NDP MPP Dr. Jill Andrews and Ontario Housing Minister Paul Calandra were both kicked out of the provincial legislature on Monday, following an argument about intimate partner violence.
The dispute broke out during a question period in the House of Commons where MPP for Toronto Centre, Kristyn Wong-Tam, called out the Conservative government for not declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic, as today marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
“Today marks 230 days since this government promised to pass Bill 173 to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic,” Wong-Tam said to the premier during today’s question period.
Wong-Tam said this morning lawyers from 13 legal clinics across Ontario came to Queen’s Park to share the opinion that this declaration would not be just symbolic, but would strengthen survivors’ access to justice by “compelling courts, tribunals and administrative bodies to consider intimate partner violence when reviewing the facts of a legal case.”
Wong-Tam said the government is not working for survivors by failing to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.
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“This morning this government, for the fourth time, denied the opportunity to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. Why do Conservatives continue to wear the purple scarves while breaking the promise to survivors?” they asked.
In response, Conservative MPP Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, said the government is focused on action.
“This is a serious issue and it requires actions. Actions that deliver concrete and tangible results for women, for girls, and families who are experiencing gender-based violence.”
Parsa said that includes things like emergency shelters, counselling, transitional housing supports, and more.
“In budget 2024, we increased funding to the sector by 5.5 million dollars, in addition $4.5 million dollars for [a] victim quick response program,” Parsa said, saying that the NDP voted against these measures, and called on them to join in.
Andrews then spoke on the matter saying violence against women is a public health crisis that needs to be addressed immediately.
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“This government has ignored the crisis in our shelter system and brave agency to end violence in the Peel Region has turned away 500 women this year alone,” she said during question period.
“If the woman and child are dead, speaker, there is no tomorrow,” she added.
After posing her question, Andrews and Callandra engaged in a dispute and House Speaker Ted Arnott warned them both to return to their seats before naming them to leave the chamber.
Earlier on Monday, Premier Doug Ford weighed in on the issue saying the government is “100 per cent behind making sure there’s zero violence against women,” according to Global News.
“I have four daughters, anyone ever touched my daughters, it would be the worst days of their lives. That’s for anyone out there, it’s unacceptable, I have zero tolerance for any sort of violence against women or anyone,” he said at an unrelated press conference.
NDP WANTS TO DECLARE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AN EPIDEMIC
Today, NDP MPPs Lisa Gretzky, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Jill Andrew, and Peggy Sattler also released a statement calling on the province to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.
The four MPPs are co-sponsors of Bill 173, also known as the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act.
“Our call has always been crystal clear – we need to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic in Ontario, and we need to do it immediately,” reads a statement from the MPPs.
“Every moment that we delay, more people are put at risk, and fewer resources are being allocated to help survivors escape or recover from violence.”
The United Nations (UN) reports that around the world, nearly one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both. The organization reports that in 2023 at least 51,100 women were killed by partners and family members as a result of gender-based violence. That’s the equivalent of one woman every ten minutes.
“Survivors, advocates, and frontline workers have made it clear. Experts have raised their voices. Nearly 100 municipalities have made the declaration. Other provinces are charging ahead to take action while we’re falling behind,” the NDP statement reads.
