NDP: Ford government plays politics with intimate partner violence survivors

QUEEN’S PARK — The Ford government voted on the conclusion of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy’s intimate partner violence (IPV) study yesterday, doing so without considering the input of survivors and the public.

The Conservatives also refused an NDP amendment designating intimate partner violence as an epidemic in Ontario: something that 100 different municipalities across the province have already done.

“By allowing a partisan report to dominate this process, the Ford government has undermined the neutrality and credibility of the committee” said MPP Lisa Gretzky (Windsor). “The Ford government is ignoring the voices of survivors and advocates to rush through what was supposed to be a nonpartisan effort.

“The Conservatives have now set a precedent that opens the door to other committees ending in reports written by partisan MPPs. The work to end intimate partner violence in Ontario must be led by survivors and experts.”

“Throughout 2024, the Committee received dozens of oral and written submissions from survivors and organizations across the province,” said MPP Alexa Gilmour (Parkdale—High Park), Shadow Minister for Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.

“Instead of listening to survivors, advocates, and experts, the Ford government has decided to undermine the study’s credibility. The Conservatives can’t adequately address our province’s intimate partner violence epidemic without centering survivors and advocates. This partisan approach won’t bring hope to survivors.”

“It is deeply disappointing that the Ford government chose to politicize what was intended as a non-partisan effort to address intimate partner violence in Ontario," added MPP Peggy Sattler (London West).

“This distorts the contributions of every participating survivor, and risks eroding public trust. Committee reports are written by non-partisan Assembly experts to ensure their work is evidence-based, survivor-centred, and free of political influence. Allowing a report by a partisan MPP to be the result of this process ignores these principles altogether.”