News of the policy change spread last week after former Canadian Conservative Sen. Linda Frum posted a photo of a basket offering free pads and tampons inside a men’s bathroom for transgender members of Parliament — setting off a firestorm online.

“Back in the day, when only women menstruated, we had to pay for our own products. But now that men menstruate too, these products, as of this week, are mandated to be free in all men’s washrooms in all federal workplaces, including Parliament Hill — where this photo was taken today,” Frum posted on X.

An anonymous account called @HOCstaffer (for the House of Commons) later confirmed the report.

“They’re also going to build dispensers for all the tampons which won’t be used since 1) men don’t menstruate and 2) they are just going to bring them home to their wives for free,” the anonymous account argued.

Under the change to the Canadian Labour Code, which was originally announced in May but finally went into effect on Dec. 15, “menstrual products must be in all toilet rooms regardless of their marked genders.

“This means that every female-identified, male-identified and all gender toilet rooms will need to have menstrual products,” the regulations posted to Canada’s Employment and Social Development website say.

“Unrestricted access to menstrual products better protects menstruating employees and makes sure that they feel safe to use the toilet room that best reflects their gender.”

It is up to each employer to find the funding necessary to purchase these products and disposal containers.

In a statement, Trudeau’s government said that “providing employees with access to menstrual products supports better health outcomes and workplace productivity while reducing the stigma often associated with menstruation.”

Efforts to encourage the Canadian government to add menstrual products to men’s bathrooms began in 2020 when Rachel Ettinger, the founder of Here for Her — a campaign focused on health education — petitioned her local representative.

She argued that the government should “look at menstrual products as a necessity item, just like toilet paper.

“You can’t provide a truly inclusive space for your employees without providing menstrual products,” she told CBC.

Megan White, the executive director of Period Packs, also said that providing free tampons and other menstrual products creates a more equitable work environment.

“You can’t provide a truly inclusive space for your employees without providing menstrual products,” she told CBC.

“It makes a huge difference knowing that they’re consistently there and you don’t have to carry one with you everywhere, like at the bottom of your purse or the bottom of your school bag or in your pocket,” she said.

“It’s not appropriate to ask employees to leave on their lunch break, during time that’s supposed to be [for] rest, to go and find menstrual products.”

Back in the day, when only women menstruated we had to pay for our own products. But now that men menstruate too, these products, as of this week, are mandated to be free in all Men’s washrooms in all federal workplaces including Parliament Hill —where this photo was taken today. pic.twitter.com/YuIXVZnqH9

“When you get your period and there’s no way to manage it, it’s remarkably isolating. You essentially have to use toilet paper or some other inappropriate mechanism for managing your period.”

She added that limiting menstrual products to only women’s bathrooms would force all transgender men to use that washroom.

“We can’t ask people to self-identify in the workplace,” White said. “Why not accommodate everyone if you can? Why not set the highest standard as a federally regulated agency?”

Ettinger said her hope now is that the policy change will create a “domino effect” and encourage private businesses to start putting menstrual products in men’s bathrooms as well.