Halton Region Joins Municipalities Declaring Intimate Partner Violence & Violence Against Women an Epidemic
Halton Regional Council unanimously approved a resolution at our meeting today, from myself and Councillor Angelo Bentivegna, to declare Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Woman an epidemic -- joining Burlington and other municipalities in recognizing this crisis affecting communities across Ontario and Canada.In our resolutions -- both at the city and regional levels -- we've asked the Province to do the same.Halton Regional Police Service Police respond to 10 calls per day and make three arrests per day, related to intimate partner violence (IPV) -- and that’s just what is reported.This resolution will raise awareness about the issue, and help us taken further action to combat IPV. I thank all my Regional Council colleagues for their support, and particularly Burlington Councillors Rory Nisan and Angelo Bentivegna for being co-sponsors. It’s so important to have male allies in the fight against IPV.Please see below the full resolution, we unanimously approved at Regional Council.
Notice of Motion from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Councillor Angelo Bentivegna re: Declaration of Intimate Partner Domestic Abuse Crisis in HaltonCouncillor Nisan requested that the motion be amended to add that the Province of Ontario also be requested to declare in accordance with Recommendation #1 of the Renfrew Inquest, that Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Women are epidemic. This was accepted by unanimous consent.Councillor Knoll requested that the motion be amended to add circulation of this resolution to the Halton Police Board. This was accepted by unanimous consent.Motion, as amended -- Moved by: Marianne Meed Ward, Seconded by: Angelo BentivegnaWHEREAS the jury that adjudicated the Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam Inquest (The Renfrew Inquest) issued 86 recommendations to the Province of Ontario on Intimate Partner Violence; andWHEREAS recommendation #1 of the Inquest is for the Province of Ontario to declare Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic; andWHEREAS, every six days in Canada a woman is killed by her intimate partner; andWHEREAS, on any given night in Canada, over 6,000 women and children sleep in shelters because it is not safe for them at home; andWHEREAS this past year in Ontario, 52 women or one every week, were victims of femicide; andWHEREAS in Halton in 2022 there were 3,503 Intimate Partner Violence calls made to Halton Regional Police and there were 2,342 calls to the Women’s Shelter Crisis/Helpline calls; andWHEREAS Halton Women’s Place receives 2,500 calls annually to its crisis information and support line, supports 400-600 women through their various outreach services and sees 140 women and children through their safe shelter every year; andWHEREAS 93% of the CAS domestic violence-related intake cases involve a girl/woman as the primary participant; andWHEREAS the waitlist for counselling can be difficult to access; andWHEREAS violence against women costs the national justice system, health care systems, social service agencies, and municipalities billions of dollars per year; and municipalities are on the front lines in addressing gender-based violence; andWHEREAS Halton Regional Council recognizes that issues of violence against women in all communities are of local importance to the health and wellness of our residents.NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:THAT Halton Regional Council:
- recognizes the issues of violence against women and girls in Halton as serious to the health and wellness of local families; and
- is committed to engaging with community partners to educate and support our residents about the seriousness and long-term danger of violence in our community; and
THAT Halton Regional Council declares, in accordance with Recommendation #1 of the Renfrew Inquest, that Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Women are epidemic; andTHAT the Province of Ontario be requested to declare, in accordance with Recommendation #1 of the Renfrew Inquest, that Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Against Women are epidemic; andBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be circulated to The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Charmaine A. Williams, Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity, The Honourable Parm Gill, Minister of Red Tape Reduction, Halton MPP’s, the Halton Police Board, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Ontario’s Big City Mayors.Mayor Meed Ward requested that a recorded vote be taken on the Motion, as amended, and the results are as follows:Yeas: Carr, Adams, Ali, Bentivegna, Best, Duddeck, Fogal, Galbraith, Haslett-Theall, Ijaz, Knoll, Krantz, Lawlor, Malboeuf, Meed Ward, Nanda, Nisan, O’Meara, Sharman, Somerville, Stolte (21).Nays: None (0).As a result of the recorded vote, the Motion CARRIED UNANIMOUSLYRELATED LINK: