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WomanACT Statement on Federal Pre-Budget Commitment to End Gender-Based Violence

October 29, 2025

WomanACT welcomes and commends the federal government’s announcement of $660.5 million over five years for the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) in the proposed Budget 2025. This landmark commitment affirms that advancing gender equality and ending gender-based violence (GBV) are not only moral imperatives, but essential foundations for building safe, inclusive, and economically secure communities.

We applaud the government for recognizing that safety is the cornerstone of equity and opportunity – no one can work, learn, or lead without it. These investments represent a critical lifeline for survivors and a step toward strengthening communities across Canada. At WomanACT, we witness every day how economic insecurity, financial abuse, housing precarity, and unsafe workplaces intersect to undermine safety and independence. Renewed federal commitments to GBV crisis supports, evidence-based research, and wraparound community services are key to closing systemic gaps and driving lasting change.

We extend our gratitude to Minister Richie Valdez and her team at WAGE for their steadfast leadership and responsiveness to the sector’s calls for sustained funding and coordinated action. WomanACT remains deeply committed to collaborating with governments, partners, and survivors to advance a National Action Plan that prioritizes prevention, housing, and economic safety, ensuring all women and gender-diverse people can live free from violence and thrive.

Media Contact:   

Aakanksha Mathur (she/her)  
Manager of Public Policy, Advocacy and Communications  
WomanACT  
416-944-9242 Ext. 231  
amathur@womanact.ca  
womanact.ca 

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