On Tuesday, the province announced a 10-year plan to end gender-based violence. Budget 2025 includes $19.8 million for the plan and its five key priorities: increasing awareness of gender-based violence, preventing gender-based violence, supporting Indigenous-led solutions, empowering women to be economically independent and supporting survivors. “Through this strategy, our government will lay the groundwork for lasting change while addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and supporting survivors,” said Tanya Fir, minister of arts, culture and status of women. Data from Statistics Canada shows that there were 385 cases of intimate partner violence reported per 100,000 people in Alberta in 2023, putting the province above the national average. The rate of family violence was similar, with 366 victims per 100,000. The province said the new plan was developed after engagement with more than 500 stakeholders in 11 communities, as well as Indigenous groups. It will build on existing efforts, such as the Human Trafficking Task Force, the Alberta Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Roadmap and Alberta’s Anti-Racism Action Plan. Some 2025 actions include developing awareness campaigns around human trafficking, sexual violence prevention on post-secondary campuses and expanding domestic abuse response teams. Opposition NDP status of women critic Julia Hayter called the plan a “regurgitated announcement” and accused it of doing “nothing for women today that are fleeing violence.” “I’ve been told by many shelters that they’re shutting down their beds because there’s not enough funding,” she added. “Ten years from now is too late for someone today that needs to escape violence.” The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) said it was not invited to participate in building the strategy but that it welcomes any investment in what it calls a “critical issue.” “Furthermore, we have not received any information regarding whether funding associated with the strategy will be allocated to sexual assault centres across the province,” SACE said in a statement. “As long-standing partners in the prevention and response to gender-based violence, we hope to be included in the implementation of this strategy moving forward.” In March, SACE paused intake for some services citing the loss of $1.8 million in grant funding from the province. It said that funding had helped address an 18-month-long waitlist and that 94 people had to be put back on a waiting list after it was not renewed. The province denied it was a cut, saying it was one-time funding and that the $2.1 million in operational funding for the centre remained the same. On Tuesday, the province said $13 million in annual funding and $1.5 million in grant funding has been budgeted for Alberta’s sexual assault centres this year.
