This petition is deeply personal. A friend of mine was tragically killed by her partner, a man who had previously been charged with domestic violence against other women. Instead of being incarcerated, he was released under conditions that ultimately failed to protect my friend. It forces us to question how many more women must suffer or lose their lives before we see change? How many children need to lose their mom? How many parents need to lose their child? 

In Canada, the law often allows perpetrators of intimate partner domestic violence to be released on no contact orders after their first offence. This approach fails to adequately protect victims and prevent further harm. According to Statistics Canada, in 2018 alone, there were 99,452 victims of police-reported intimate partner violence; this number does not account for the numerous cases that go unreported due to fear or lack of resources (Statistics Canada).

We are calling on Canadian lawmakers to revise these laws surrounding intimate partner domestic violence. We propose that perpetrators should be held until trial rather than being given no contact orders for first offences.

By doing so, we can provide an additional layer of protection for victims and potentially save lives while ensuring justice is served more effectively.

Please join us in urging lawmakers for this crucial change – sign the petition today and help make a difference in protecting victims of domestic violence in our country.