Question Period Note: Shelters

• Shelters in First Nations communities provide a vital place of refuge for women and children escaping violence.

• $50 million was allocated to women's shelters and sexual assault centres across Canada to help with their capacity to manage or prevent a COVID outbreak in their facilities.

• This includes $10 million in direct funding for 46 emergency shelters in First Nations communities and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence.

• These new funds will provide shelters with additional capacity to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities.

N/A

If pressed on closure of women’s shelter:
• We are aware of the reported COVID-19 cases in a Native women’s shelter in Montreal.
• The health and safety of community members, whether they reside on reserve or not, is a top priority for this government.
• The Government of Quebec is the lead in addressing the situation in Montreal and investigating potential cases.
• We remain committed to supporting provincial partners in responding to this outbreak.

If pressed further on closure of women’s shelter
• In 2020, ISC allocated $150,000 to the Native women’s shelter for its own activities and to support the Resilience day centre for homeless people.
• We will continue to offer support and address surge capacity as needed.