Sherbrooke, QC, September 14, 2020 - On behalf of the Government of Canada, MPs Marie-Claude Bibeau and Élisabeth Brière (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development respectively) have announced $124,000 to help five women's shelters and centers for victims of sexual assault in the region.

L’Escale, Maison Séjour and Méridienne will each receive $33,000. Other centers including SHASE (Support for male victims of sexual assault in Estrie) and CALACS (Center for combatting sexual assault) will each receive $15,000 and $10,000 respectively. Women's shelters are reporting a significant increase in distress calls due to pressure from COVID-19, while lockdown has made the work of men and women's centers more complex.

These grants are a part of an agreement concluded between Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) and the Secrétariat à la condition feminine (SCF) of Quebec. A total of $8.76 million in emergency assistance has been granted by the Government of Canada to the Province of Quebec since the start of the pandemic to help those fleeing violence.

“Since the start of the crisis, I have been in constant contact with social workers who have seen their essential work become more difficult to complete. I have seen the challenges facing shelters and support services for victims of violence. This is why we must adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach to ensure that their needs are met, and this announcement represents a step in the right direction" - MP for Sherbrooke, Élisabeth Brière.

“The isolation that has come with the COVID crisis has unfortunately amplified the number of domestic violence cases, that is why we are supporting the help centers. It’s always hard to see that these problems are still so present, but I am proud to be part of a government that reacts quickly when it comes to helping our most vulnerable ”, - Marie-Claude Bibeau, who was a central figure in the development of Canada's Feminist International Development Policy.

“Knowing how difficult the confinement has been for these women, it’s so important that they feel supported. Our accommodation services have been maintained during the pandemic, despite adapting our procedures in order to comply with government directives. The government’s help was more than welcome” explains Escale’s Executive Director Céline Daunais-Kenyon.
MP Brière met with the Director General of SHASE on August 5th to discuss issues specific to their support services for men, as their capacity has been significantly reduced despite the resumption of face-to-face monitoring.

Quick Facts
 -Bill C-75 marks a new step in the transformation of the criminal justice system by strengthening criminal laws relating to domestic assault. This bill establishes higher maximum sentences for repeat offenders and provides for the reverse onus at the time of bail for repeat offenders.
 -Conditional permanent residence, which required sponsored partners to live with their sponsors for two years in order to maintain their status in Canada, has been eliminated to protect vulnerable spouses at risk.
 -The It's Time Strategy: Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence builds on federal initiatives to address critical gaps in support of women and girls.
 -To date, the Government of Canada has invested more than $200 million in preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors and their families, and creating more responsive legal and justice systems. The Government of Canada has made Status of Women Canada an Official Department.

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Jean Sébastien Comeau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture
and Agri-Food, Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP for Compton-Stanstead
Cell.: 343-549-2326

Antoine Forcier
Political attaché
Élisabeth Brière, Member of Parliament for Sherbrooke
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development
Tel.: 819 564-4200