This story was edited to reflect that SASS of SDG&A expressed interest in hiring a male educator with supplementary funding. SASS never intended to hire a male counsellor and exclusively offers services for women. SASS will provide information about alternative services for men in the community.
CORNWALL, Ontario – Local organizations funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) have not all received funding that was promised to them under the Liberal provincial government.
For Sexual Assault Support Services of SDG&A, an increase in funding of $93,000 was scheduled to be given to the organization by April. Angela Vinet, Executive Director, said that the funding was never received nor has the organization heard about its status.
The Liberals’ gender-based violence strategy was budgeted up to $14.8 million over three years to develop support centres in under serviced communities and increase the capacity abilities of existing organizations. The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres(OCRCC) maintained that sexual assault support centres were slated to recieve a 33 per cent increase in funding.
“That $93,000 would have been able to significantly increase our services in the community,” said Vinet.
According to Vinet, SASS is very close to needing a waitlist as there have been 33 new clients since Labour Day, which is a significant increase in service demand. In total, SASS has seen 363 clients in the last three months and has educated over 400 individuals.
“We are seeing the numbers continuously grow; it’s scary,” said Vinet. “We are kind of bursting at the seams right now.”
With the projected funding, Vinet planned to invest in services, like hiring new counsellors, funding support groups and further education initiatives. Specifically, Vinet was interested in hiring a male educator, as well as an additional outreach coordinator.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like its going to happen at this point,” said Vinet about the funding.
SASS plans to reach out to Jim McDonell, local MPP, to address the lack of information from the MAG regarding the 2018 approved funding for services that address violence against women. Vinet said that forms are beginning to circulate through different organizations to petition the government for the funding.
“I talked to the ministry about this and they assured me that the money would be coming,” said McDonell in an interview with Seaway News. “There are a lot of needs out there in addition to a lot of promises made by the previous government. I know the ministry is reviewing priorities and hopes to find money for this.”
Concerns are heightened following the dissolvement of a Violence Against Women (VAW) roundtable, as well as the Ford government’s review process of Liberal established programs.
“Where do women’s rights stand, and women’s protection stand, in the eyes of the new government?” said Vinet.
