Backgrounder: Government of Canada announces funding to address gender-based violence and advance gender equality

Backgrounder

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a public health risk, a national security concern, a human rights violation and a significant barrier to gender equality in Canada. Gender-based violence costs women and gender-diverse people their lives. It can have profound effects on women, children, LGBTQ2 people, Indigenous women, Black and other racialized women, women living with a disability and women living in rural and remote regions.

As part of the 2017 federal strategy, It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (GBV Strategy), the Government of Canada is advancing efforts in three areas: preventing gender-based violence; supporting survivors and their families; and promoting responsive legal and justice systems.

To actively ensure that anyone facing GBV has reliable and timely access to protection and services, no matter who they are or where they live, the Government of Canada is also working with provinces and territories, Indigenous partners and stakeholders on the development of a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

Budget 2021 included a historic investment of $601.3 million over five years, starting in 2021-22 to advance towards a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

Today’s announcement includes:

  • Almost $200 million over two years to shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations supporting women and children experiencing violence. This will ensure these critical front-line organizations can continue to provide life-saving services and supports to those who need it most. To swiftly deliver these much-needed funds across the country, Women and Gender Equality Canada will continue to work with Women’s Shelters Canada, Canadian Women’s Foundation and with the Government of Québec.
  • Up to $27.3 million to support 72 projects to address gender-based violence across Canada. In addition, up to $2 million for a two-year project that will address and prevent gender-based violence in post-secondary institutions, to be delivered through Possibility Seeds.
  • Approximately $693,000 for the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) to support a series of events over the next two years that will bring together feminist organizations and community leaders. These events will provide a forum for Canada’s women’s movement to come together in all its diversity to strengthen connections and work more closely together to create a fairer, stronger and more equitable Canada.
  • Up to $6.2 million to the Assembly of First Nations to empower First Nations women and increase their leadership and democratic participation. In addition, funding will be provided to Pauktuutit and Women of the Métis Nation to develop plans to do the same in their respective communities.
  • Stemming from the January 2021 endorsement of the historic FPT Ministerial Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-Based Violence, the Minister announced continued collaboration with Provinces and Territories through up to $2.8M for eight gender-based violence joint projects in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Yukon.

The funding announced today builds on investments made to date to further address gender-based violence in our country.

To further strengthen this work, Budget 2021 committed $14 million for a dedicated secretariat and $11 million for gender-based violence research.  The establishment of the Secretariat will allow for the provision of strong evidence, knowledge mobilization, enhanced coordination and collaboration within and across jurisdictions, strengthened engagement with stakeholders and shared accountability approaches. This funding will allow WAGE to support community-based research on emerging issues relevant to addressing gender-based violence. The community-based research will be undertaken collaboratively with community organizations representing those most at risk of gender-based violence, including Black and racialized women, Indigenous women, women with disabilities and LGBTQ2 women.

Finally, to support the Government of Canada’s commitment to the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan, an upcoming call for proposals will be announced later this month to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming.


Project Funding Details : Gender Based Violence Program

National

Canadian Council of Muslim Women

Toronto, Ontario

Humane Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

End FGM Canada Network Society

West Vancouver, British Columbia

Ending Violence Association of Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

HIV Legal Network

Toronto, Ontario

Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society

Oshawa, Ontario

The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University

Montréal, Quebec

White Ribbon

Toronto, Ontario

Women's Shelters Canada / Hébergement femmes Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

Pacific

Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society

Victoria, British Columbia

B.C. Federation of Labour

Vancouver, British Columbia

DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society

Surrey, British Columbia

Dixon Transition Society

Burnaby, British Columbia

Health Justice Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Justice for Girls Outreach Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society

Langley, British Columbia

Peers Victoria Resources Society

Victoria, British Columbia

RainCity Housing and Support Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Rise Women's Legal Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia

Société Inform’Elles Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Surrey Women's Centre Society

Surrey, British Columbia

The Circle Salt Spring Education Society

Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

The Vancouver Women's Health Collective Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society (VLMFSS)

Vancouver, British Columbia

Warriors Against Violence Society

Vancouver, British Columbia

Prairies

Catholic Family Services of Prince Albert

Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Centre for Sexuality Society

Calgary, Alberta

HIV Community Link Society

Calgary, Alberta

Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women

Edmonton, Alberta

Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters Inc.

Winkler, Manitoba

Samson Cree Nation

Maskwacis, Alberta

Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton

Edmonton, Alberta

The West Central Women's Resource Centre Inc.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta 

Ontario

AIDS Committee of Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario

Anova: a future without violence

London, Ontario     

Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

Toronto, Ontario     

Coopération Intégration Canada Inc.

Ottawa, Ontario      

Embrave Agency to End Violence

Mississauga, Ontario        

Heritage Skills Development Centre

Scarborough, Ontario       

Luke's Place Support & Resource Centre for Women & Children

Oshawa, Ontario    

Malton Women Council

Mississauga, Ontario

Moyo Health & Community Services

Brampton, Ontario  

North York Women's Resource Centre

Toronto, Ontario     

Kitchener-Waterloo Young Women's Christian Association

Kitchener, Ontario  

Sexual Assault Centre Kingston Incorporated

Kingston, Ontario   

South Asian Women's Centre

Toronto, Ontario     

The Redwood…For Women and Children Fleeing Abuse

Toronto, Ontario     

Victim Services of Durham Region

Whitby, Ontario      

Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre

Toronto, Ontario     

Women's Place (St Catharines & District) Inc.

St. Catharines, Ontario     

Women's Sexual Assault Centre

Pembroke, Ontario 

Quebec and Nunavut

Association Y.W.C.A. de Québec

Québec

L'R des centres de femmes du Québec

Montréal, Quebec   

Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale

Montréal, Quebec   

Atlantic

Avalon Centre Society

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre Inc.

Shediac, New Brunswick  

Centre de prévention de la violence inc.

Sainte-Anne de Kent, New Brunswick    

Gateway Status of Women Inc.

Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador         

L'Escale MadaVic Inc.

Edmundston, New Brunswick

New Brunswick Multicultural Council Inc.

Fredericton, New Brunswick

We Worthy Women

Halifax, Nova Scotia

North

FOXY (Fostering Open eXpression among Youth)

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

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