Advocates push Ontario, federal governments for change in dealing with IPV incidents

Calls grow for measures to combat IPV A North Bay man is working with activist Cait Alexander to combat the rising number of cases of intimate partner violence.

A North Bay man, Ish Van Der Rassel, is working with Canadian model, actress and activist Cait Alexander, the founder of Ending Violence Everywhere, to combat the rising number of cases of intimate partner violence.

They’re calling on the provincial and federal governments to pass legislation to better protect survivors and hold abusers accountable.

"There’s been a 68 per cent increase in intimate partner violence, a 75 per cent increase in sexual assaults in Canada and 278 per cent in femicide," Alexander said.

Van Der Rassel said he was inspired to join the cause when Alexander testified in front of the House of Commons about the effects of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence (IPV).

"We don’t need to study more about IPV. It’s time to pass legislation that puts survivors’ rights at the forefront and to ensure defence counsels and judges cannot try to shift focus on the victims instead of questioning the abuser," Van Der Rassel said.

"We need to ensure survivors rights are prioritized over the rights of the abuser and that proper procedures are put in to ensure victims’ safety aren’t at risk or worry of the abuser finding them."

He attended a demonstration at Queen’s Park in late October calling on the Ford government to pass Bill 173 that would recognize IPV as an epidemic.

"There are over 100 Ontario municipal governments that have declared this an epidemic and they're already doing work at the local level," Van Der Rassel said.

At an unrelated news conference in Burlington, Premier Doug Ford told reporters he has "zero tolerance" for intimate partner violence.

"We're 100 per cent behind making sure there is zero violence against women," Ford said.

"I have four daughters and if anyone ever touched my daughters, that would be the worst day of their lives. It's unacceptable. I have zero tolerance for any sort of violence against women or anyone in that fact."

But he stopped short of saying his government would declare IPV a province-wide epidemic. That's not good enough, Van Der Rassel said.

"The province is opposing the Ontario NDP’s motion to declare IPV an epidemic," he said.

"I don’t understand why. This should be a non-partisan issue and all parties should come together. This is about survivors and ensuring not another life is taken."

Statistics from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in 2023, there were more than 123,000 IPV incidents reported to police, primarily by women and gender-diverse individuals.

But what’s striking, is only 30 per cent of Canadians who experience abuse contact the police.

"We need an attitude and a cultural shift about survivors and IPV -- it is not an issue that hides behind closed doors," Alexander said.

"It is not something that just will magically go away. We need to be sincere and honest. We need to protect our neighbour."

Alexander, who now lives in Los Angeles, is a survivor of IPV.

She was on Parliament Hill to testify at a hearing of the House of Commons status of women committee when she said Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld (who is no longer on the committee) re-victimized her.

Alexander stormed out of the Parliamentary committee meeting in tears because the meeting pivoted to a call for a debate on a motion related to abortion rights.

From basic bail reform to Jordan’s Rule, she is urging the federal government to amend the criminal justice system when it comes to cases of sexual assault or intimate partner violence.

"What we need from the government, and I know I’m asking a lot here, be honest, humble and straightforward," she said.

"Say 'OK, this isn't working, this is working. OK, let's drop the partisan games.' We should not be staying crimes that very clearly have occurred and we shouldn't just let criminals go free."

Statistics show that in 2022, 44 per cent or 6.2 million women aged 15 and older reported some kind of abuse in their intimate partner relationship.

-- With files from Chelsea Papineau