Question Period Note: Supports for Indigenous women

• We are making investments to address the social determinants of health, including housing, economic opportunities, and Indigenous-led healthcare systems.
• In June 2021, 12 new shelters were announced across Canada with $85 million committed to build and support their operation over five years and $10.2 million annually. These shelters will bring the total number of ISC funded shelters to 58.
• In July 2021, $724.1 million was announced to support at least 38 emergency shelters and 50 transition homes across Canada over five years. This includes the expansion of culturally relevant violence prevention activities and $96.6 million annually.

The Family Violence Prevention Program

The goal of the Indigenous Services Canada's Family Violence Prevention Program is to improve the safety and security of Indigenous women, children, families, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The Family Violence Prevention Program provides funding for the following components:

• day-to-day operations of emergency shelters and transitional (second stage) housing that provide services for Indigenous women, children, families, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people across Canada, including in the North and in urban centres;
• support for shelter capacity;
• engagement and community prevention projects to raise awareness specific to Métis women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; and
• culturally-appropriate prevention projects on and off reserve, such as public awareness campaigns, stress and anger management support groups, and community needs assessments.

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, 69 proposals were received by the deadline of January 15, 2021. On June 17, 2021, both Ministers jointly announced the location of the 12 new shelters for Indigenous peoples seeking to escape family violence. The approved shelters are intended to be Indigenous-led and seek to provide vital refuge as well as critical supports and services to help survivors of family violence recover from the trauma of their experiences. The shelters will be built in partnership with the following communities:

• Lil'wat Nation, British Columbia
• Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Alberta
• Whitefish Lake First Nation #459, Alberta
• Prince Albert Grand Council, Saskatchewan
• Keeseekoowenin, Manitoba
• Hollow Water, Manitoba
• Wasauksing First Nation, Ontario
• Odanak First Nation, Quebec
• Natoaganag (Eel Ground) First Nation, New Brunswick
• Acadia First Nation, Nova Scotia
• Council of Yukon First Nations, Yukon
• Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Northwest Territories

This funding is in addition to the $10 million previously announced in COVID-19 supports for First Nations shelters in 2020-2021 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, 2SLGBTQQIA+ 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 2SLGBTQQIA+ 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 , 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. In August 2021, the Call for Proposals for the Shelter Initiative for Inuit Women and Children was launched by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, in collaboration with Indigenous Services Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In November 2021, the Shelter Initiative for Indigenous Women and Children was launched by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, in collaboration with Indigenous Services Canada.

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 support new emergency shelters and transitional housing across Canada, including in the North and in urban centres through ISC’s Family Violence Prevention Program.
• This strategy will help improve the safety of Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people facing gender-based violence across the country.

If pressed on supports and services for Indigenous women in urban centres
• Through Budget 2019, Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples allocated $60 million to provide safe and accessible spaces for urban Indigenous Peoples to receive culturally relevant services.
• In response to COVID-19, approximately $1.8 billion will be provided through the Indigenous Community Support Fund. Urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations have access to a portion of this funding.

If pressed on shelter shortages in Indigenous communities
• Shelters in First Nations communities and across Canada provide a vital place of refuge for women and children escaping violence.
• In May 2020, we announced funding to build 10 new shelters in First Nations communities and two in the territories to help protect Indigenous women and children escaping domestic violence. In June 2021, the 12 new shelters were announced.

If pressed on shelter shortages for Inuit women
• In January 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.
• These shelters will be funded via the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.
• In August 2021, Pauktuutit, in collaboration with Indigenous Services Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, launched the Call for Proposals for the Shelter Initiative for Inuit Women and Children.
• Both departments are working with Pauktuutit and other Inuit partners to best meet the needs of women and families seeking shelter.

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.
• On June 17, 2021, we announced the locations of the 10 new shelters in seven provinces and two shelters in the territories.