Question Period Note: Family and gender-based violence

The emotional stress, isolation, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic create additional risks for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and families. Family violence, including all forms of intimate partner violence, accounts for roughly 40% of violent crime reported to police.

RESPONSE
• Gender-based violence, including family violence, is a serious public health issue that can have lasting impacts on both the physical and mental health of Canadians.
• Through Budget 2021, the Government is investing $601.3 million over five years to advance a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. This includes an investment of $50 million over five years to the Public Health Agency of Canada to design and deliver public health interventions that promote safe relationships and prevent family violence, including intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has announced new initiatives to address family violence; including funding for Kids Help Phone and for shelters and sexual assault services, income support initiatives and support for non-profit and charitable organizations.

The consequences of family violence and gender-based violence can include short- and long-term mental and physical health effects as well as social and economic costs. These can include: behavioural problems in children; drug and alcohol use and attempted suicide in teens; chronic diseases, pain and lack of stable employment in adulthood; and depression and financial problems in older adults. In addition, spousal violence alone costs Canadian society $7.4 billion annually.
The federal government has invested nearly $200 million starting in 2017-18 until 2022-23, and over $40 million per year ongoing, in the Federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. Budget 2021 announced $601.3 million over five years to advance toward a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased risks for the health and safety of vulnerable Canadians, as children and families face increased stress, and may have difficulty leaving abusive relationships or accessing support or prevention programs. The Survey of COVID and Mental Health indicates risk factors (e.g., depression, parental stress, alcohol consumption) for child maltreatment and family violence have increased. 4.2% of Canadians reported concerns about violence in their homes during the second wave of the pandemic. Estimates of concerns about family violence in their own homes were similar for women and men, although women were more likely to report challenges in relationships with household members.
Between March and October 2020, the Government announced COVID-19 Initiatives that will help address pressures on vulnerable families. These include:
• $7.5 million investment to Kids Help Phone to support mental health and crisis support for children and youth;
• $100 million investment to support women’s shelters and sexual assault centres; and
• multiple economic and financial measures to support vulnerable individuals and families, including the enhancement of the Canada Child Benefit.

Ongoing Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Initiatives
Preventing Gender-Based Violence
As part of It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, PHAC is investing more than $8 million per year ongoing to support programs preventing teen dating violence and child maltreatment, and equipping health professionals to provide appropriate care to survivors.

Supporting the Health of Survivors of Family Violence
As a part of Budget 2021’s investments towards a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, PHAC will receive $50 million over five years ($27.9 million in existing funds, $22.1 million in new funds) to design and deliver public health interventions that promote safe relationships and prevent family violence.
This commitment enhances PHAC’s previous investment of more than $6 million per year in supporting the health of survivors of family violence, through guidance and training for professionals, and through the delivery and testing of health promotion interventions for survivors. These projects are measuring their impact on health outcomes such as anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Family Violence Initiative
PHAC is a member of the federal Family Violence Initiative, which brings together 12 departments and agencies in a multi-sectoral approach to addressing family violence. On behalf of the Family Violence Initiative, PHAC hosts and coordinates Stop Family Violence, a web-based source of current information on family violence for health professionals and the public. Stop Family Violence also provides links to supports and services available in each province and territory.
Family Violence Surveillance
PHAC uses surveys of Canadians about their own experiences, surveys of proxy informants such as child welfare workers, and administrative data from child welfare case management systems to assess and monitor the prevalence of child maltreatment and related factors.

Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health
PHAC’s analyses of surveillance data from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health are contributing to the understanding of the wider impacts of COVID-19 on family violence, parenting challenges, and the risk factors for both.

Other
The Health Portfolio also supports maternal-child health programs that strengthen family relationships and reduce risk factors for violence; conducts public health surveillance on child maltreatment and other family violence; and supports analysis to understand the nature and impacts of family violence.

Key Facts
• During the pandemic, risk factors (e.g., depression, parental stress, alcohol consumption) for child maltreatment and family violence have increased.
• 4.2% of Canadians reported concerns about violence in their homes during the second wave of the pandemic.
• Spousal violence alone costs Canadian society $7.4 billion annually.