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

What is the Government doing to support women’s facing gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• The Government of Canada has moved swiftly to ensure those facing gender-based violence have a safe place to turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since April 2020, approximately $100 million in emergency funding went to over 1,200 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing critical supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence. Because of this funding, more than 1.3 million women and children experiencing violence had a place to go and access to supports.
• Budget 2021 committed a further $200 million over two years to enhance the capacity and responsiveness of organizations providing gender-based violence services and supports for women, girls, LGBTQ2, and gender non-binary people.
• This funding is ensuring the continuation of critical and often life-saving services for those in need, during and beyond the pandemic.

2020 COVID-19 Funding for Shelters and Sexual Assault Centres
From the start, Canada’s COVID-19 response measures have been informed by a feminist and intersectional analysis, to ensure that our approach provides support to those who need it most.
As part of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada, through WAGE, distributed $90M to shelters, sexual assault centres and organizations providing critical GBV supports to women and children experiencing violence. Due to high demand, WAGE leveraged an additional $9.5M in existing program funding, bringing the total funding to $99.5M.
The funding was distributed as follows:
• $36.24 million was provided to Women’s Shelters Canada to redistribute to women’s shelters, including Indigenous Off-Reserve shelters across the country (outside of Quebec);
• $40.83 million to Canadian Women’s Foundation to redistribute to sexual assault centres, women’s organizations, and other organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV (outside of Quebec), with $7.2M coming from WAGE’s G&C’s program budget;
• $17.46 million to the Province of Quebec to redistribute to women’s shelters and organizations that support victims of sexual and domestic violence across the province, with $2.3M coming from WAGE’s G&C’s program budget; and
• $5 million is supporting the mobilization of grassroots and community organizations to further coordinate and support their important work.
To date, funding has been provided to over 1,200 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing services and supports to those experiencing gender-based violence across the country. Since April 2020, more than 1.3 million women and children had a place to turn because of this funding.
Budget 2021 Funding for GBV Organizations:
Budget 2021 committed $601.3 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, to advance towards the development of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. From this funding, WAGE will be distributing nearly $200M over two years, starting in 2021-22, to enhance the capacity and responsiveness of organizations that provide critical and often life-saving services and supports for women, girls, LGBTQ2, and gender non-binary people experiencing violence.
On August 6, 2021, the Minister announced agreements with Women’s Shelters Canada, Canadian Women’s Foundation and the Government of Qubec to swiftly deliver these much-needed funds across the country. Funds are being disbursed to frontline organizations as they continue to support those who need it most and pivot to a post-pandemic environment.
The funding is being distributed as follows:
• $81.5 million to Women’s Shelters Canada to redistribute to women’s shelters across the country (outside of Quebec);
• $70.6 million to Canadian’s Women Foundation to redistribute to sexual assault centres, women’s organizations, and other organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV (outside of Quebec); and
• $44.4 million for the Government of Québec to redistribute to women’s shelters and organizations that support victims of sexual and domestic violence across the province.

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