National Task Force for Women’s Economic Justice

Promoting survivor centered, equitable, and just policies

Why the National Task Force for Women’s Economic Justice?

Established in 2020, the National Task Force for Women’s Economic Justice advocates for policies to achieve women’s economic rights and justice. Its group of community organizations provides strategic direction and leadership to influence government and industry responses to the financial impact of domestic and family violence. 

This task force will advocate with the CCFWE team and policymakers at all levels of government and with financial institutions to create meaningful changes to better support women who are rebuilding their lives after escaping abusive domestic relationships.  

Members are drawn from women’s community organizations, financial institutions such as banks, industry regulators and ombudsman services, local and national government, the criminal justice system (police and the judiciary), the family justice system, and researchers and academics.

The Task Force is funded by the Government of Canada under the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality and Youth (WAGE). This is the first Canadian government-funded initiative addressing Economic Abuse. 

The Task Force consists of two committees, the Policy and Advocacy Committee and the Financial and Banking Services Committee. The committees will focus their activities on the respective CCFWE priorities.

Policy and System Change Subcommittee:

• Provide input and recommendations on addressing Economic Abuse by reviewing policies, Financial Codes of Conduct and resources for financial institutions and service providers.
• Develops recommendations to influence the government’s policies to end gender-based violence.
• Provides a central point for industry and government to seek community input to family violence responses.
• Shares examples of best practices and policy recommendations that continue to evolve as issues are further considered and new examples of best practices arise.
• Provides contacts and guidance to promote and advocate against economic abuse, financial abuse, and injustice.

Promoting Equitable Banking and Finance Service

• Advise and give feedback on the development of tools and training programs to identify and reduce incidences of domestic Economic Abuse in the banking and financial institution.
• Participate in testing of sample implementation tools for the financial sector and banks.
• Explore emerging opportunities for economic justice, equity and inclusion in the development of customer service programs.
• Advise and give feedback on the development of trauma informed tools and training programs to identify and reduce incidences of Economic Abuse.

Advantages of joining the Policy and Advocacy Committee

• Access to trauma-informed Economic Abuse prevention and responding education materials, advocacy tool kits, free webinars for your team members and evidence-based data
• Contribute to CCFWE’s submissions to the federal and provincial governments
• Develop skills in implementing protocols for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV); including recognition policies, and training tools

Advantage of joining the Financial and Banking Services Committee

• Members will develop skills in implementing protocols for vulnerable persons; including identifying and responding to Domestic Financial and Economic Abuse on everyday banking and accessing free training materials and tools.
• Members will learn how direct customer support can provide a crucial check between perpetrators and victims. 
• Members will broaden their understanding of the implications of Economic Abuse, financial trauma, and improve client services in a trauma-informed manner.
• Corporations can reduce unrecoverable debts by flagging early signs of Domestic Financial and Economic Abuse. 
• Strengthen long-term trust relationships with customers by having the tools and protocols in place to offer customized solutions for victims of Economic Abuse.    
• Provides the opportunity to learn the best practices UK and Australia who are further advanced at identifying and responding to Domestic Financial and Economic Abuse.

Join the Financial and Banking Services Committee

Learn more about our public policy and system change work 

Women’s Economic Justice Policy Papers

1. Policy Recommendations for the Banks, Credit Unions and Financial Institutions on Addressing Economic Abuse in the Context of Gender-Based Violence in Canada
2. Submission for Financial Consumer Agency of Canada on Complaint-Handling Procedures for Banks and Authorized Foreign Banks

Sign our petition to end Economic Abuse in Canada here.

Check out our CCFWE Taskforce Team Members