March 15, 2019 – Edmonton, Alberta – Department for Women and Gender Equality
Ending gender-based violence is crucial if we are serious about giving everyone the same opportunities to join and grow Canada's middle class. We all benefit when women, girls and people of all genders are safe and free to live their lives to the fullest.
Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Mill Woods, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announced the selection of an organization in Edmonton that will receive federal funding to support survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The funding from the Gender-Based Violence Program is to support people who have been underserved, such as Indigenous women and their communities, children and youth, ethno-cultural women, LGBTQ2 communities and gender non-binary people, women who are newcomers, refugees or non-status, seniors, women living in official language minority communities, women living with disabilities, and women in northern, rural, and remote communities.
Based in Edmonton, the Indo-Canadian Women's Association is receiving $450,000 to create and pilot an approach for home visitors, such as nurses and Children's Services, to screen for violence when providing services to Indigenous women, newcomers, refugees or non-status women, and ethno-cultural women. This approach will be trauma-informed and culturally sensitive to enable women to safely report violence and receive much-needed support services.
Last year, Minister Monsef announced more than $50 million in funding for nearly 60 projects in communities across the country, including the one announced today, to support survivors of gender-based violence.
"With this investment, we are funding women's organizations like the Indo-Canadian Women's Association that provide vital services to support survivors and their families. This funding envelope was developed in partnership with leaders from the women's sector, whose advice continues to inform Canada's first Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. Leaders asked for more dollars over a longer period of time to meet the ever growing demand for their services, a simplified application process, and resources to help provide supports for the most underserved and marginalized survivors of gender-based violence. Our government listened. Gender-based violence must not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with survivors, community partners, the private sector and other orders of government to end GBV in all of its forms."
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, P.C., M.P.
Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality
"We are committed to providing a trusted hand for those in need. Our government is helping vulnerable members in our community by providing Gender-Based Violence survivors and their children supports that are both culturally sensitive and trauma-informed."
The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Natural Resources
Member of Parliament for Edmonton Mill Woods
"Immigrant women face factors that make them increasingly vulnerable to violence and discrimination. With this federal support, we will be able to address those unique challenges by developing solutions that are culturally sensitive and tailored to new Canadian women in our community."
Dr. Amrita Mishra, Project Director
Indo-Canadian Women's Association
Quick facts
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In June 2017, the Department for Women and Gender Equality (formerly Status of Women Canada) announced the first-ever federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
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To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $200 million across government to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors and their families, and create more responsive legal and justice systems.
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The Promising practices to support survivors and their families call for concepts is the largest amount of funding ever announced for programming to specifically support diverse groups of gender-based violence survivors and their families.
