In a quaint office downtown, Lyra Evans is providing a young woman with an assortment of sexual health resources, ranging from educational materials on sexually transmitted infections to details on abortion availability. This scene is typical of a regular drop-in day at Planned Parenthood Ottawa, where locals can access complimentary items like condoms and pregnancy tests, with the exception being Evans, the new executive director, being the sole staff member present. Amid a “cash crisis,” the organization had to let go of all six front-line staff members as part of initial cost-cutting measures.
Planned Parenthood Ottawa’s 2024 annual report indicates a budget overshoot of nearly $100,000 in the previous fiscal year. This was attributed to a growing demand for services such as in-school educational workshops and gender-affirming care support, coupled with static funding sources. Evans mentioned that while the charity mainly relies on government and community grants for financial support, many of these funding streams have not been renewed this year.
Dr. Trevor Arnason, Ottawa’s medical officer of health, noted that some funding is channeled to Planned Parenthood Ottawa through Ottawa Public Health. During a health board meeting in September, he disclosed an increase in funding to $79,000 in 2024 to enhance programming, up from $45,734 in 2023, which remained consistent in 2025. Currently devoid of core funding, Evans anticipates securing additional grants by February to sustain operations.
In the interim, the organization plans to reduce its services with volunteer assistance. There is optimism about rehiring some of the recently laid-off staff members in the near future. Health-care providers in Ottawa have expressed apprehension over the potential loss of essential services provided by Planned Parenthood, emphasizing the organization’s significance in the community for family planning and reproductive health needs.
Frederique Chabot, leading the national Planned Parenthood federation, highlighted the financial challenges faced by Planned Parenthood Ottawa as part of a broader trend affecting sexual health centers nationwide. Chabot underscored the indispensable role of organizations like Planned Parenthood Ottawa in the healthcare landscape and urged the federal government to press health ministries for increased financial backing to sustain these vital services. In the short term, Evans is hopeful that the community will rally behind the charity to ensure its continuity and ability to maintain services.