Ottawa announces $103M for Indigenous women's shelters
CBC
The more than $100 million in funding the federal government has earmarked for Indigenous women's shelters is only part of the solution to violence against Indigenous women and girls, says a former commissioner for a national inquiry that investigated the issue.
Federal ministers announced an investment of $103 million on Monday to build and support at least 178 shelter spaces and transitional houses for Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQI+ people fleeing gender-based violence.
Sen. Michèle Audette, a former commissioner for a national inquiry struck to investigate the high level of violence faced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and girls, said the money is a step toward fulfilling the inquiry's recommendations — but only a step.
"It's not just a few places that we will say and mark, 'Check, we're OK now,'" Audette said.
"For me, it is an ongoing call for justice."
WATCH | Ottawa announces funding for new Indigenous shelters
While the money addresses one of the key recommendations of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' (MMIWG) — the one on providing long-term, sustainable funding for shelters — Audette said the funding level will still need to be reassessed each year.
Audette also said she was troubled by the fact that organizations and communities have to compete for funding by submitting proposals — which could require them to hire consultants.
"Think about the people who don't have the capacity to pay for a consultant, to pay for an expert who knows how to write in your own words," she said.
"They don't have that expertise because they're far, far away from a city."
Jocelyn Formsma, CEO of the National Association of Friendship Centres, said it's good news that Ottawa is recognizing the need to fund shelters and transitional homes in urban areas, where most Indigenous people live.
She said she also has concerns about how the money will be rolled out.
Formsma said her organization has a proven track record of working with communities but must still reapply for funding constantly.
"We're constantly having to write proposals over and over again," Formsma said. "That becomes a challenge."
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