To mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the province is putting more money towards addressing the issue of gender-based violence.
A total of $18.7 million will support roughly 400 organizations across the province that support women and girls who have been victims of violence. Officials say the money will help hire more staff, improve services, and increase the ability to provide services.
Of that funding, $546,000 is earmarked for the Women’s Economic Security Program and the Investing in Women’s Futures program to create more opportunities for women to build skills, gain employment and become financially independent.
“These investments are a continuation of our wider work to support women’s success and build a stronger Ontario together,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “Increasing women’s participation in the economy is critical to their financial independence, their family’s prosperity, and Ontario’s economic growth. Because when women succeed, Ontario succeeds.”
Today’s announcement comes on the 34th anniversary of the murder of 14 women at l’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.