5. Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1 Conclusions

5.1.1 Relevance

There is a demonstrated and ongoing need for ILA/ILR and Additional Supports, as IPV remains pervasive in Canada, with increasing complexity and demand for services. While self-reported spousal violence rates declined over the past two decades, IPV-related homicides rose, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated risks, particularly for marginalized groups. Women, Indigenous populations, people with disabilities, rural communities, immigrants, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals face heightened vulnerabilities, requiring legal and support services. The JPIP-funded projects address these needs by providing trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and gender-based services, filling critical gaps in legal assistance, safety planning, and wraparound supports.

The JPIP funding streams align closely with federal government priorities, including the GBV Strategy (2017), and the National Action Plan (2022). They contribute to strengthening the justice system’s response to IPV by reducing re-traumatization, improving access to legal support, and promoting informed decision-making. The JPIP funding streams also support broader government efforts to ensure a fair, accessible, and responsive justice system, including for marginalized communities.

5.1.2 Design and Delivery

Implementation has largely proceeded as planned at the program level, with some challenges at the project level (funding recipient organizations who are delivering their projects) such as staffing shortages, administrative burdens, and unmet demand. Effective strategies on the part of funding recipients to overcome those challenges included using part-time staff, virtual services, and leveraging partnerships with community-based organizations. While the implementation was effective overall, challenges such as staff recruitment, retention, and systemic barriers in the justice system remain ongoing concerns. Some projects also faced delays due to turnover or administrative complexities.

Funding sustainability is a key concern for funding recipients, as most projects lack ongoing funding beyond current JPIP support. Fortunately, recipients signaled that some outputs of their projects, such as resources developed, will remain available regardless of ongoing funding availability. Some called for more opportunities for information sharing about project activities and outcomes among funding recipients.

5.1.3 Effectiveness

The ILA/ILR and Additional Supports projects led to increased access to GBV resources, services, and supports for victims of IPV. These include the creation of new services, enhanced legal supports, and expanded community-based programs. Available performance data shows that program targets were exceeded, with notable increases in the number of services provided and the number of victims of IPV accessing ILA/ILR services.

Beyond generating access through new services and service expansion, the two JPIP funding streams have improved victims’ ability to navigate the justice system, make informed decisions, and access trauma-informed supports. Additional Supports funding also strengthened family justice services by introducing new roles such as family court support workers and legal navigators, particularly in underserved regions. Furthermore, the funding fostered engagement and collaboration amongst legal, governmental, and community stakeholders, increasing awareness of family violence through training, outreach, and public education.

5.2 Recommendations

No recommendations are included in this report as the GBV Initiatives (JPIP) funding streams were implemented as expected and there are no identified barriers to the achievement of expected results.