British Columbia will receive $18 million in new federal funding this year to strengthen its response to gender-based violence.
The funding is part of the Canada-B.C. bilateral agreement and will support Safe and Supported: B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan. The plan focuses on increasing services for survivors, enhancing prevention efforts, and addressing the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
In collaboration with Indigenous partners and community advocates, the province is expanding sexual-assault prevention programs and investing in Indigenous-led initiatives, especially in rural and remote areas. Specialized domestic violence units and school-based programs, like Violence is Preventable, are also receiving support. These programs help educate students and connect them to counselling services.
This federal contribution adds to B.C.’s existing $60 million in annual provincial funding, which supports over 475 victim services and violence-against-women programs. That includes 70 new sexual assault prevention programs and five dedicated support centres.
The province is also increasing access to safe housing, extending cellphone coverage in rural areas, and boosting economic independence through job training and child care support.
Together, these efforts aim to break the cycle of violence and create safer communities for women and families across B.C.
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