On International Women’s Day, Government of Canada announces program to provide $3.5 million in annual funding to prevent workplace harassment and violence
News release
March 8, 2019 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
All Canadians deserve a workplace that is free of harassment and violence. That is why the Government of Canada is making significant investments to help protect federally regulated employees from these unacceptable behaviours.
Today, on International Women’s Day, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced the launch of the Government’s Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund, which will provide $3.5 million annually to fund projects that prevent and address workplace harassment and violence.
The organizations receiving funding will co-develop tools and resources to support behavioural changes in the workplace, provide guidance to workers regarding the new regulations and support the delivery of mandatory training. These projects will also help workplaces comply with Bill C-65—legislation that protects employees from harassment and violence in federally regulated workplaces.
The projects range from developing and delivering anti-harassment and violence training to managers and workers in the trucking sector, to providing culturally sensitive workplace harassment and violence prevention tools and resources to First Nations communities and individuals. Other projects will focus on helping workers, unions and employers address the workplace impacts of domestic violence, and providing support for vulnerable workers in federally regulated industries so they feel empowered and able to report incidents of workplace harassment and violence without fear of reprisal.
Quotes
“When the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-65, we knew that legislation alone wouldn’t fix the pervasiveness of workplace harassment and violence—we knew that we would need a culture shift. Supporting these projects will help us continue to drive forward with that shift and to see it through, ultimately making our workplaces safer, fairer and more inclusive, which benefits all of us.”
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada introduced Bill C-65, which received Royal Assent on October 25, 2018.
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In Budget 2018, the Government committed $34.9 million over five years, starting in 2018–19, with $7.4 million per year ongoing, to support Bill C-65, of which $3.5 million annually will be dedicated to grants and contributions through the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund.
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Contacts
For media enquiries, please contact:
Véronique Simard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
veronique.simard@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
819-654-5611
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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