Crisis hotlines are a lifeline to survivors of gender-based violence and are critical support services. During the pandemic, organizations operating crisis hotlines in Alberta reported an increase in the volume of calls, as victims of violence and those seeking related services experienced barriers to safely accessing services.
Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, was joined by Tanya Fir, Alberta's Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women, to announce $3 Million to support crisis hotlines across Alberta.
This funding will help Alberta's crisis hotlines serve the urgent needs of Canadians. The crisis hotlines will offer more robust services, resources, and support to prevent the escalation of gender-based violence. They will ensure that there is someone at the other end of the phone when someone is in need.
This announcement is just one of the bilateral agreements recently signed with provincial and territorial governments. Since August, the Government of Canada has announced agreements in Manitoba, Yukon, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. Over the next few months, the Government of Canada will continue working with other provinces and territories to finalize similar bilateral agreements.
This announcement builds on the endorsement of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women in early November. The National Action Plan includes five pillars: Support for victims, survivors and their families; Prevention; Responsive justice system; Implementing Indigenous-led approaches; and Social infrastructure and enabling environment.
Since April 2020, the Government of Canada has invested over $250 million of emergency COVID-19 funding in 1,400 women's shelters, sexual assault centers, and other organizations, including 138 organizations that serve Indigenous individuals.
