Stronger Support and Transparency for Survivors

Summary#

This bill aims to make Ontario’s handling of sexual assault cases more open and accountable. It requires regular public reporting, more support information for survivors, and removes time limits on certain mental health supports.

• The Attorney General must publish a yearly progress report on how select 2019 Auditor General recommendations are being put in place, and share it online.
• A legislative working group must quickly review each report and publicly report its findings.
• The Attorney General must review the Victim Quick Response Program (which replaced the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board) and report back within a year.
• Police must tell anyone 16 or older who reports a sexual assault about the province’s Independent Legal Advice Program.
• Regulatory bodies (like professional colleges) can no longer set time limits on funding therapy or counselling for people who say they were sexually abused by someone regulated by that body.
• The law would take effect as soon as it receives Royal Assent (becomes law).

What it means for you#

• Survivors of sexual assault

  • If you are 16 or older and report to police, they must inform you about the Independent Legal Advice Program, which offers confidential legal advice through Ontario Victim Services.
  • If you allege sexual abuse by a regulated professional, funding from that regulator for therapy or counselling will not end because of a time limit.
  • You may see changes to the Victim Quick Response Program after the required review.
  • There will be annual public updates on government progress in improving how cases are handled.

• People under 16

  • This bill’s police notification requirement applies to ages 16 and up. Other child‑specific protections still apply under existing laws and policies.

• Regulated professionals and regulatory bodies (e.g., colleges)

  • Your regulator must offer therapy/counselling funding to people who allege sexual abuse by a member without a time limit. This could increase program use over longer periods.
  • Regulators may need to adjust policies, budgets, and member communications.

• Police services

  • You must update intake procedures, staff training, and forms to ensure people 16+ who report sexual assault are told about the Independent Legal Advice Program.

• General public

  • You will be able to read an annual progress report (shared by March 1 each year and posted online shortly after) and a follow‑up review from a legislative working group.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Increases transparency and accountability by requiring annual public reports and legislative review.
• Helps survivors by ensuring they learn early about free, independent legal advice.
• Checks whether the Victim Quick Response Program is working well for survivors compared with the former compensation system.
• Removes arbitrary time limits on therapy funding, supporting long‑term healing.
• Keeps pressure on the justice system to follow through on key Auditor General recommendations.

Opponents' View#

• Open‑ended therapy funding could raise costs for regulatory bodies and lead to higher fees for members.
• Adds administrative work for the Attorney General, the legislature, and police services without clear proof of improved outcomes.
• The police notification rule may require new training and paperwork, which some services may find burdensome.
• The notice requirement applies only to people 16 and over, which some view as a gap for younger survivors.
• Focusing reports on only certain Auditor General recommendations may be too narrow and miss broader system issues.