Canada's Proactive Approaches to Violence Against Women

Proactive Fight to VAW

Canada’s reactive approaches have resulted in disempowerment and further marginalization of victims. Given that informal support is the most common help-seeking behaviour and that the responses of child welfare, police and court responses have been inconsistent and problematic, prevention-focussed approaches are paramount and perhaps the sole way to create social change. Canada’s current government’s fiscally and socially conservative priorities have served to undermine the welfare state established by previous, socially liberal governments. The 2012 budget has resulted in widespread, national cutbacks. However, a reflection of the lack of transparency of this government, it is difficult to ascertain which programs and services have been impacted. In addition, many programs are provincially managed and as such, difficult to summarize below.

*The following provides examples of federal funding as it relates to risk factors of VAW; this is not a comprehensive review of all federal funding.

Risk Factor: Aboriginal

-          Canada has a long history and continuing pattern of isolating, discriminating against and mistreating First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, who represent 4% of the Canadian population. 

-          Those who live on-reserve disproportionately experience sub-standard living conditions compared to other Canadians, including no running water or heat and unsafe food/water sources

-          The current Canadian government cut several programs which support First Nations, Inuit and Métis persons, and especially women. This included at least three national level organizations and accounted for millions of dollars, ending entire programs or the organization itself.

-          Despite these cuts, the budget states that it is supporting mental health and well-being for Aboriginals (www.budget.gc.ca)

-          The Family Violence Prevention Program funded by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada provide health promotion and support services relating to IPV (www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca)

Mental Health

-          Mental Health is considered to be a priority by the current Canadian government. Funds are directed to particular streams of mental health and is insufficient to address the complexities of mental illness for Canadians.  Healthcare is a provincial responsibility and as such program delivery and funding vary between regions and is beyond the scope of the present analysis.

o   $130 million in 2008 and $110 million in 2012 were granted for mental health research and homelessness respectively

o   In 2012 the Mental Health Strategy was released, planning improvements to mental health care in Canada

o   Mental Health Promotion is funded by Public Health Agency of Canada (www.phac.gc.ca)

o   Canada spends relatively little on mental health care compared to other OECD nations; only 5% of the health budget is directed towards mental health (Lurie, 2008).

o   Budget cuts to National Defence have resulted in cuts to research relating to mental health in the military

o   Women’s representation in the mental health field is poor; research by women receives only 6.05% of all mental health research funds and only 0.42% of all health research funds (http://www.cmha.ca/public-policy/)

o   The mental health of new Canadians is a crucial consideration and has been found to deteriorate over time due to their poor treatment and opportunities in Canada (Lurie, 2008)

Immigrant/Refugee

-          Immigration Canada funds LINC, a language program and the Settlement Program – each of these include a small focus on domestic violence and human rights.

-          Cuts in health care for refugees.

o   Urgent, essential or public health risks only treated (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/06/18/pol-cp-refugee-health-cuts-doctors.html)

-          Proposed changes to refugee system (Bill C-31) may result in: (http://ccrweb.ca/en/protect-refugees-c31-statement; http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=5383493&Mode=1&View=7&Language=E)

-                  Increased difficulty integrating into Canadian society

-          Precarious living circumstances

-          perpetuates stigma and misunderstanding of refugees and new Canadians

-         

Health

-          Health care is provincially managed but federally funded. In 2012-2013 the federal government will provide $29 billion to the provinces through the Canada Health Transfer (http://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/cht-eng.asp).

Persons with a Disability

·         Employment is supported through the Opportunities Fund for People with Disabilities

·         Community participation is supported through the Enabling Accessibility Fund

·         Provincial programs provide individuals with disabilities with some financial assistance

Financial Stability and Independence

·         Social assistance is available to individuals and families and:

o   Is managed at both the provincial and federal levels

o   increases based on the number of children in the home

o   Includes tax benefits, child care benefits and income assistance

·         Persons with a Disability

o   Provincial assistance, grants, bonds and federal tax benefits exist for persons living with a disability as well as for families caring for a child or family member with a disability

·         Old Age Security Pension/Canada Pension Plan

o   Persons of 65 years or older have access to income assistance programs to support them

o   The 2012 budget increased the age at which a person can receive OASP

·         Although it appears that the Canadian government is protecting Canadian families, many of the families receiving the above types of assistance live in poverty.