Crisis hotlines are a lifeline to survivors of gender-based violence and are critical support services. During the pandemic, the demand for crisis hotline services significantly increased across Canada.
Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced $1,000,000 to support crisis hotlines across Saskatchewan. Minister Ien was joined by the Honourable Laura Ross, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Office in Saskatchewan, to announce the bilateral agreement.
Supporting crisis hotlines is an important initiative that is part of the ongoing efforts by the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan to address the high rates of gender-based violence in the province. This funding will help crisis hotlines offer more robust services, resources, and supports to serve the urgent needs of all survivors of gender-based violence and their families, no matter where they live in Saskatchewan.
This announcement marks one of the bilateral agreements recently signed with provincial and territorial governments to support crisis hotlines. Since August, the Government of Canada has announced agreements in Manitoba, Yukon, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. The Government of Canada will continue to work with other provinces and territories to finalize similar bilateral agreements.
This announcement builds on the historic endorsement of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence by the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women in early November. Since April 2020, we've provided over $259 million of emergency COVID-19 funding to 1,400 women's shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations, including 138 organizations that serve Indigenous individuals.
