Private Members’ Bill 173, The Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2024

Hon. Rob Flack, MPP, Associate Minister of Housing
750 Talbot Street – Suite 201
St.Thomas, ON, N5P 1E

April 26, 2024

Dear Minister Flack, 

We applaud the Ontario Government for backing Private Members’ Bill 173, The Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2024. This Act requires the Government of Ontario to recognize that intimate partner violence (IPV) is an epidemic in Ontario. 

Our YWCA colleagues tell us the public gallery in the Chamber was full that day – filled with families who have been impacted by IPV. This is not surprising based on what YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin sees each day in our own community.

We were also pleased to see the Ontario Government indicate its support by signing the Canada-Ontario bilateral agreement on the National Action Plan (NAP) to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and look forward to seeing the continued NAP rollout to ensure the $162 million commitment by the province supports survivors, the sector, and efforts to prevent further gender-based violence.

As our MPP, your presence is so valuable to amplify messages and initiatives in our communities and we really appreciate your consistent support for St. Thomas & Elgin County. Thank you!

YWCA St. Thomas-Elgin is part of a larger Ontario Coalition of YWCAs across the province who have been working closely with sector partners for many years to address gender-based violence. We are writing this letter because, as it stands now, Bill 173 passed second reading and has been referred to the Justice Policy Committee. While we are pleased to see the Government has indicated the intent to have the Justice Committee tour the province and research the impacts of intimate partner violence, our hope is that you will simultaneously begin implementing existing recommendations to address this violence, including passing Bill 173 through third reading and royal assent.

Existing Recommendations

Survivors, families impacted by IPV, advocates, and service providers have called for the implementation of the Culleton, Kuzyk and Warmerdam Inquest Report, which presented the recommendation to declare IPV 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.

There were 62 recorded femicides of women and children in Ontario from 2022 to 2023. We know that in order to end this violence we must address the root causes of it. YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin would like to emphasize some specific considerations and recommendations from the InquestReport that pertains specifically to our work in St.Thomas-Elgin: 

• Funding (recommendations #18-19)

The need for adequate and stable funding for all organizations providing IPV support. This will require a significant financial investment and commitment from the Government. One area of funding is around the establishment of an emergency fund to support people living with violence who are taking steps to seek safety. YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin has worked with YWCA Canada to scale up what we’ve learned over the years to create: The  National Emergency Survivor Support (NESS) Fund.

Funds of this kind offer easy, low-barrier access for survivors seeking to improve their safety. People are often referred through service providers and are given interest free loans or grants of up to $1300. The top three financial needs we see in Elgin County include: rent and security deposits, essential furniture for new homes and utility set-up. 

Locally in 2023, YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin provided 35 survivors of gender-based violence with financial support for essential, immediate needs. There is an urgent need for more adequate funding. Since the beginning of 2024, YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin has already been contacted by 7 women to access financial assistance while leaving violence.

• Intimate Partner Violence is more prominent in rural areas (recommendation #20)

Women in rural areas experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence. The Government must recognize that, in remote and rural areas, funding cannot be per-capita equivalent to funding in urban settings as this does not take into account rural realities, including: the need to travel to access and provide services where telephone and internet coverage is not available; the lack of public transit, and the cost of transportation for survivors and service providers.

• Education and Training (recommendation #25)

YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin focuses heavily on prevention work. This is consistent with the Inquest’srecommendation to use and build on existing age-appropriate educational programs. At the core of YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin Supportive Housing Program is gender-based violence prevention.

These programs teach women and young girls about:

• healthy relationships and boundary setting
• understanding risk factors
• managing and processing feelings
• dispute resolution
• community and bystander obligations
• critical thinking skills 

For over 120 years, YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin has provided violence prevention programs that have been funded by foundation grants, local donations and service clubs. We focus on the development of creating safe affordable housing and case management to assist women and young girls to live healthy lifestyles. Project Tiny Hope is a great example of prevention and we thank you for your support of this new development.

MPP Flack, as a service provider, YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin sees the impacts of intimate partner and gender-based violence in our community first-hand. We know that supporting those fleeing violence means going beyond providing immediate shelter, but also wraparound trauma-informed supports, including prevention work and safe affordable housing.

We hope you will use your voice as MPP to amplify YWCA’s feedback. We do not want to see Bill 173 delayed; there are recommendations that exist and can be implemented immediately to address gender-based violence in Elgin County and throughout Ontario.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Rice, Executive Director YWCA St.Thomas-Elgin

Need help?

We encourage anyone experiencing violence, in person or digitally, to connect with the following local services agencies to guide you to a safer future. If you are in immediate danger, please contact police by calling 9-1-1.