By Curtis Galbraith

Alberta

Provincial government says funding for sexual assault centres increased in new budget

Apr 30, 2024 | 4:16 PM

The provincial government says an additional $3 million is included in the new budget for Alberta’s sexual assault centres.

The government says in a release that this means the 15 centres in Alberta will get a total of almost $17 million in the 2024-25 budget year.

The province says there is another $3 million to be added in 2025-26 and another $4 million in 2026-27.

The province says in a release that this means “more survivors will get access to safety and educational supports, counselling, and crisis intervention, no matter where they are.”

“Too many Albertans are faced with the traumatic impacts of sexual violence. That’s why it is so important to strengthen sexual assault centres and their ability to support and empower survivors, no matter where they are on their healing journey,” says Minister of Children and Family Services Searle Turton in that same release.

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The government is promising to work with sexual assault centres to make sure the funding can go to what it calls “urgent needs” and that it is distributed properly.

Meetings will be held in the coming weeks.

The government also says Children and Family Services will get $2.55. million for work already underway to support survivors and come up with new ways to prevent gender-based violence, such as awareness campaigns and educational ideas.

This is part of a four-year, $54 million agreement with the federal government under the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

“Everyone deserves to live a life free from violence. That is why Alberta’s government is working to create a made-in-Alberta, 10-year action plan that is survivor-centric, engages men and boys, addresses the root causes of gender-based violence and addresses critical gaps in already established services,” says Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Tanya Fir in the government’s news release.

The government also says it provides $540,200 for Rural Sexual Assault Support Grants that support survivors in rural communities, plus $1.9 million for counselling services.

May is Sexual Violence Awareness Month.