Crisis hotlines are a lifeline to survivors of gender-based violence and are critical support services. During the pandemic, organizations operating crisis lines in British Columbia (BC) 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, announced $3 million to support crisis hotlines in British Columbia. Minister Ien was joined by Grace Lore, British Columbia's Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, to announce the bilateral agreement.
This funding will support two province-wide crisis hotlines to serve urgent needs by offering information, resources, and support for Indigenous and non-Indigenous survivors of gender-based violence. This is the third provincial crisis hotline agreement that the Government of Canada has announced in as many months.
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.
Today also marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an opportunity to recommit to calling out and speaking up against acts of gender-based violence in Canada and around the world.
