Supporting Crisis Hotlines Across Canada

Crisis hotlines are a lifeline to survivors of gender-based violence and are critical support services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for crisis hotline services significantly increased across Canada. Budget 2021 committed $30 million over 5 years to address this urgent need. 

Supporting crisis hotlines is an important initiative that is part of the ongoing efforts by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to address gender-based violence. This work builds on the historic endorsement of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence by the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women in November 2022. 

Funding to crisis hotlines will help provide more robust services, resources, and supports to serve the urgent needs of all survivors of gender-based violence and their families, no matter where they live.  

Since August 2022, the Government of Canada has signed bilateral agreements with 9 provinces and territories, and will continue to work with the others to finalize similar agreements:

Supporting crisis hotlines

• Manitoba
• Yukon
• Nova Scotia
• British Columbia
• Alberta

• Quebec
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Ontario

Additional information 

• Crisis lines for those affected by gender-based violence
• Government of Canada to Fund Crisis Hotlines Responding to Gender-Based Violence Across Canada, August 10, 2022
• Government of Canada to Fund Crisis Hotlines Responding to Gender-Based Violence in Yukon, October 14, 2022
• Government of Canada to Fund Crisis Hotlines Responding to Gender-Based Violence in Nova Scotia, November 10, 2022
• Government of Canada to Fund Crisis Hotlines Responding to Gender-Based Violence in British Columbia, November 25, 2022
• Government of Canada to Fund Crisis Hotlines Responding to Gender-Based Violence in Alberta, December 9, 2022
• Government of Canada to Fund Crisis Hotlines Responding to Gender-Based Violence in Quebec, January 24, 2023
• Government of Canada Provides Funding to Prince Edward Island to Support Crisis Hotlines, February 3, 2023
• Government of Canada Provides Funding to Saskatchewan to Support Crisis Hotlines, February 28, 2023
• The Government of Canada provides funding to Ontario to support crisis hotlines, lifelines to survivors of gender-based violence, March 2, 2023