Government of Canada’s progress by priority area

Prioritize and sustain 2SLGBTQI+ community action

Accomplishments

• Approved 101 projects under the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund call for proposals (CFP).
• Provided $1.5M in emergency funding to Fierté Canada Pride to administer an emergency fund to help pride organizations cover the cost of increasing security at Pride events.
• Launched a CFP for the 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund. The CFP took place from February to April 2024.
• New Invested in over 100 projects to build the capacity of 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations and networks to advance equality for their communities.
• New Allocated funding to over 40 projects addressing barriers to 2SLGBTQI+ equality.

Read more about the Government’s progress on prioritizing community action.

Continue to advance and strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad

Accomplishments

• Expanded the expungement system for historically unjust 2SLGBTQI+ offences in the schedule of Bill C-66.
• Launched and completed a public consultation on reforming criminal law around HIV non-disclosure. The What We Heard Report was published.
• Hosted the visit of US Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons.
• Met with France’s Ambassador for the Rights of LGBT+ Persons.
• Maintained our commitment to the global protection and promotion of 2SLGBTQI+ rights through funding local projects abroad, organizing Canadian mission activities, issuing joint statements with like-minded partners, etc.
• Announced partnership with Rainbow Railroad to identify and refer at-risk LGBTQI+ refugees through the Government-Assisted Refugees program.
• Launched CFP through the Government’s Settlement Program and Resettlement Assistance Program for programming to meet the needs of specific client groups, including 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• NewMet the Action Plan commitment to provide $30 million over five years by the end of fiscal year 2024-25 through the LGBTQ2I International Assistance Program. The Assistance Program continues with an investment of $10 million per year.
• NewFunded targeted programming for 2SLGBTQI+ people through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC’s) CFP for the Settlement and Resettlement Assistance Program.
• NewExtended partnership with Rainbow Refugee Society through 2029 to help Canadians sponsor up to 50 LGBTQI+ refugees in need of resettlement each year, in Canada (IRCC). 
• NewContinued Canada’s commitment to the global protection and promotion of 2SLGBTQI+ rights, including by:
  • Sponsoring resolutions at the United Nations Human Rights Council (April 2024);
  • Participating in Dignity Network Canada’s biennial international roundtable (May 2024);
  • Co-sponsoring Equal Rights Coalition statements;  
  • Reaffirming Canada’s commitment to LGBTQI+ rights at the Organization of American States; and, 
  • Attending and participating in the ILGA World Conference in South Africa, and the Equal Rights Coalition in Germany.

Read more about the Government’s progress on continuing to advance rights.

Support Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ resilience and resurgence 

Accomplishments

• Adopted and encouraged the use of the new “2SLGBTQI+” acronym across the Government of Canada.
• Hired a dedicated senior advisor on Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+.
• Supported 26 organizations to date that named Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ people and communities as a primary population they serve through the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity and Projects funds.
• Supported Indigenous resilience and resurgence through added WAGE funding programs, such as the Increasing the Capacity of Indigenous Women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Organizations to Address GBV CFP.
• CIRNAC announced close to $2 million in funding to support Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations.
• HICC announced another $4 billion in funding over several years for the Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. The Strategy aims to provide housing for those  acing significant barriers and in the greatest housing need, including Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• NewProvided funding support for capacity building and projects to 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, with 19 of these initiatives advancing equality for Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• NewContinued to use the ‘2SLGBTQI+’ acronym in all national communication and within the Unity anti-stigma awareness campaign. A detailed explanation of the acronym is available here.
• NewEngaged with several key Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations, National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives, the Indigenous Women’s Circle, and other federal government departments to discuss the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan’s third priority area. 
• NewAllocated funding to six Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ organizations through Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada Supporting Indigenous Women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations program in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This funding strengthened the organizations’ capacities and enabled them to set their own priorities and play a meaningful role in shaping both Indigenous-led and federal policy, program, and legislative development.

Read more about the Government’s progress on supporting Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ people.

