October 12, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta — Women and Gender Equality Canada

Living a life free from violence is a fundamental human right, unfortunately gender‑based violence (GBV) continues to be a significant barrier to achieving gender equality in Canada. It is one of the most pervasive, deadly, and deeply rooted human rights violations of our time that affects people of all backgrounds, genders, and ages.

Today, Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, and the Honourable Tanya Fir, Alberta’s Minister for Arts, Culture, and Status of Women, announced a historic bilateral agreement. The federal government will be investing $54.1 million over four years to support the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence in Alberta.

This historic and comprehensive plan reflects our shared commitment to preventing gender-based violence, while empowering communities through community-led solutions. The Plan is focused on three priority areas: increasing prevention efforts; reaching underserved and at-risk populations; and stabilizing the gender-based violence sector.

Launched in November 2022 by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence is a 10-year plan that sets a framework to have a Canada free of gender-based violence – a Canada that supports victims, survivors and their families from coast to coast to coast. The National Action Plan is informed by over 1,000 recommendations from Indigenous partners, victims and survivors, frontline organizations, and experts.

This funding will support the work Alberta is doing in addressing gender-based violence as they put together their own 10-year plan to end gender-based violence and support victims and survivors of GBV. The Government of Alberta, working alongside partners throughout the province, will build upon the extensive work already underway to increase awareness and prevention efforts, as well as enhance the services and supports for victims, survivors, underserved populations and populations at-risk of experiencing GBV.

This announcement is among a series of bilateral agreements that are being signed between the federal government and the provinces and territories. It is in addition to the funding provided to Alberta last year to support crisis hotlines. These investments will help the Government of Alberta to create and enhance critical programs and supports for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and their families.

Coordinated and collaborative actions from federal, provincial, and territorial governments are key in effectively preventing and addressing GBV. Provincial and territorial governments will continue working in partnership with survivors, Indigenous partners, civil society, front-line service providers, municipalities, the private sector and researchers to implement the National Action Plan within their jurisdictions in a way that responds to the evolving needs of and emerging issues for survivors and victims of GBV.