Ministers meet in Moncton, N.B., announce over $607M for plan to end gender-based violence

Minister Rechie Valdez is pictured on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (The Canadian Press/ Patrick Doyle)

Government officials announced additional spending for a collaborative national plan to combat gender-based violence from Moncton, N.B., on Thursday.

Rechie Valdez, minister of women and gender equality, announced the $607.4 million to be released over four years to advance the next phase the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence.

The 10-year plan was launched in 2022, bringing together federal, provincial and territorial governments to address and combat the violence.

“Every person deserves to live free from violence,” says Valdez in a statement on Thursday. “That’s why we’re renewing bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to ensure victims, survivors, and their families can continue to access the services they rely on every day.”

The government states every 48 hours, a woman or girl is killed because of gender-based violence.

Valdez, co-chair of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women, also announced $31 million over five years to renew federal funding for provincial and territorial crisis hotlines.

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