Government investments to support 2SLGBTQI+ communities

Since 2016, the Government of Canada has committed over $250 million to advance rights and equality for 2SLGBTQI+ communities. This investment has spanned many federal initiatives from departments and agencies. Find out more about the Government’s investments in 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat (formerly LGBTQ2 Secretariat)

The 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat was created in 2017. It provides the federal government pathways to right historical and ongoing wrongs against 2SLGBTQI+ people. The Secretariat works with stakeholders across the country. This helps inform the Government on priorities for 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada and around the world. The Secretariat works across the federal government to help weave 2SLGBTQI+ matters into the Government of Canada’s everyday work.

Funding

• $3.6 million over three years, starting in 2017–18, through Budget 2017
• $1.2 million over one year through Budget 2019
• $7.1 million over three years to continue supporting the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat’s work, and to continue developing a 2SLGBTQI+ action plan, through Budget 2021 
• Of the $100 million for the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan in Budget 2022, $11.7 million will stabilize and expand the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat’s funding

2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund (formerly LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund)

The Community Capacity Fund aims to build the capacity of 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations and networks. This will advance equality across Canada. Capacity is built through activities such as improving how an organization makes decisions, manages money, collaborates, manages people, drives change, makes plans, learns, and builds its basic infrastructure.

Funding

• $20 million over three years, starting 2019–20, through Budget 2019
• Of the $100 million for the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan in Budget 2022, up to $40 million is for new capacity-building grants and contributions

2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund (formerly LGBTQ2 Projects Fund) 

The Projects Fund supports a range of projects. They address discriminatory policies and practices, enhance support for 2SLGBTQI+ people, and challenge harmful norms and attitudes.       

Funding

• $15 million over three years, starting in 2021–22, through Budget 2021
• Of the $100 million for the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan in Budget 2022, up to $35 million is for grants and contributions to fund new projects

2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada)

Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce will run the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program. It includes three main components: the Business Scale-Up program, the Ecosystem Fund, and the Knowledge Hub. Together, these components will provide critical business advice, create resources, provide mentorship, and collect the data needed to better understand 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs’ needs and challenges.

Funding

• $25 million, as announced in June 2023

Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate (Canadian Heritage)

To confront hate in all its forms, investments in this action plan will support community outreach and law enforcement reform, tackle the rise in hate crimes, enhance community security, counter radicalization, and increase support for victims.         

Funding

• Up to $12 million over five years, starting in 2024–25, for Women and Gender Equality Canada to fund projects that combat hate against the 2SLGBTQI+ communities, as announced through Budget 2024
• Up to $3 million over two years, starting in 2024–25, for Women and Gender Equality Canada to support security needs for Pride festivals, as announced through Budget 2024

Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (Global Affairs Canada [GAC])

Funding supports projects that advance the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people around the world.

Funding

• $2.7 million over 2022–23

Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan

Launched on August 28, 2022, the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan will advance rights and equality for 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada.   

Funding

• $100 million over five years, starting in 2022–23, as announced through Budget 2022; this amount is divided as follows:
  • up to $40 million in new capacity-building grants and contributions for 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations
  • up to $35 million in new grants and contributions for 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations’ projects
    • This included $1.5 million in one-time emergency funding to help Pride organizations cover rising security costs at 2023 Pride events
  • up to $5.6 million for an awareness campaign to enhance inclusion and end stigma and discrimination against 2SLGBTQI+ communities
  • up to $7.7 million to support new community-led research, and to conduct new data collection and research to shape future 2SLGBTQI+ initiatives
  • up to $11.7 million to stabilize and expand the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat’s funding

Global Equality Fund (GAC)

More funding was pledged to increase support for emergency assistance programs. These programs focus on protecting 2SLGBTQI+ people and civil society organizations.

Funding

• $750,000 in 2023

Health Canada–funded projects focused on 2SLGBTQI+ populations

These projects are helping to improve sexual and reproductive health services. They are also helping to develop resources and tools to support 2SLGBTQI+ communities in getting the care and supports they need. To date, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund has provided $11.8 million to fund 2SLGBTQI+ projects across Canada.

Funding

• $5.1 million in funding for nationwide projects focusing on 2SLGBTQI+ populations, as announced in June 2022
• $3.8 million in funding for one project focused on trans, non-binary, and Two-Spirit populations, as announced in November 2022
• Another $1.5 million for one project to address misinformation and disinformation on gender-affirming healthcare
  • This project was extended until March 2025

LGBTQ2I International Assistance Program (GAC)

This program helps the country achieve the aims of its Feminist International Assistance Policy. It does so by promoting human rights and improving socioeconomic outcomes for 2SLGBTQI+ people in developing countries.

Funding

• $30 million in dedicated funding over five years, as announced in 2019
• $10 million every year after, starting in 2025–26

Preventing and Addressing Family Violence – the Health Perspective (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC])

Since the 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan launched, PHAC has invested in projects to address issues including teen dating violence, healthy family relationships, and healthy behaviours among 2SLGBTQI+ groups.          

Funding

• $1.6 million since 2022

Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)

The Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership was created with the Rainbow Refugee Society. The partnership encourages more Canadians to support LGBTQI+ refugees. It also helps strengthen collaboration between 2SLGBTQI+ organizations and the refugee settlement community in Canada.        

Funding

• $800,000 over five years, as announced in June 2019

Supporting Indigenous Women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Organizations (Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada)  

This funding will support organizations in Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. It will promote Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ voices and perspectives to effectively protect and empower Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ people. These projects will make concrete and positive differences in 2SLGBTQI+ people’s lives by including their perspectives in policies, programs, and legislation that affect them.

Funding

• $2 million, as announced in June 2023

Supporting the Mental Health of Those Most Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic (PHAC)

These projects carry out interventions such as building capacity to promote mental health in schools to build resilience for 2SLGBTQI+ youth; mobilizing community-based health leadership to address COVID-19’s mental health impacts; and addressing the mental health counselling needs of African, Caribbean, and Black 2SLGBTQI+ groups using a trauma-informed approach.

Funding

• $7.5 million

Various health research programs (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

2SLGBTQI+ health research, knowledge mobilization, and training take place through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s many programs, including the Project Grant Program. This advances 2SLGBTQI+ health and health equity. 

Funding

• $11.7 million over 2022–23

Victims Fund, conversion therapy (Department of Justice Canada)    

The Victims Fund provides grants and contributions to support projects and activities that encourage developing new approaches, promote access to justice, improve service providers’ capacity, foster the creation of referral networks, and/or increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families.         

Funding

• $900,000