Government of Canada supports survivors of gender-based violence in the Northwest Territories

News release

February 28, 2020 – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – Women and Gender Equality Canada

Everyone deserves to be safe and to live life free of violence. When violence does occur, it is crucial that survivors have access to timely supports and services that meet their needs.

That’s why today, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced that the Government of Canada will invest $1 million in YWCA NWT, a women’s organization working to increase women’s safety across the Northwest Territories.

YWCA NWT will address service gaps and barriers in the Northwest Territories by testing different ways of providing safe homes in smaller, remote communities that currently do not have spaces for women who experience violence. An important aspect of the project will be collaborating with local stakeholders, including survivors of gender-based violence and community and political leaders, to realize sustainable solutions. It will work to ensure that survivors of gender-based violence in small communities can rely on timely, reliable, and trauma-informed services.

On December 3, 2018, Minister Monsef announced more than $50 million in funding for nearly 60 projects in communities across the country, such as the one featured today. This funding will support survivors of gender-based violence and their families, including those who have been underserved, such as Indigenous women and their communities, children and youth, LGBTQ2 individuals, ethno-cultural women, women who are newcomers, refugees or non-status, and women living with disabilities.

Quotes

“With this investment, we are funding YWCA NWT to support survivors and their families. The gender-based violence funding envelope was developed in partnership with leaders from the women’s sector, whose advice continues to inform Canada’s first Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. Leaders asked for more dollars over a longer period of time to meet the ever growing demand for their services, a simplified application process, and resources to help provide supports for the most underserved and marginalized survivors of gender-based violence. Our government listened. Gender-based violence must not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with survivors, community partners, the private sector and other orders of government to end GBV in all of its forms.”

The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

“People facing gender-based violence deserve not only protections, but also a pathway to thrive and realize their potential. To achieve this, we will need sustainable funding that addresses gaps and supports for everyone, including underserved groups in rural and remote regions of Canada. I am pleased to make today’s announcement as this investment by the Government of Canada will help YWCA NWT pilot alternatives to safe homes to better support survivors in our territory.”

Michael McLeod
Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories

“This funding by the Government of Canada will give us more stability and improve our resources, helping us in this work of securing a better future for women and families across the Northwest Territories. We look forward to making new partnerships and creating service provisions that are truly survivor-driven in our efforts to address gender-based violence.”

Lyda Fuller, Executive Director 
YWCA NWT

Quick facts

  • In June 2017, Women and Gender Equality Canada (formerly Status of Women Canada) announced the first-ever federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.

  • To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $200 million to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and create more responsive legal and justice systems.

  • The Promising practices to support survivors and their families call for concepts is the largest amount of funding ever announced for programming to specifically support diverse groups of gender-based violence survivors and their families.

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Contacts

Alex Howell
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
613-862-7245

Media Relations
Women and Gender Equality Canada
1-855-969-9922

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