As we mark Menstrual Health Day, it’s an important reminder that period inequality is still a reality in Canada – and for many, access to menstrual products remains far from guaranteed.
At a time when thousands of Canadians are already struggling with the rising cost of living, period products are becoming harder to afford.
Canadians spend between $83 and $230 a year on period products. Still, in rural and Indigenous communities, costs can be even higher – sometimes reaching double the national average. That means, at times, period products are treated like an optional purchase instead of a basic necessity.
“Our message this Menstrual Health Day is simple: periods shouldn’t come at a cost,” said Sarah Mayes, Executive Director of The Period Purse, Canada’s first registered charity dedicated to menstrual equity. “No one should have to miss work or school because they lack access to period products. Period-friendly policies should be as common as periods.”
The Period Purse has found that one in six people who menstruate in Canada cannot afford period products. Meanwhile, 15 per cent say they’ve missed school, work, or other daily activities because they didn’t have access to the products they needed.
At the same time, shame and stigma around menstruation continue to shape how people experience their periods. Over 50 per cent say they feel pressure to hide the fact that they are on their period. In contrast, nearly half say they have experienced or witnessed stigma, jokes, or negative comments related to menstruation.
So, what can we do to help?
The Period Purse is launching its latest campaign, “Periods Shouldn’t Come at a Cost“, to help raise funds and awareness about the growing need for menstrual equity in Canada.
They are putting forward four actions every Canadian can take to help make a difference:
- Normalize the conversation: Say the word “period” at school, at work, and around the dinner table. Breaking the silence is the first step towards ending the stigma.
- Create supportive spaces: Advocate for free period products in workplaces and schools so no one has to choose between dignity and productivity.
- Take action locally: Organize a product drive to support a local shelter or food bank, or donate directly to The Period Purse.
- Advocate for policy change: Urge all levels of government to advance menstrual equity – from making period products available in schools, workplaces, and municipal buildings, to strengthening menstrual health education, and providing sustained funding for organizations doing this important work.
And as the country marks Menstrual Health Day and landmarks across Canada are lit up red in recognition, provinces like Ontario are taking steps to make permanent change.
MPP Alexa Gilmour, Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, is expected to table two pieces of legislation aimed at tackling period poverty head-on: the Menstrual Health Day Act, which would formally recognize May 28 each year as Menstrual Health Day in Ontario, and a motion that would require all Ontario employers to provide free menstrual products in workplace washrooms.
For organizations like The Period Purse, this is another step toward closing the gap in menstrual equity. And for everyday Canadians, it’s a reminder that access to something this essential shouldn’t depend on your income or your postal code. Period.
