Federal government slashes funding to Indigenous women’s advocacy organization

The Native Women's Association of Canada has seen its federal funding cut by nearly $50 million to just $10 million, resulting in its staff of 75 being reduced to 30.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada is reeling after Ottawa cut $48 million from the advocacy organization, resulting in a staff of 75 being reduced to 30.

“Leaving us to start the fiscal year with $10 million — that’s a very significant decrease,” CEO Lynne Groulx told Global News.

A national apprenticeship program and several smaller programs administered by NWAC ended in March and with that ended the federal funding.

Groulx said NWAC has long lobbied for stable core funding to operate, and not just project funding, which comes and goes.

The organization has found itself in the crosshairs of critics over how it has spent money in recent years, renovating its head office in Gatineau to include high-end event rental spaces, opening luxury “resiliency lodges” in Quebec and New Brunswick, and until this funding cut, planned to start a boutique hotel.

“How does that serve grassroots women?” said Crystal Semaganis, who worked at NWAC from 2021 to 2023 but left citing a toxic workplace. “How does that make a difference in our life?”

Groulx said those business ventures will eventually pay for the advocacy work NWAC does, leaving it better positioned to withstand the funding whims of Ottawa.

“We’re doing our best to supplement our revenues and one of the ways is generating our own-source revenue,” said Groulx, “and lessen our dependency on taxpayer dollars and government funding.”