Canada’s Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Rechie Valdez, has announced more than $77.5 million in funding for 395 organizations across the country to support gender equality, violence prevention, and 2SLGBTQI+ community initiatives.
The funding, announced in Brampton, Ontario, represents the largest funding commitment ever made by Women and Gender Equality Canada (Women and Gender Equality Canada) in terms of the number of organizations directly supported.
The investment is aimed at helping community organizations expand services, support survivors of violence, improve safety, and increase economic and social opportunities for women and gender-diverse communities across Canada.
Of the total funding, $44.4 million will go to 218 organizations working to advance women’s participation in economic, social, and democratic life. Another $23.2 million has been allocated to 112 organizations focused on preventing and addressing gender-based violence, including Indigenous-led projects and community support initiatives.
An additional $9.9 million will support 65 organizations working within the 2SLGBTQI+ sector to strengthen community services, improve safety, and foster inclusion and equality.
The announcement forms part of the Canadian government’s broader Budget 2025 strategy to strengthen long-term support for gender equality programmes nationwide. The federal budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars in multi-year funding commitments focused on women’s equality, gender-based violence prevention, and support for 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
Government officials stated that the funding will help organizations continue providing critical services including workforce support, leadership development, violence prevention programmes, mental health resources, and community safety initiatives.
The government also highlighted ongoing challenges related to wage inequality, underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, and continued discrimination and violence affecting LGBTQ+ communities. Officials say the funding is intended to strengthen community-based responses while creating safer and more inclusive environments across Canada.
The initiative builds on previous federal investments that have already supported hundreds of thousands of people through employment programmes, violence prevention services, and equality-focused community projects nationwide.
