Julia Hayter, Alberta New Democrat Shadow Minister for the Status of Women, issued the following statement about YW Calgary closing its Child and Family Counselling services due to UCP government funding cuts

“It is unconscionable that the UCP government is cutting funding for a program aimed at protecting and supporting vulnerable Alberta children and family members experiencing violence while it brags about a surplus.

“This means the UCP government has the money but is actively choosing to cut funding to groups like YW Calgary that provide a wide range of victim support.

“The UCP government’s 2025 budget cuts millions and millions in funding to front-line service providers. It also confirms the UCP government’s ‘strategy’ to end gender-based violence is nothing more than window dressing.

“This is just the beginning of what will be a long, cruel summer of cuts to programs Albertans count on, and this UCP government refuses to provide.

“The UCP government must immediately reverse all its cuts to programs designed to support victims of domestic and sexual abuse and live up to its responsibility to care for the health and safety of Albertans.”