Women’s Shelters Canada applauds today’s announcement of $660.5 million over five years for the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) in Budget 2025.
We commend the government on including a considerable investment dedicated to safety for women, children, and gender-diverse people. These funding commitments are long-term and significant, in recognition of the lifesaving work shelters and service providers do. As WAGE Minister Rechie Valdez aptly noted, no one can learn, work, or lead if they don’t feel safe.
Equality, inclusion, and safety are critical to a strong economy. This investment, which the government chose to highlight through a pre-budget announcement, shows their commitment to those values.
Our collective advocacy worked; the federal government heard us. As women’s groups, we raised our voices together in a shared vision of stronger communities, improved safety, and a robust democracy. Properly resourcing WAGE and its Women’s Program is critical for feminist and gender justice groups’ survival.
Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we continue to advocate for a well-resourced National Action Plan, and the federal gender-based violence strategy. We are ready – and committed – to work with the federal government to build a strong, safe, and inclusive Canada together.