The Government of Yukon welcomes today’s federal announcement to renew funding for the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and for crisis hotlines across Canada.
The announcement was made during the annual federal-provincial-territorial meeting of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women held this week in Moncton, New Brunswick. At the meeting, the Government of Canada announced a total of $607.4 million in federal funding over four years for the next phase of the National Action Plan beginning in 2027–28. The Government of Yukon has received $4.1 million yearly from 2023–27 under its current bilateral agreement. The federal government also announced that the Yukon government will receive $500,000 over five years (2026–31) to support crisis hotlines in the territory.
Federal funding for gender-based violence prevention and response work is critical for the Yukon. Over the last four years, funding has helped support prevention initiatives that address the root causes of violence and invested in organizations that provide immediate services to people in crisis. While progress is gradual, particularly for Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit+ individuals who continue to experience disproportionately high rates of violence, sustained investments through initiatives such as the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and crisis hotlines are essential for meaningful and lasting change.
While the Government of Yukon’s share of the federal crisis hotlines funding has been confirmed, the governments of Canada and Yukon will work over the coming months to renew their bilateral agreement under the National Action Plan. The focus of negotiations will be on ensuring the renewed agreement reflects the Yukon’s evolving needs and strengthens efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence across the territory. As part of this work, the Government of Yukon will engage with stakeholders, including gender equity organizations, to ensure the territory's northern and community perspectives are reflected.
Our government is grateful that the federal government heard our call to renew funding for the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and crisis hotlines. Such federal funding is critical for jurisdictions across Canada, including the Yukon, because preventing and responding to gender-based violence is part of keeping our communities safe and resilient. I want to thank the many organizations in the Yukon that show up on a daily basis to provide safe supports and care to Yukoners fleeing violence.
Addressing gender-based violence requires sustained partnerships and long-term investment. This renewed federal funding will support the Yukon’s ongoing efforts to advance shared priorities under the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence while also strengthening essential services, such as crisis hotlines, that provide life-changing assistance to victims, survivors and their families. Together, we are helping ensure people across the Yukon can continue to access the support they need, when they it.
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The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women announced the 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in November 2022.
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In 2023, the governments of Canada and Yukon signed the first four-year bilateral agreement under the plan.
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The Yukon-Canada bilateral agreement is for a total $32.8 million investment between 2023–27, with $16.4 million coming from the federal government and the Yukon government cost-matching the federal funding.
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The Women and Gender Equity Directorate, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Services, along with external partners, are implementing the Yukon’s work under the national plan.
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In 2022, the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada first announced a bilateral agreement to provide funding for Yukon-based crisis hotlines ($500,000 over four years).
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The newly announced federal funding for Yukon crisis hotlines will support the following organizations in continuing to provide crisis hotline services.
- Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society, which operates the Yukon’s Sexualized Assault Support Line
- Dawson Women’s Shelter
- Help and Hope for Families Society
- The Canadian Mental Health Association-Yukon
Matt Davidson
Director, Cabinet Communications
867-334-6637
[email protected]
Odile Nelson
Communications, Women and Gender Equity Directorate
867-334-8235
[email protected]