B.C. to get $3 million for gender based violence crisis hotlines

The federal government announced a new wave of funding Friday to support crisis hotlines for gender based violence.

In B.C., officials met in Vancouver to announce how the funding will be distributed in the province.

Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada, says $3 million is designated for the province to be distributed over four years.

The money is set be given to support the crisis hotlines.

“We’ve heard first hand that crisis hotlines are a lifeline for women. They are a lifeline for women and gender diverse people fleeing domestic violence here in British Columbia and across the country,” Ien explained.

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Although the funding is welcomed, one advocate says more can be done.

“This was an opportunity to make an announcement that would have been hundreds of millions of dollars toward addressing the root causes with gender based violence…gender based violence is a significant root cause for all kinds of social problems,” Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director at Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) said.

“We know that it’s not nearly enough to actually operate a 24/7 hotline.”

This comes after the government announced earlier this week it will be investing $230 million into rural police forces. MacDougall says she is disappointed that more money is being given to respond to violence, instead for prevention.

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— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) November 25, 2022

She says many women in rural communities do not turn to police when they experience violence, adding the importance of having well-managed hotlines.

“Across the province in rural communities there is a glaring lack of resources, and so victims and survivors are dealing with a really pronounced impacts,” MacDougall explained.

MacDougall says although the money may help temporarily, she is concerned about what will happen in the future.

“This funding is really needed. We have to ask what’s going to happen after the you know the three to four years? What is the plan after that? Because it’s very difficult to establish a crisis line,” she explained.

MacDougall explains the importance of having a crisis line, adding over 94,000 calls came through from March 2020 to April 2022.

“We have not seen, frankly, the provincial government really care in a meaningful way that would compare to what we see in terms of other aspects that the provincial government thinks as a priority,” she said.