all federal workplaces, including Parliament Hill – where this photo was taken today,” she wrote over an image of menstrual products found in a men's restroom in the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, where the Canadian government is based.
They will also build dispensers for any tampons that aren't being used because 1) men don't menstruate and 2) they just bring them home to their wives for free.
— HoCStaffer (@HoCStaffer) December 11, 2023
An X account called @HoCStaffer (House of Commons) also criticized the implementation of the new policy.
“I can confirm that your tax dollars are now enabling free tampons in the men's washrooms of the Canadian Parliament.” For “Menstruating Employees,” read a post that included a screenshot of the new policy announced to the House of Commons.
In a follow-up note, the poster wrote, “They will also build dispensers for all the tampons that go unused because 1) men don't menstruate and 2) they will just bring them home to their wives for free.”
Political columnist Brian Lilley noted a few days before the new policy came into effect that Canadians are currently facing an affordability crisis that the Trudeau government appears to be ignoring in favor of measures to improve restroom equity.
Taxpayers will also fund the menstrual products that must now be available in men's restrooms.
Lilley added that the announcement of the policy on government-run websites continued what some conservatives have identified as a trend toward eliminating the word “women.”
Those who would benefit from tampons and pads were repeatedly referred to as “menstruating employees.”
“We're removing language that identifies women as different from men… all in an attempt to be politically correct on transgender issues,” he said.
“You can be respectful… without demeaning women.”
“This is the focus of the Trudeau government” amid the country’s ongoing affordability, housing and immigration crises.