Canada Pledges Over $638 Million to Combat Gender-Based Violence

Minister of Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez announced a series of federal investments to combat gender-based violence and human trafficking across Canada between July 16 and 17, 2026. During a gathering of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers in Moncton, New Brunswick, Valdez and New Brunswick Minister Lyne Chantal Boudreau unveiled $607.4 million over four years, beginning in 2027-28, to continue the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence. This funding supports bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to coordinate prevention and survivor services, building on a 2022 investment of $539.3 million.

In the same Moncton announcement, Valdez detailed an additional $31 million over five years to renew federal funding for provincial and territorial crisis hotlines. These measures aim to ensure that survivors and their families maintain access to essential daily services.

On July 17, the initiative expanded to include specialized efforts against human trafficking. Speaking at the Halifax Central Library rooftop in Nova Scotia, Valdez announced further federal investments specifically designed to prevent human trafficking and provide targeted support for its victims and survivors.