Hamilton council isn't done with the idea of providing free menstrual products

The debate over improving access to menstrual products for low-income Hamiltonians isn't over yet.

Sam Merulla, Ward 4 (east end) councillor, will push city council on May 22 to consider a one-year pilot project to "explore the feasibility of providing menstrual products (pads and tampons) to those with financial need for assistance." 

This comes on the heels of a long debate Monday when Hamilton's board of health — comprised of all city councillors — turned down Coun. Maureen Wilson's pitch to put free menstrual products in some municipal washrooms.

Merulla, who wasn't at Monday's meeting, wants staff to report back to the board of health "outlining specific target populations, location and distribution options, costs and an evaluation plan for a 12-month pilot project."

This is a health equity issue, Merulla said in his motion. And it stops low-income residents from achieving "their full health potential."

"Lack of access to menstrual products due to financial need for assistance contributes to a lack of dignity for those who cannot afford products," he said, "and has health, social and emotional consequences."

Wilson made similar points Monday. That's when the board spent two hours in a debate that Halima Al-Hatimy, founder of the FemCare Community Health Initiative, called "actually quite disturbing."

Wilson proposed putting free menstrual products in a handful of washrooms in recreation centres and libraries. This would be part, she said, of moving toward making them more broadly accessible.

That failed 7-8. Councillors gave various reasons for voting against it. Terry Whitehead (Ward 14, west Mountain) said there should be some sort of economic means test to access free maxi pads and tampons. Two female councillors said women know their bodies enough to know when they're going to have their periods, and plan accordingly.

One of them was Esther Pauls (Ward 7, central Mountain), who said the subject made her uncomfortable.

When she was growing up, she said, "we did this privately. And I find it a little bit uncomfortable (that) we're talking an hour and a half about this."

She referenced the movie Pad Man, which is a fictional film about the difficulty low-income people in another country have obtaining menstrual products. "We don't live in a third world country," Pauls said. "I thank God I live in Canada."

"As a woman, when I have my period, I would be stocked with the things I have at home before I went out so I was prepared. A woman is always … prepared. So I think I cannot support this."

Al-Hatimy said afterward that people don't always know when their periods are going to start, and councillors should base their decisions based on research.

Wilson said Wednesday that she supports Merulla's effort. She's in favour, she said, of "any program or initiative which would seek to uphold the dignity of those who need menstrual products."