Between 1946 and 1999, significant progress was made in Canada regarding the rights and freedoms of various groups. Women entered the workforce in larger numbers after World War II and fought for equal rights throughout the 1980s and '90s, leading to important policies and landmark legal cases supporting workplace equality. The LGBTQ+ community also saw advancements, especially after the decriminalization of homosexuality in the late '60s, with increased visibility and advocacy for rights culminating in the push for same-sex marriage by the late '90s.
Conversely, Indigenous peoples and racial minorities, such as Black Canadians, continued to face substantial challenges. Many Indigenous communities dealt with poverty, lack of education, and ongoing struggles for land rights, heavily influenced by the legacy of colonization. Racial minorities also encountered systematic barriers in employment, education, and housing, despite some improvements in civil rights. Overall, while women and the LGBTQ+ community made noteworthy strides, Indigenous peoples and racial minorities still faced significant obstacles in their fight for true equality.