Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is everyday violence afflicted on individuals because of their gender, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Intimate partner violence (IPV) (known also as domestic, or spousal violence) is one of the most prevalent forms of GBV (RCMP, 2019), affecting 44% (or 6.2 million) women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada, yearly (Government of Canada, 2025). With 99 Ontarian municipalities declaring an epidemic (Building a Bigger Wave, 2025), it is time that the Ontario Government joined in and took the correct steps to support survivors of intimate partner violence. 

Step one is passing Bill 173 - the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act that has been sitting on the house floor since this past summer (2024). The passing of Bill 173 will not only show the constituents of Ontario that our government cares about our community members facing abhorrent violence, but it would bring about institutional changes to how IPV is handled across Ontario. Bill 173 would bring about: 

• Increased funding for trauma-informed services that integrate mental health and addiction recovery for survivors, ensuring they receive long-term, comprehensive care.
• Stronger legal protections and survivor-centered justice reforms that prioritize the safety, dignity, and rights of survivors while holding perpetrators accountable.
• Expanded access to emergency and transitional housing so no survivor is forced to stay in an unsafe situation due to financial insecurity or lack of support.
• Mandatory education and prevention programs in schools, workplaces, and communities to challenge harmful social norms and address the root causes of GBV.
• Stricter institutional accountability measures to ensure that government agencies, law enforcement, and community organizations are actively working to prevent GBV and protect survivors

As Doug Ford campaigns for re-election on February 27th, join us in advocating for our government to protect our most vulnerable from preventable violence.