Question Period Note: Shelters

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

• The 2020 Fall Economic Statement announced $724.1 million to support a comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy to expand culturally-relevant supports for Indigenous people facing gender-based violence, as well as support new Indigenous shelters and transition housing across the country.

• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional $10 million in direct funding was provided to 46 emergency shelters for First Nations communities in provinces and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children escaping violence.

The Family Violence Prevention Program

The goal of the Family Violence Prevention Program is to improve the safety and security of Indigenous women, children and families. It provides funding for the following components: day-to-day operations of emergency shelters that provide services for women and children ordinarily resident on reserve, and in the territories; community-driven prevention projects; reimbursement of Alberta and the Yukon for Indigenous women and families accessing shelters off reserve; support for shelter capacity; and, engagement and community prevention projects to raise awareness and target Métis women, girls, and LGBTQ2 people.

On May 29, 2020, funding of $44.8 million over five years was announced to build 12 new shelters: 10 shelters for First Nations communities across the country, and two in the territories. The government will also provide $40.8 million to support operational costs for these new shelters over the first five years, and then $10.2 million annually ongoing.

In response to the Expression of Interest for the Shelter Initiative, 68 proposals were received by the deadline of January 15, 2021. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada have completed the initial round of the feasibility assessment and are currently working with the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence (NACAFV) and the Selection Committee for the on-reserve component to further assess the proposals. A national ranking of the proposals is expected by early April 2021.

This funding is in addition to the $10 million previously announced in COVID-19 supports for First Nations shelters and to the $1 million per year ongoing to engage Métis leaders and service providers on assessing shelter needs and community-led violence prevention projects for Métis women, girls, LGBTQ, and Two-Spirit People.

On November 30, 2020, the Fall Economic Statement announced $724.1 million to launch a comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy to expand access to a continuum of culturally relevant supports for Indigenous women, children and LGBTQ and two-spirit people facing gender based violence. This strategy will support new shelters and transition housing for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across the country, including on reserve, and in the North and in urban areas. This is a joint initiative delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation which is responsible for the construction of the new shelters and transition homes, and Indigenous Services Canada, which provides operational funding.

On January 26, 2021 the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, the Honourable Marc Miller along with Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, committed to fund the construction and operations of shelters for Inuit women and children across Inuit Nunangat as well as in urban centres. The funding for the new shelters is part of the funding announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement for the comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy.

Indigenous Services Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will continue to work with Pauktuutit and other Inuit partners to determine the locations and define the details of this project to best meet the needs of women and families seeking shelter.

If pressed on the comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy

• $724.1 million was announced to launch a comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy, a key component of the Government of Canada’s National Action Plan on the Final Report of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

• This strategy will expand access to a continuum of culturally relevant supports for Indigenous women, children, LGBTQ and two-spirit people facing gender-based violence across the country.

• In addition, this strategy will support new shelters and transition housing for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across the country, including on reserve, and in the North and in urban areas.

If pressed on the 12 new shelters

• In May 2020, we announced $44.8 million over five years via the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to build 10 new shelters in First Nations communities and two in the territories to help protect Indigenous women and children escaping domestic violence.

• $40.8 million over five years and $10.2 million ongoing is also being provided by my department to support operational costs for these new shelters.

• 68 applications were received prior to the application deadline of January 15, 2021 and are currently being assessed.

If pressed on shelters for Inuit women

• Our Government recognizes that more support is needed for Inuit women experiencing and escaping violence.

• Following the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, our Government announced our commitment to fund Inuit specific shelters.

• On January 26, 2021 our Government committed to fund the construction and operations of shelters for Inuit women and children across Inuit Nunangat as well as in urban centres.

• My Department and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are working with Pauktuutit and other Inuit partners to determine the locations and define the details of the projects to best meet the needs of women and families seeking shelter.