Ontario declares intimate partner violence epidemic

Summary#

• This bill would make Ontario officially recognize intimate partner violence as an “epidemic.”

• It would create a new committee to turn inquest recommendations into action and to track progress each year.

• Key changes:

  • The Attorney General (Ontario’s top government lawyer) must set up a Renfrew County Inquest Implementation Committee within 30 days after the bill becomes law.
  • The committee must review the 86 recommendations from the 2022 coroner’s inquest into the 2015 murders of three women in Renfrew County and decide how to carry them out.
  • The committee must monitor the government’s progress and publish public reports every year.
  • Members will include an equal number of senior provincial officials and community experts, with an expert as chair.
  • Reports must be tabled in the Legislature and posted on a government website.

What it means for you#

• General public

  • The province would formally call intimate partner violence an “epidemic,” signaling urgency and a whole-of-government focus.
  • You would be able to read annual public reports that show what steps the government is taking and what progress is made.

• Survivors and families

  • No immediate changes to services or laws are made by this bill alone.
  • Over time, you may see policy or program changes if the government follows the committee’s recommendations.
  • The process aims to keep survivor and community voices at the table through community experts.

• Community organizations and advocates

  • A formal channel opens for your expertise to shape implementation, since community experts will make up half the committee and chair it.
  • You’ll have annual, public progress updates to inform advocacy and hold the government accountable.

• Provincial ministries and public servants

  • Ministries tied to preventing intimate partner violence would have members on the committee and may be asked to carry out recommended steps.
  • There will be regular reporting requirements and coordination across departments.

• Media and researchers

  • You’ll get a steady, annual record of actions taken on the inquest’s 86 recommendations.

• What the bill does not do

  • It does not create new crimes, penalties, or direct funding for services.
  • It does not mandate specific programs; it sets up a process to recommend and track them.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Calling intimate partner violence an “epidemic” makes the issue a clear priority across government.
• Turning the inquest’s 86 recommendations into an action plan could prevent more deaths and improve safety.
• A balanced committee, led by a community expert, ensures survivor and community perspectives guide the work.
• Annual public reports increase transparency and help people see what is being done.
• A 30‑day deadline to form the committee signals urgency and keeps momentum.
• Regular monitoring can keep ministries accountable and reduce gaps between recommendations and results.

Opponents' View#

• Recognition without direct funding or new programs may be seen as mostly symbolic.
• Creating another committee could add bureaucracy and slow action that communities need now.
• The bill relies on future government choices; it cannot force ministries to implement recommendations.
• Member appointments by the provincial cabinet could raise concerns about independence.
• Without a budget in the bill, critics worry needed services (like shelters, counseling, or training) may not expand.