Crisis hotlines are a lifeline to survivors of gender-based violence and are critical support services. Rates of gender-based violence in the Yukon are three times greater than the national average.
Today, Jenna Sudds, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced $500,000 to support crisis hotlines across Yukon. Ms. Sudds was joined by the Honourable Jeanie McLean, Yukon Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate, to announce the bilateral agreement.
This funding will help Yukon 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.
This announcement marks one of the bilateral agreements recently signed with provincial and territorial governments. Over the next few months, the Government of Canada will continue to work with other provinces and territories to finalize similar bilateral agreements.
Further, the Parliamentary Secretary also announced that the Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council will receive just over $400,000 to provide gender-based violence prevention services and supports.
The announcements build on the Government of Canada's commitment to provide approximately $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding to support individuals experiencing gender-based violence. Since April 2020, we've invested over $240 million of emergency COVID-19 funding in 1,400 women's shelters, sexual assault centers, and other organizations, including almost 140 organizations that serve Indigenous individuals.
