The Government of Canada has just pledged to send $500,000 to the NWT to help manage crisis hotlines for those who deal with gender-based violence.
Crisis hotlines can be life saving tools for victims of abuse. During the pandemic, demand for such hotlines rose dramatically across all of Canada. Caroline Wawzonek, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women for the Northwest Territories, Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services for the Northwest Territories, and Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories recently met with the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, to make the announcement.
The money will be going to support crisis hotlines across the NWT until March 31st, 2026. The money will help the Northwest Territories crisis hotlines offer more robust services, resources, and supports to serve the urgent needs of those experiencing gender-based violence.
This follows similar agreements made in other parts of Canada. Since August of 2022, the Federal Government has made bilateral agreements with almost every other province and territory.
This announcement builds on the historic launch of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence by the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women in November 2022. It also builds upon the Government of Canada’s commitment to provide approximately $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding for organizations supporting individuals experiencing gender-based violence.
