EDITOR’S NOTE: As a part of our collection trying on the concern of intimate associate violence within the province, we spoke with a New Brunswick advocate and survivor who shared her story. You’ll be able to read that story at this link.
With the best charge of police-reported case in Atlantic Canada, it’s clear that intimate partner violence is an actual and pressing downside in New Brunswick.
And it’s an issue that the provincial minister liable for ladies’s equality is nicely conscious of.
Earlier than Lyne Chantal Boudreau turned minister, she was impacted by household violence personally. She additionally ran a style line that donated funds to a household violence charity.
“It’s very, very troublesome to ensure that individuals are feeling protected to speak about their expertise,” she stated.
“The extra we put some assets for serving to these individuals, the extra we are able to care for them.”
Boudreau was designated minister liable for ladies’s equality final November. For her, a most important focus is supporting those that have skilled intimate associate violence and inspiring individuals to achieve out for assist.
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“In my position, and I feel the entire citizen’s position, is simply to ensure that (individuals) can have entry to the assets they want. That’s crucial factor for me,” she stated.
Statistics from 2023 present New Brunswick had the best charge of police-reported intimate associate violence in Atlantic Canada. New Brunswick reported a charge of 449 per 100,000 inhabitants, whereas Nova Scotia reported 338, Prince Edward Island reported 288 and Newfoundland reported 420.
The nationwide charge was 354 per 100,000.
Advocacy and help teams in New Brunswick that work with intimate associate violence survivors have been telling the provincial authorities in regards to the rising want for assets.
“The risk stage appears to be more and more getting increased,” Jana Comeau, the manager director of Hestia Home, a shelter for girls and kids, advised International Information in March.
The rising demand for assist means a rising demand for fundraising {dollars} — one thing that’s arduous to come back by for all non-profit teams.
“(Assist group) are already stretched so skinny that ideally they wouldn’t should fundraise. Ideally, they’d get all the pieces they want from the provincial authorities,” stated Maureen Levangie, with the Home Violence Affiliation of New Brunswick, in March.
Within the province’s newest finances, the Holt authorities introduced $9.2 million for gender-based violence providers. The funds, that are a part of the ladies’s equality 2025-26 finances, embody $4.6 million for the transition home program, $1.5 million for the second-stage housing program, and $2.1 million for the Home Violence Outreach Program.
“It’s not in regards to the political factor right here. It’s a human factor,” stated Boudreau.
“Hopefully, every one who will take heed to this interview, they’ll perceive and they’re going to really feel that they’ll make one thing for these people who find themselves dwelling that type of violence.”
Anybody experiencing intimate associate violence can name 911 within the case of an emergency. Assist is obtainable in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by dialing 211.
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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