Canada announces special funding for women and children for COVID-19

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for York South-Weston, and Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced that the government will contribute $250,000 to support the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) and$205,752 to support the North York Women’s Centre.

This funding would benefit both organizations directly by enhancing their ability to continue to foster gender equity programs in their communities.

This grant will help WomanACT create and execute a strategic results-based management strategy to rethink organizational processes and systems, with a focus on documenting, analyzing, and evaluating the organization’s advocacy and policy work.

The money will also help the North York Women’s Centre establish and execute a strategic plan, a fundraising strategy, and a member and volunteer engagement strategy, as well as improve the organization’s governance and sustainability. Women and girls would be better able to advance their careers and engage in Canadian society in a safe environment.

These organizations are among the more than 250 women’s organizations and Indigenous organizations that receive support from Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Capacity-Building Fund, which serves women across Canada. This investment is part of a $100 million commitment made in Budget 2018 to help build a strong and lasting women’s movement across the country.

The Government of Canada is assisting women and their families to flourish by engaging in women’s organizations, resulting in a stronger and more equitable economy for everyone.

Government initiatives

• The Canadian government has allocated $100 million in emergency COVID-19 grants to organizations that serve women and children who have been victims of gender-based abuse, as well as making existing funding systems more flexible. Approximately 800,000 people have benefited from this assistance, which has been given to over 1000 organizations across the country.

Women and Gender Equality Canada launched a call for proposals on February 11, 2021, with a budget of $100 million to support a feminist response and recovery from the pandemic’s effects, especially for underrepresented women.