WHEREAS 44% of Canadian women will experience some form of intimate partner violence (IPV) over their lifetime, and rates are higher for 2SLGBTQ+ women (67%), Indigenous women (61%), women living in poverty (57%), and women with disabilities (55%);
WHEREAS poverty, housing instability and job insecurity put women at higher risk of experiencing GBV, and financial dependency presents a major barrier to women leaving abusive relationships;
WHEREAS the Conservative government’s neglect and chronic disinvestment in community public services, shelter services and affordable childcare have increased economic instability and robbed women and families of critical supports;
WHEREAS 96% of workers in child care and 75% in community public services are women;
WHEREAS tens of thousands of these Ontario workers have seen their wages suppressed, and many are facing layoffs due to Conservative cuts;
WHEREAS women’s economic security is deeply connected to their safety;
THEREFORE WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, PETITION THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO AS FOLLOWS:
To implement the Official Opposition’s plan to combat gender-based violence by investing in social infrastructure, bolstering women’s economic security, and improving the services women count on in the community public sector and child care.