April 27, 2023 · 0 Comments
By Sam Odrowski
Orangeville council unanimously passed a motion to provide free menstrual products in town facilities at a regular meeting on April 17.
Town staff have been directed to procure and install product dispensers to provide free tampons in washroom facilities operated by the Town of Orangeville.
There’s a one-time cost of $6,257 for installing the dispensers and branding. The 2023 annual expense to administer and implement the program is $10,950.
Council will review the future annual expense to run the program during 2024 Budget considerations.
A total of 20 dispensing units are being installed in five town-operated facilities and four parks. These dispensers will be in place by autumn this year.
Each dispensing unit costs $237.
Similar programs offering free menstrual products to combat “period poverty” run in Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, London, St. Catharines, Guelph and Caledon.
The Upper Grand District School Board also enacted a free menstrual product program in 2021 under the direction of the Ministry of Education.
The idea to offer free menstrual products at town facilities was first brought forward during a regular council meeting on Feb. 27.
Coun. Tess Prendergast shared a notice of motion, directing town staff to prepare a feasibility report on offering free menstrual products within washrooms at municipal facilities.
That report came forward on April 17 and received council’s full support.