Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first ever federal budget will allocate millions in new long-term funding for security at Pride events and gender-based violence support.
Speaking at the National Art Gallery, Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Minister of Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez previewed another close to half a billion dollars in new spending that will be in the Nov. 4 budget.
“This serious, long-term commitment will ensure constant progress towards equality and safety for women, for girls and for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and I think for that, we should all be proud today. This is a moment in our nation’s history,” Champagne said.
According to Carney’s parliamentary secretary Rachel Bendayan, the prime minister was the one who “insisted” this tranche of funding be announced ahead of the budget.
In an effort to “ensure sustained progress towards equality and safety,” the ministers said that next Tuesday’s budget will include $54.6 million over the next five years to support the LGBTQ2S+ community in Canada. An additional $10.9 million is being set aside for the years following.
As part of this funding, $7.5 million over the next five years and $1.5 million ongoing is being allocated for security at Pride events.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau had previously allocated funding for protection at Pride parades in response to calls from LGBTQ2S+ advocates.
Now, the Liberals are committing to predictable, year-over-year funding, citing the rising costs of security and insurance for Pride festivals due to rising hate.
In the months leading up to the announcement, minister Valdez said she’d met with and had “frank and honest conversations” with many of the stakeholders who were in the room about the challenges they’re facing.She said the message she heard from them was that: “We cannot build Canada strong without the full and equal participation of women and gender diverse Canadians.”
Though when asked, the minister could not provide specific metrics for how she intends to see improvements made through the new money being committed.
The federal government is also earmarking $223.4 million over five years and $44.7 million ongoing “to strengthen federal action in response to gender-based violence.”
This money is intended to fund organizations that support survivors, including in Indigenous and underserved populations.
“The economy is only as strong as the people it includes and protects,” said Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, who also spoke at the event.
And the largest tranche of new funding being previewed Thursday is $382.5 million over five years and $76.5 million ongoing to “revitalise and stabilise efforts to advance women’s equality in Canada.”
This money will be going towards economic security and leadership participation efforts, according to the government.
“I can tell you, in my 10 years of doing announcements, this is one that I’m the most proud of, and I will text that to the prime minister just afterwards,” Champagne said.
