Law360 Canada (July 17, 2026, 5:21 PM EDT) -- Canada’s government is spending more than half a billion dollars to support the next phase of its decade-long push to eradicate gender-based violence.

On July 16, it was announced that Ottawa will be investing $607.4 million into its ongoing National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence — a 10-year initiative where participating provinces and territories sign on to the plan and, in exchange, receive funding to help implement the plan in their respective jurisdictions.

The injection of new money is set to begin in 2027-28 and will be distributed to participating jurisdictions over four years.

The action plan was launched in 2022. Since then, most Canadian jurisdictions have signed on and are receiving their respective portions of funding.

“This investment will support the renewal of bilateral agreements with provinces and territories under the National Action Plan, ensuring continued coordinated action to prevent gender-based violence, strengthen services and supports for victims and survivors, advance community-led initiatives, and build safer communities across Canada,” states the news release.

“This builds on the initial investment of $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to support the provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the National Action Plan. The current … agreements have already led to significant progress in strengthening services, expanding prevention initiatives, and improving support for victims and survivors.”

It was also announced that $31 million (with $6.2 million ongoing) will go toward the renewal of funding for provincial and territorial hotlines.

“This investment will help crisis hotline providers sustain and enhance trauma-informed services, ensuring that people experiencing gender-based violence can access timely support whenever they need it,” states the release.

Federal Minister of Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez said everyone “deserves to live free from violence.”

“That’s why we’re renewing bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to ensure victims, survivors and their families can continue to access the services they rely on every day,” said Valdez in a statement. “Together, we’re strengthening supports, helping communities respond and building a safer Canada for everyone.”

The action plan has a five-pillar mandate:

• Support for victims, survivors and their families
• Prevention
• A responsive justice system
• The use of Indigenous-led approaches
• The creation of social infrastructure and an enabling environment.

According to a separate information page, more than one million people accessed related services, such as housing, counselling, crisis support, legal information and community-based programs, in 2024-25. Also, more than 27,400 prevention initiatives reached more than 377,000 people via awareness, education and “early intervention activities.”

More than 230 resources were developed, and 38,000 people accessed “justice-related services and supports, to help navigate the legal system.”

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