Engage everyone in Canada in fostering a 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive future 

Accomplishments

• Released survey results from the 2019-2020 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan Survey.
• Commissioned a public opinion survey as part of work to develop the 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan’s awareness campaign.
• Published a report summarizing the public opinion research.
• Ongoing work with a marketing firm to plan and develop the Unity awareness campaign.
• Raised awareness on days of significance for 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
• NewThe Unity awareness campaign
  • Launched the Unity awareness campaign in November 2024 to help Canadians actively break down stigma against 2SLGBTQI+ communities through education, reflection, and practical actions.
  • Completed all foundational elements of the Unity campaign by March 31, 2025.  
• NewRaising awareness
  • Actively highlighted commemorative dates (e.g., International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Transgender Day of Visibility) related to 2SLGBTQI+ communities through statements, news releases, social media content and WAGE’s bimonthly newsletter Equality Matters.

Read more about the Government’s progress on engaging all Canadians.

Strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ data and evidence-based policy making

Accomplishments

• Released new statistical standards on sexual orientation to improve data collection on 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• Approved research implementation plan of up to $7.7 million to support new community-led research.
• Launched CFP for intersectional community-based research to strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ data and evidence.
• Developed research project to better understand experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ older adults who are aging at home.
• Strengthened 2SLGBTQI+ data and evidence-based policy making on intersex populations, housing needs, STBBIs, and other health research.
• NewSigned five contracts under the Call for Proposals for Intersectional Community-Based Research to Strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ Data and Evidence.
• NewConducted research project – Helping 2SLGBTQI+ Adults to Age in Place.
• NewEmployment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) completed data collection for the project, with analysis of the results underway.
• NewThrough work that has been ongoing since 2022, a question on sexual orientation will be included in the 2026 Census of the Population long-form questionnaire.
• NewFinalized study to assess the feasibility of collecting data on intersex people in Canada.
• NewReleased statistical products that provide insights on 2SLGBTQ+ populations, including data on 2SLGBTQ+ people with disabilities, and an infographic on family and household characteristics of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Canada.
• NewLaunched research projects on the socioeconomic outcomes of transgender and non-binary people, using 2021 Census data.
• NewContinued work to ensure that surveillance of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections is more inclusive, equitable, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of key populations, including 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
• NewAnnounced $1.15 million, over six years, to fund an Applied Public Health Chair focused on addressing health inequities in 2SLGBTQI+ older adults and communities.
• NewThrough the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Priority Grant Competition, funded several studies to advance knowledge and improve healthcare, including one project addressing clinician misinformation about trans and gender diverse populations to improve standards of care.

Read more about the Government’s progress on strengthening data.

