FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Enchanté Networks reacts to newly announced federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan
[ September 9, 2022, OTTAWA]
The Enchanté Network welcomes the historic announcement of Canada’s first-ever Federal 2SLGBTQ+ Action Plan. Since its founding in 2019, The Enchanté Network has been at the forefront of federal advocacy for 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, spurring the federal government’s historic commitment of $100 million towards 2SLGBTQI+ priorities. The 5-year plan commits a total of $100 million, with 75% of funds going directly to 2SLGBTQI+ organizations. While decades of underfunding continues to put Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ sector at a disadvantage, this historic investment marks a shift in Canadian public policy.
Specifically, The Enchanté Network applauds the Action Plan’s inclusion of both project funding, to respond to urgent and emerging priorities, while also committing capacity building funding to support the growth and sustainability of 2SLGBTQI+ organizations. We also welcome the inclusion of a specific pillar of the Action Plan to Support Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ resilience and resurgence.
While the Action Plan makes significant commitments, we note that it lacks a plan for implementation or any notable timelines. When our communities don’t have clear accountability, we risk being marginalised and forgotten in these broad pieces of government public policy. We urge the federal government to institute and share timelines for the Plan, and continue to involve and update the Plan in partnership with 2SLGBTQI+ civil society organizations.
Our communities, our organizations, and our movements have been the driving force in Canada’s leadership in 2SLGBTQI+ rights and inclusion, at home and abroad. 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, like our 200-strong member organizations, will be the ones addressing the gaps in this plan. Our communities will continue to support 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers and refugees, connect trans and nonbinary people with gender affirming care, and uplift Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ sector at a time of deep social division. While $75 million dollars may help us do this work, it is not nearly enough to solve the systemic underfunding of lifesaving 2SLGBTQI+ services that continues across the country.
The work of our members existed before this Plan and must continue after it. We urge federal and provincial governments, and the private sector to join us in the development of a National 2SLGBTQI+ Endowment Fund. This fund would be the key to self-determination and sustainability for Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ sector beyond this 5 year plan and beyond election cycles.
“Our communities are a beacon, imagining a more just and inclusive future for all. This historic 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan is a springboard for our brilliance and innovation. The Enchanté Network will work to make sure this Action Plan has an impact from coast to coast to coast while laying the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable 2SLGBTQI+ sector once the Plan sunsets ”.- Tyler Boyce (he/him), Executive Director, The Enchanté Network
In Solidarity,
The Enchanté Network
What our members are saying:
“As a province (Newfoundland and Labrador) without a dedicated 2SLGBTQIA+ community centre or space, we’re excited to see how this investment could support physical infrastructure. Quadrangle NL is hopeful that this investment will help organizations like ours create ongoing programming and collect regional data to better support the community while offering safer spaces. We will keep coming together, like we have through the The Enchanté Network, to keep pushing for change like we have for this Action Plan.”- Charlie Murphy (He/Him/They/Them), Executive Director, Quadrangle NL
“Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit individuals are often unseen, unsupported, and their very identities erased or violently threatened. QMUNITY welcomes the federal government’s plan to increase investment in community services such as Q’s that ensure that 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are seen, supported, celebrated and protected from hate.”– Tracy London (She/Her), Co-Executive Director of QMUNITY, BC’s Queer, Trans & Two-Spirit Resource Centre
“While the federal action plan signals an intent to move forwards in collaboration with 2SLGBTQ+ people, we are disappointed in the lack of prioritization of trans communities and see significant gaps in the plan’s distribution of material resources toward the needs of the trans population. We believe that the action plan is a step in the right direction, but that without specifically and significantly addressing the unique needs of trans communities, there is a risk they will be subsumed and go unaddressed, or inadequately addressed.” – Cat Haines (She/Her), Executive Director of Justice Trans
“SPECTRUM was very pleased to see the release of Canada’s first Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan. The Plan and its six priority areas make it clear that this work will need to be done – as it always has been – by 2SLGBTQI+ organizations and community members, and our allies. We hope that every province and territory will follow this example and create action plans that are tailored to support 2SLGBTQI+ communities in their jurisdictions. We are grateful to the countless activists who have sacrificed and worked to advance 2SLGBTQI+ rights to this stage, and especially to those who have not historically been recognized including Black, Indigenous, and racialized trans and non-binary people. Thank you for the collective advocacy of the Enchanté Network and to all those who are working to build a more inclusive and equitable future.” – Scott Williams (he/him) , Executive Director, SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space