Federally regulated workplaces are expected to start providing menstrual products for free to women working there starting December 15.

The Minister of Labour in the Liberal government, Seamus O’Regan, announced changes to the Canadian Labour Code that will ensure access to such products from the mentioned date.

The Canadian Liberal Party had promised in its 2021 election campaign to provide free tampons and sanitary pads in federally regulated workplaces and to create a fund to supply menstrual products to women in need or in vulnerable situations.

The Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, promised to "establish a $25 million investment fund so that women’s shelters, non-profits, charities, community organizations, and youth-led organizations can provide menstrual products to disadvantaged women" if they returned to power. They won a minority government on September 20, 2021.

The announced changes will apply to workplaces employing about 1.3 million people, approximately 35% of whom, according to government estimates, regularly need menstrual products.

The federal budget for 2022 allocated $25 million to establish a pilot program across Canada aimed at helping make menstrual products available to women who need them and cannot afford them.

Increased awareness of "period poverty," a term used to describe financial barriers preventing access to menstrual products, has led many jurisdictions to make menstrual products more widely available.

It is noted in this regard that Scotland passed a law last year to make menstrual products free for those who need them.