Additional support will address gender-based violence in B.C.

Press Release

Sept. 17, 2025

VICTORIA – As part of the Canada-British Columbia bilateral agreement to end gender-based violence, B.C. will receive $18 million this year from the federal government to support survivors and break the cycle of violence through Safe and Supported: B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan.

B.C.’s action plan is focused on boosting services and supports for survivors, strengthening government’s response to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and ramping up prevention and awareness campaigns. Initiatives were developed in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous partners, and with advice from community-service providers and advocates.

The agreement between Canada and B.C. augments annual provincial funding of more than $60 million that supports more than 475 victim-service and violence-against-women programs throughout the province, including 70 new sexual-assault prevention programs and five centres for sexual-assault victims.

In addition, B.C. is increasing access to safe housing for women fleeing violence, expanding rural cellphone service to make travel safer, and investing in training and affordable child care to boost economic independence, as well as other key initiatives to support survivors and help address gender-based violence.

The new federal funding will continue to boost community resources and support Indigenous-led initiatives that prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

Federal funds have been used to expand programs, such as the Violence is Preventable program that brings counsellors to schools to deliver presentations about intimate-partner violence, and connects to counsellors any K-12 students experiencing or witnessing violence; provide further support for domestic-violence units, which are specialized teams of community-based victim services workers; and support survivors of human trafficking and exploitation.

In addition, funds have been allocated to Indigenous-led initiatives that address and prevent violence, while centring on Indigenous strengths and knowledge, including in rural and remote regions of B.C.

Learn More:

December 2023 Canada-British Columbia bilateral agreement to end gender-based violence:
https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2023/12/the-governments-of-canada-and-british-columbia-sign-bilateral-agreement-to-end-gender-based-violence.html

December 2023 release of Safe and Supported: B.C.’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023FIN0072-001953

Contact:

Joanne Whittier
Communications Manager
Ministry of Finance – Gender Equity Office
joanne.whittier@gov.bc.ca

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