An opposition bill that would declare Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic remains stalled at Queen’s Park.
MPP Lisa Gretzky says it received all-party support in March but has yet to be discussed at the committee level.
“Bill 173 was referred to the Justice Policy Committee. It has not actually been called at that committee. So there has been no movement on the actual bill itself,” says Gretzky.
The NDP says passage of the bill would draw recognition to the problem in Ontario and bring additional resources to combating the issue.
NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam says declaring an epidemic is not meant to be a symbolic gesture.
“It would also ensure that we treat the crisis with the urgency it demands. It will also have a legal impact on Ontario’s justice system, namely the tribunals, courts and administrative bodies,” says Wong-Tam.
Michelle Choe of the Advocacy Centre for Tenants of Ontario says it can be similar to the Gladue principles which require courts to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in our criminal system.
“Bill 173 could be used by legal professionals in courts and in their submissions to compel adjudicators to understand the housing realities of survivors and also to address the overrepresentation of survivors in our homelessness population,” says Choe.
Speaking in the Legislature, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa says the government still supports the bill but wants more study.
“Violence against women and girls is a horrific crime. Our government has zero tolerance for it, which is why we have been very clear—which is why we supported the bill that was put forward by the opposition so that we can continue to review, hear from experts, some of our partners who are here right now, who are doing wonderful work to support women and girls and families across the province,” says Parma.
Parsa adds Ontario has signed on to the national action plan to end violence against women in the province which includes $162 million for agencies that work to prevent violence from happening in the first place and to support survivors.
He says the province has committed an additional $1.4 billion.
Since efforts to have the province declare violence against women and girls an epidemic, more than 100 municipalities have issued their own declarations.
