Question Period Note: Supporting Women’s Shelters, Indigenous Shelters, Sexual Assault Centres, Women’s Organizations and other Organizations Providing Gender-Based Violence Supports and Services across Canada during COVID-19

What is the Government doing to support women’s shelters, Indigenous shelters off-reserve, sexual assault centres, women’s organizations and other organizations providing gender-based violence supports and services during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for those experiencing gender-based violence and the organizations that provide supports and services to them.
• Our government moved swiftly to ensure those facing gender-based violence have a safe place to turn.
• To date, the government has provided a total of $100 million in emergency funding to over 1,000 organizations, including shelters, Indigenous shelters off-reserve, sexual assault centres, women’s organizations and other organizations delivering essential frontline supports to women and children experiencing violence and abuse across the country. Since April 2020, nearly 800,000 women and children experiencing violence had a place to turn to because of this funding.
•This funding has ensured the continuation of critical services for those in need.

Initial $50 Million:
On March 18, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy and help Canadians affected by the impacts of this challenging period.

These measures, delivered as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID 19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses, plus $55 billion to meet liquidity needs of Canadian businesses and households through tax deferrals to help stabilize the economy. Combined, this $82 billion in support represents more than 3 per cent of Canada’s GDP. This wide-ranging support helps ensure that Canadians can pay for rent and groceries, and helps businesses continue to pay their employees and their bills during this period of uncertainty.

This support included up to $50 million to women’s shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations providing gender-based violence supports and services to increase their capacity as first responders during the current health crisis, as well as to prevent outbreaks or manage them should they occur in their facilities. This included funding for facilities in Indigenous communities.

Of this amount, Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) received $40 million. The funds were distributed as follows:
• $20.54 million to Women’s Shelters Canada (WSC) to distribute to over 430 women’s shelters across the country (excluding Quebec, as well as Indigenous shelters funded by Indigenous Services Canada).
• $3 million to the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF) to distribute to over 90 sexual assault centres across the country (excluding Quebec).
• $6.46 million to the Government of Quebec to distribute to over 150 women’s shelters and sexual assault centres in the province.
• $10 million to the CWF to distribute to over 340 organizations across Canada (excluding Quebec) that provide supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence.

The remaining $10 million was provided to Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) existing network of 46 emergency shelters on reserve and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children experiencing violence.

In addition, $2.3 million was provided from WAGE’s Gs&Cs budget to the Government of Quebec, who distributed funding to eligible organizations within the province.

As of December 8, 2020, over 1070 shelters, sexual assault centres and other organizations providing critical gender-based violence supports and services across Canada have received WAGE funding, totalling over $39 million.

Additional $50 Million:
On October 2, 2020, an additional $50 million investment to fund organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence was announced, bringing the total investment to $100 million. The funding includes:
• Up to $10 million for women’s shelters and sexual assault centres to help them continue to provide their critical services safely;
• Up to $10 million to support organizations providing services related to gender-based violence to Indigenous people off-reserve;
• Up to $25 million for other women’s organizations to support the delivery of GBV supports, to help combat the spread of COVID-19, and to address the increased demand for services; and
• Up to $5 million to support the mobilization of grassroots and community organizations to further coordinate and support their important work.

WSC and CWF distributed funding to organizations outside of Quebec, and an agreement for up to $8.7M was developed with the Government of Quebec to support organizations within the province.

None