Embed 2SLGBTQI+ issues in the work of the Government of Canada

Accomplishments

• Launched Community and Government of Canada Partnership Committee.
• Launched two senior-level interdepartmental governance tables on 2SLGBTQI+ issues.
• Signed agreements with several organizations through WAGE’s Women’s Program and GBV Program for projects that would benefit 2SLGBTQI+ people, among other groups.
• Announced the creation of the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program.
• Published the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force’s final report. Announced the Government’s initial support for adding a designated group for 2SLGBTQI+ people under modernized legislation.
• Provided $1 million in time-limited funding to support community-based organizations addressing mpox and $4.6 million in funding to support initiatives improving the mental health of 2SLGBTQI+ groups.
• To date, more than $11.8 million in funding has gone to six projects focused on improving sexual and reproductive health services for 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
• Committed 109 housing units to support 2SLGBTQI+ people through the Government’s Rapid Housing Initiative.
• Created a $79.1 million Veteran Homelessness Program to provide housing supports and services to veterans experiencing / at risk of homelessness, including 2SLGBTQI+ veterans.
• Completed Canada Pride Citation ceremonies for RCMP, CAF, and federal public service claimants under the LGBT Purge Class Action Final Settlement Agreement.
• Under the LGBT Purge Class Action Final Settlement Agreement, supported the LGBT Purge Fund in creating the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument, which is scheduled to open in 2025.
• Applied several initiatives in the Defence Team to advance 2SLGBTQI+ equality.
• Strengthened 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion in federal workplaces through several initiatives. These included updating the Public Service Employee Survey so public servants could voluntarily identify as 2SLGBTQI+.
• Updated the Public Service Health Care Plan to add $75,000 per lifetime for gender-affirming healthcare expenses.
• Through the Public Service Pride Network, among other accomplishments, published an open letter asking deputy ministers in the public service to take action supporting transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse federal public servants.
• NewConvened two senior-level interdepartmental meetings with federal partners to bring 2SLGBTQI+ issues to the forefront.
• NewHeld two formal Community-Government of Canada Partnership Committee (CGCPC) meetings in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, and seven bilateral meetings between WAGE and CGCPC members from January-March 2025.
• NewMet with 11 provincial and territorial governments in bilateral meetings to engage on matters of importance to 2SLGBTQI+ communities. 
• NewFormally presented the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan to provincial and territorial government counterparts at the 2024 annual meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women.
• NewContinued efforts to strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion in federal workplaces. For example:
  • Through the Public Service Pride Network (PSPN), embedded anti-hate commitments into the 2024-2025 Corporate Priorities, advocated for changes to the Employment Equity Act, and released the Manager’s Guide to Supporting Two-Spirit, Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse Employees in the Federal Public Service.
  • At Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:  
    • Expanded the scope of its Employment Systems Review to incorporate a 2SLGBTQI+ perspective when identifying and removing systemic barriers within human resource policies.
    • Posted the first openly trans Canadian diplomat overseas, promoting visibility of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals on an international stage and contributing to international diplomacy related to 2SLGBTQI+ rights.
• NewMade significant progress to implement the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program. For example:
  • Announced 29 organizations to deliver the program’s Ecosystem Fund (Minister Valdez announces funding recipients of Canada’s first-ever 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, Minister Valdez announces 12 more recipients of Canada’s first-ever 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program); and,
  • Certified 167 2SLGBTQI+ businesses as suppliers as part of the Business Scale-Up component through March 31, 2025. This certification makes 2SLGBTQI+ businesses available to corporations looking to diversify their supply chains and contribute to an inclusive Canadian economy. 
• NewProvided $300,000 to support community organizations in syphilis prevention, education awareness and anti-stigma activities for gay and bisexual men-who-have-sex-with-men.
• NewRenewed the Government of Canada’s sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) Action Plan (2024-2030), which focuses on health equity for key populations including Two-Spirit people, gay and bisexual men-who-have-sex-with-men, and transgender and non-binary people. 
• NewLaunched Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate (CAPCH) on September 24, 2024. The CAPCH has gone on to support initiatives that address anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate. For example: 
  • Supported 11 projects to address anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate and ensure that 2SLGBTQI+ communities are safe, valued and empowered to reach their full potential (Security funding to support Pride organizations amidst increased hate, Strengthening 2SLGBTQI+ communities to advance equality in Alberta and Manitoba, Strengthening 2SLGBTQI+ communities to advance equality in Canada).
  • Allocated $3 million over two years (2024-26) to Fierté Canada Pride to support the security needs of Pride festivals. Funding supported 58 Pride organizations in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
  • Funded analytical quarterly products on police-reported hate crimes, including hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation. 
  • Through the Changing Narratives Fund, helped diverse communities, including 2SLGBTQI+ communities, have their stories, experiences and perspectives be better represented in the creative sectors. 
• NewProvided funding in fiscal year 2024-2025 through Canadian Heritage’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program to support communities that have faced systemic barriers, including 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• NewSupported 38 2SLGBTQI+ events, including Pride festivals, with more than $1 million in approved funding in the 2024-2025 fiscal year through the Building Communities through the Arts and Heritage Program.

Read more about the Government’s progress on embedding solutions within the Government.