Canada invests $100 million CAD to help 2SLGBT
The step has already been called "historic".
Canada's federal government has announced a five-year plan to support 2SLGBT communities across the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled the strategy, dubbed Canada's First Federal 2SLGBTQI Action Plan, at a press conference Sunday before the Ottawa Gay Pride Parade, the first after a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19. He called the plan the first such federal initiative and stressed the government's commitment to anti-discrimination and supporting diversity:
"This will guide our continuing movement to fight discrimination, break down barriers, advance rights and build a future where everyone in Canada is truly free to be who they are and love who they love."
Debbie Owusu-Akia, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, supports the government's initiative, saying that in recent years there has been a sharp increase in hate crimes against people from 2SLGBT communities.
The project is valued at $100 million CAD, 75% of which will fund community organizations that support diversity and inclusion. In addition, $5 million CAD will be invested to launch a public awareness campaign, $7.7 million CAD in research and data collection, and up to $10 million CAD per year will go to 2SLGBT projects overseas.
