Canada News Centre2026-06-09T12:42:49-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/news.htmlhttps://www.canada.ca/etc/designs/canada/wet-boew/assets/wmms-blk.svghttps://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2026/06/federal-government-strengthens-support-to-keep-2slgbtqi-communities-safe-this-pride-season.html

Today, as the Pride Flag was raised on Parliament Hill, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), highlighted an investment of $3 million over two years for Fierté Canada Pride to help Pride festivals strengthen safety and security measures across Canada.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2026-06-09T12:42:01-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2026/05/minister-valdez-announces-historic-funding-for-nearly-400-organizations-to-advance-gender-equality.html

Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), joined by Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, announced over $77.5 million in funding to extend projects for 395 organizations across Canada.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2026-05-25T09:46:53-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2026/02/the-federal-government-supports-sudbury-queers-united-around-diversity-to-advance-equality.html

Today, Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament for Sudbury, on behalf of the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced $264,433 for Sudbury Queers United Around Diversity (SQUAD) to promote community safety, equality, and well-being across Greater Sudbury.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2026-02-18T12:13:58-05:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2025/08/government-of-canada-reaffirms-support-for-2slgbtqi-communities.html

Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced the achievements of the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, which continues to advance equality and address the challenges faced by these communities. Minister Valdez was joined by the Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, and Wade Chang, Member of Parliament for Burnaby Central.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2025-08-26T13:51:51-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2025/06/supporting-2slgbtqi-communities-for-a-safer-more-equitable-and-inclusive-canada.html

Today, as the Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag was raised on Parliament Hill, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), announced $1.5 million to support the security needs of Pride festivals across Canada.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2025-06-10T12:56:58-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/crown-indigenous-relations-northern-affairs/news/2025/06/annual-report-tracks-canadas-progress-toward-addressing-the-national-crisis-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-girls-and-2slgbtqi-people.html

Violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people is a national crisis that must end.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada2025-06-03T13:20:49-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2025/03/strengthening-2slgbtqi-communities-to-advance-equality-in-ontario-and-across-canada.html

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant, who is responsible for the Department for Women and Gender Equality, announced up to $1.4 million for four organizations. This funding will support their community-informed initiatives that address barriers and facilitate systemic change by developing knowledge, tools, and support for 2SLGBTQI+ communities across Canada.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2025-03-21T11:00:00-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2025/03/strengthening-2slgbtqi-communities-to-advance-equality-in-quebec-and-across-canada.html

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant, who is responsible for the Department for Women and Gender Equality, announced up to $718,000 for three Québec-based organizations.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2025-03-21T10:15:49-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2025/02/minister-valdez-announces-12-more-recipients-of-canadas-first-ever-2slgbtqi-entrepreneurship-program.html

2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs are a driving force in Canada’s economy, with over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned businesses employing more than 435,000 Canadians and generating over $22 billion in economic activity. Yet, they continue to face systemic barriers in starting and growing their businesses. In response to these challenges, the federal government worked with the 2SLGBTQI+ community to co-create Canada’s first-ever 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program to foster an inclusive, diverse and resilient economy.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada2025-02-20T09:41:23-05:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2025/01/strengthening-2slgbtqi-communities-to-advance-equality-in-canada.html

Today, Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth announced up to $41.5 million for 106 projects across four different 2SLGBTQI+ funds. This funding will advance equality for 2SLGBTQI+ communities across Canada and address the rise in hate.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2025-01-31T11:17:00-05:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/11/government-of-canada-invests-in-community-organizations-advancing-gender-equality.html

Today, Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced $758,000 for two organizations in Northwest Territories.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-11-25T12:01:38-05:00https://www.canada.ca/en/institutes-health-research/news/2024/10/finding-solutions-for-women-and-gender-diverse-peoples-top-health-priorities.html

