Overview of the Promise

During the 2025 federal election campaign, Mark Carney, as leader of the Liberal Party, promised to make the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund Program permanent. This commitment aimed to ensure ongoing funding for abortion care in Canada and to protect access to reproductive care for underserved communities. The promise was part of a broader platform on protecting and modernizing public health care, emphasizing the defense of sexual and reproductive rights under the Canada Health Act.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Mark Carney assumed the role of Prime Minister in March 2025, following his takeover from Justin Trudeau, and led the Liberals to victory in the April 2025 federal election. Since then, the government has continued some funding initiatives related to sexual and reproductive health. For instance, in February 2025—shortly before Carney's official takeover but within the transition period—the Government of Canada announced $1.7 million to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, targeting barriers for underserved communities. This funding supported projects aimed at vital services, including abortion care.

However, there is no evidence of specific steps taken post-election to enshrine the program's permanence through legislation or long-term budgetary commitments. The promise explicitly called for permanence to guarantee "always" funding for abortion care and protected access for underserved groups, but actions so far appear limited to short-term allocations rather than structural changes.

Legislation Proposed or Passed

No new legislation has been proposed or passed under the Carney government to make the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund Program permanent. While the government has referenced defending the Canada Health Act in its platform, which could relate to reproductive rights, there have been no bills introduced in Parliament specifically addressing the permanence of this fund. Prior to the election, in December 2024, the previous administration announced plans to make the fund permanent with $20 million annually, but this has not been followed through with legislative action under Carney. Advocates have noted that without dedicated laws or perpetual funding mechanisms, the program remains vulnerable to future budget cuts or policy shifts.

Progress on Key Outcomes

The promise includes ensuring "always" funding for abortion care and protecting access for underserved communities. Some progress has been made through targeted funding announcements, such as the $1.7 million in February 2025, which aimed to reduce barriers and improve services. However, permanence has not been achieved, meaning there is no guaranteed long-term funding mechanism in place. Reproductive health advocates have praised the campaign pledges but cautioned that more details and actions are needed, particularly on funding sustainability. There are concerns that without swift action, access could be at risk of being broken due to potential fiscal pressures or opposition from pro-life elements that gained seats in the election.

To become kept, the government would need to pass legislation or include provisions in a budget bill that legally establishes the fund as permanent, with dedicated annual funding not subject to discretionary reviews. If no such steps are taken by the end of the current parliamentary session or if funding is reduced/denied in future budgets, the promise could be considered broken.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.