MANITOULIN—The Mnidoo Mnising Coalition Against Domestic Violence is celebrating the news that the provincial government has indicated it will declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, but the coalition will continue to advocate to ensure the government takes action on this issue.
“We did it! We have all been advocating hard for this for a long time,” stated Colleen Hill, chair of Mnidoo Mnising Coalition Against Domestic Violence and executive director of Manitoulin Family Resources (MFR).
“Today we celebrate, tomorrow we continue to advocate to ensure there is action attached to this resolution,” said Ms. Hill. “We need additional resources to address the challenges we are facing in service delivery, education, prevention, reducing wait times for counselling and lack of affordable housing. This is a first step.”
A Coalition release stated, “Yesterday (April 10), the government of Ontario carried Bill 173: Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act through a second reading and deferred it to the Justice Policy Committee. The provincial government has finally recognized what we have long known and been calling for them to name; intimate partner violence (IPV) is an epidemic.”
“We hope the justice committee recognizes the urgency of this violence and treats it as such, centering survivors, IPV experts and advocates in their work, every step of the way,” the release says. “While the government has indicated their intent to have the justice committee tour the province and research the impacts of intimate partner violence, our hope is that they will simultaneously begin implementing existing recommendations to address this violence, including passing Bill 173 through third reading and royal assent.”
“Survivors, families impacted by IPV, advocates and service providers have called for the implementation of these recommendations since the 2022 release of the Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam Inquest Report, which presented the recommendation to declare IPV an epidemic,” the Coalition release continues.
“As service providers, we see every day the impacts of intimate partner and gender-based violence, and we know that supporting those fleeing violence means going beyond providing immediate shelter, but also wraparound trauma-informed, culturally appropriate supports, such as mental health services, housing acquisition support, and referrals to lawyers, doctors and childcare. We know that in order to end this violence we must address the root causes of it,” the release explains.
“We also know that you cannot change what you refuse to name. We are pleased to see the government shift its position on declaring IPV an epidemic, in no small part due to advocacy of survivors and gender-based violence sector,” the Coalition said.
The Coalition release adds, “While yesterday posed a critical step forward, we are keeping a close eye on the bill’s progress and recognize it needs to happen in tandem with a series of supports to address this epidemic meaningfully. Our work is far from over, but today we emerge with a renewed sense of hope and determination to see a world free from gender-based violence, in all its forms.”
Michael Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin stated, “Absolutely, I support declaring that IPV is an epidemic. Too many in these situations are dying. The problem is that when people in this type of situation want to escape these environments their options are limited, the resources are not always there to help them. They feel trapped. They want to and try to step away from the situation they are in, but they find that resources to help them are limited and the process through the courts is slow and tedious.”
“It is essential that (IPV) is declared an epidemic,” said MPP Mantha. “But the government now wants to have more discussions on this issue instead of taking action now. Everything has been discussed, researched and recommendations have been made. This needs to be moving ahead now.”
“It needs to happen now,” said MPP Mantha. “It’s nice that the government says it is in agreement, but implement it, make the declaration and get on with taking action. Other provinces have done this. Ontario should be a leader on this and take action now.”
NDP health critic and Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas told CTV News last Wednesday that with the provincial government announcing that it will support an NDP bill proposing that (IPV will be declared an epidemic), the move will be a big win when it receives third reading.
On Wednesday of last week, NPD leader Marit Stiles posed the question, asking if the bill would be passed. “To everyone’s amazement their (government) answer was yes, they will vote in favour of the bill,” Ms. Gelinas told CTV. “The bill is simple. It’s one line, that Ontario will declare IPV an epidemic.”
By declaring IPV an epidemic, survivors would receive more resources, support, and services. “There should be support systems for that woman who is facing that situation, that they don’t have to be homeless, that there’s a shelter in place for them, that there’s a place that can support them and their children until they’re on their feet again,” MPP Gelinas told CTV. She told CTV, “It’s important because it has the opportunity to trigger a whole lot of changes that are within the Ontario government’s mandate to help survivors of intimate partner violence.”