For decades, the health of women and gender diverse people has been under-researched, leading to disparities in health outcomes, gaps in access to care and too many instances of mis- and under-diagnosis. The National Women’s Health Research Initiative (NWHRI), led by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and supported by Women and Gender Equality Canada, has been working to change that, with a focus on evidence-based solutions that will directly improve women’s and gender diverse people’s access to and experience within the health care system.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research2024-10-21T11:00:03-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/10/strengthening-2slgbtqi-communities-to-advance-equality-in-alberta-and-manitoba.html

Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced up to $4.7 million for nine 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, located in Alberta and Manitoba. Through this funding, the following projects will advance equality for 2SLGBTQI+ communities and address the rise in hate by bringing people together.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-10-17T15:35:18-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/09/government-of-canada-advances-2slgbtqi-inclusion-in-ontario-with-funding-for-rainbow-community-places.html

Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced $147,000 for Rainbow Community Places, a 2SLGBTQI+ organization based in Scarborough, Ontario.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-09-25T10:03:12-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2024/09/the-government-of-canada-launches-canadas-action-plan-on-combatting-hate.html

Canada’s first-ever Action Plan on Combatting Hate brings together key federal initiatives to combat hate across the country

Canadian Heritage2024-09-24T13:00:00-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/08/2slgbtqi-organizations-in-alberta-to-benefit-from-funding-to-improve-gender-inclusion.html

Today, in the lead up to Calgary Pride 2024, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Lisa Hepfner, announced over $400,000 for three 2SLGBTQI+ organizations based in Alberta.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-08-30T13:00:00-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2024/08/minister-valdez-announces-funding-recipients-of-canadas-first-ever-2slgbtqi-entrepreneurship-program.html

2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs are a core part of Canada’s economy, with over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned and -operated businesses in Canada employing over 435,000 Canadians and generating over $22 billion in economic activity.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada2024-08-29T14:00:41-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/08/2slgbtqi-organizations-in-quebec-to-benefit-from-funding-to-improve-gender-equality.html

Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced over $1.3 million for three 2SLGBTQI+ organizations based in Quebec.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-08-29T09:56:53-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/08/minister-ien-announces-16-million-for-2slgbtqi-organizations-in-atlantic-canada.html

Today, on the second anniversary of the Action Plan, the federal government acknowledged both the progress made and work to do to support diversity, inclusion and respect for human rights. In support of that work, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced up to $1.6 million for four 2SLGBTQI+ organizations based in Atlantic Canada.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-08-28T09:00:00-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/08/government-of-canada-advances-2slgbtqi-inclusion-in-canada-with-funding-for-the-arquives1.html

Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced $417,420 for The ArQuives, a 2SLGBTQI+ organization with national reach. This investment was made possible through Women and Gender Equality Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund, which provides capacity-building support to 2SLGBTQI+ organizations and networks to advance equality in communities across Canada.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-08-14T09:00:00-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/economic-development-quebec-regions/news/2024/07/government-of-canada-supports-fierte-montreal-in-promoting-its-annual-festival.html

Fierté Montréal receives $113,750 in financial assistance from CED.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions2024-07-24T10:58:00-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2024/07/two-weeks-remain-in-the-consultation-to-help-2slgbtqi-seniors-age-well-at-home.html

Today, the Minister for Seniors, Seamus O’Regan Jr., is inviting Canadians 55 and over who identify as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex, and those who identify as members of sexually and gender diverse communities, to participate in the Government of Canada’s online consultation to help them age in their communities and on their terms.

Employment and Social Development Canada2024-07-03T16:31:06-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/06/security-funding-to-support-pride-organizations-amidst-increased-hate.html

Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced up to $1.5 million for Fierté Canada Pride to administer funding to support security needs for Pride festivals this season.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-06-03T09:35:59-04:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/02/call-for-proposals-to-support-projects-for-2slgbtqi-communities.html

Today, on Pink Shirt Day, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, launched a call for proposals under the Government of Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund.

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-02-28T12:00:12-05:00https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/01/government-of-canada-supports-34-organizations-to-advance-gender-equality-in-british-columbia-and-across-the-country.html

Today, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced up to $12.4 million for 34 organizations in British Columbia (26 regional and 8 national).

Women and Gender Equality Canada2024-01-18T15:35:59-05:00