Ottawa pushed to extend LGBTQ+ funding that is set to expire in spring
OTTAWA — Groups serving LGBTQ+ people are urging the Carney government to extend funding and programming aimed at growing mental health and security concerns. “Without core funding and material commitments to help uphold the Charter rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people, we are facing a dire crisis across the sector,” LGBT YouthLine head Lauren Pragg told reporters […]
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are lobbying the Carney administration to prolong funding and programs that are set to conclude in the spring. According to Lauren Pragg, executive director of LGBT YouthLine, without continuous support to uphold Charter rights for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, the sector is facing a critical crisis with numerous organizations compelled to cease operations.
Her organization experienced a 50% reduction in funding following the Trudeau government's 2022 action plan to bolster LGBTQ+ Canadians, which included financial backing for enhancing Pride parade security and bolstering research initiatives. These initiatives are scheduled to conclude in the spring, leading multiple LGBTQ+ groups to converge on Parliament Hill on Tuesday to urge the extension and expansion of the funding.
The Carney government has yet to pledge to prolong the action plan, and the Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez's office has yet to offer a response. Egale Canada has noted an escalation in demands, with minorities confronting online threats, and has also opposed recent provincial policies affecting transgender youth. Alberta Senator Kristopher Wells has called on the Liberal government to back its commitment not to abandon sexual and gender minorities by expanding existing programs to tackle emerging threats.
He emphasized that it is about the direction the government wishes to set, beginning at home by providing the necessary resources to support communities on the ground. The Dignity Network coalition asserts that Canada must advocate for individuals abroad facing repression, including in Turkey, where the government has recently conducted a series of raids on LGBTQ organizations, HIV advocacy groups, nightclubs, and the homes of activists.
Human Rights Watch has labeled it the most extensive crackdown on LGBTQ+ people in recent years, yet Canada has remained silent amid negotiations for a new trade deal with Turkey. Canadian Press reported this story on Oct. 6, 2026.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- With Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ funding set to end next spring, groups urge Ottawa extend scope winnipegfreepress.com
