Backgrounder – The Governments of Canada and Quebec sign bilateral agreement to end gender-based violence

Addressing gender-based violence (GBV) is a priority for the Government of Quebec, and it has made significant investments to end violence against women. In 2022, it launched the Integrated Government Strategy to Counteract Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence, and to Rebuild Trust 2022–2027 (Integrated Violence Strategy).  

The main objectives of Quebec’s Integrated Violence Strategy are to address sexual and domestic violence, and to provide more sustained support that is better adapted to victims’ realities. The strategy has three areas of intervention:

1. Prevention, awareness, and detection
2. Psychosocial, medical, legal, police, and correctional interventions   
3. Knowledge development, training, and sharing of expertise 

Each of these areas has specific objectives, which are to be achieved through the associated actions. 

The 2021 Federal Budget committed $601.3 million over five years to advancing towards a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, and Budget 2022 confirmed an investment of $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022–2023, including $525 million to enable the provinces and territories to supplement and enhance services and supports within their jurisdictions to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors. For Quebec, these investments will supplement the Government of Quebec’s investments under the Integrated Violence Strategy so the province can pursue its objectives to address GBV.

To date, we have announced bilateral agreements with Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut, Yukon, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Ontario. The Government of Canada will continue to work with the provinces and territories to establish similar agreements that will enable each jurisdiction to address the needs relating to gender-based violence within its borders.

For more information related to the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, visit National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.

For more information on Quebec’s Integrated Violence Strategy, please see the following PDF file: 2022–2027 Integrated Government Strategy to Counteract Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence, and to Rebuild Trust (Integrated Violence Strategy)