QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West) called out the Ford government’s continued stalling of action on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) after a woman was tragically killed by her partner in Belleville last week:
“Recently Shannan Hickey, a 26-year-old nurse from Belleville, was tragically killed by her former partner”, said Gretzky. “Over a month ago I brought forward a straightforward bill, which would declare Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic and act as an important step to address this crisis. Ford’s government has yet to move this incredibly important piece of legislation forward as they promised”.
Gretzky debated Intimate Partner Violence Act, 2024 in April alongside hundreds of advocates and survivors. Instead of declaring an epidemic immediately, the government sent it to committee, which they have yet to schedule.
“We don’t need more studies, the Renfrew County Coroner’s Inquest recommendations told us everything we need to know – and the important next steps that we can immediately take to tackle this,” said Gretzky. “Nearly 100 municipalities in Ontario have declared IPV an epidemic. It is time that the government of Ontario does it too.”
The warden of Lanark County sent a letter to the Ford government urging them to declare IPV an epidemic before the summer recess – just two weeks away.