I am taking up this cause not only as an individual, but as a voice for women and for minors like me - voices that are often unheard and dismissed in our society. It profoundly disappoints me that our provincial government chose to cut off up to $1.8 million in funding for institutions like the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE), which was meant to help with the 18 month wait list for counselling. Right now, SACE can not take any new clients. (https://www.sace.ca/)Clients who come forward are brave to face what happened to them and the wait may discourage them from getting the help they need. 

The SACE supports thousands of survivors annually, offering invaluable services like therapy and crisis intervention, and promotes safety and education surrounding sexual violence. Due to this cut back on funding, many programs have been shut down. The following programs and lay offs include, wait list has been closed, 16 staff laid off, and specific support groups closed down as well. SACE gives 15 free sessions of therapy to victims but now that might have to be cut down, due to lack of funding. As well as they already don’t know how to help these people after due to the funding they are already had before. It infuriates me that they thought it would be okay to do this to their community, colleagues, and people. Its defunding deprives countless survivors of much-needed support and impairs community efforts against such violence.

Between 2014 and 2018, there was a staggering 53% increase in reported sexual assaults in Canada, revealing the high and escalating need for centres like SACE (Statistics Canada, 2019). We cannot let resources that help address this public health crisis diminish.

We call on the government to not only reinstate but amplify funding to SACE and similar organizations. By doing so, they would demonstrate tangible commitment to protecting and supporting survivors of sexual violence and preventing further occurrences. This petition will be given to the provincial government to help them reconsider this decision. Please sign this petition in solidarity with the survivors and all of us who believe in a safer community.