Anti-sexual violence bill introduced by Ontario government - Action News
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Anti-sexual violence bill introduced by Ontario government

The Ontario government introduced new legislation to strengthen laws surrounding sexual violence and harassment.

Last year Premier Wynne announced a $41 million plan to reform the way the province treats sexual violence

Tracy MacCharles, Ontario Minister Responsible for Womens Issues, introduces new legislation

9 years ago
Duration 0:35
Tracy MacCharles, Ontario Minister Responsible for Womens Issues, introduces new legislation that targets violence against women

The government of Ontario introduced legislationTuesday that targets sexual violence, workplaceharassment and aims toincrease support for survivors.

A statement released by the premier's office says the legislation aims to make workplaces, campuses and communities safer and "more responsive to the needs of survivors and to complaints about sexual violence and harassment."

If passed, the legislation would:

  • Require every college and university to have a policy on sexual violence and review it every three years
  • Ensure employers properly investigateharassmentincidents and complaints and have proper sexualharassmentprevention programs
  • Get rid of the limitation period that exists for civil proceedings based on sexual assault
  • Get rid of the limitation period that exists for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to make applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
  • Make it quicker to end a tenancy agreement for people experiencing sexual or domestic violence

Advocates for victims of violence and abuse said the legislation will helpyoung women on college and university campuses.

"Young women on campus are facing the highest rates of sexual assault," Amanda Dale, executive director of the BarbraSchliferClinic, told CBC News.

"It's absolutely crucial to be active on campus and to have the student bodies engaged in those discussions so realistic approaches to the issue of sexual violence on campus are being addressed."

Studentshailed the proposed legislation.

"You can never talk about it too much, because these things are happening and they shouldn't be," one Ryerson student said.

"I think it's a good idea because it does happen and when it does happen there should be a way to deal with it that isn't, 'oh, maybe you should see a counsellor or maybe you should talk to so-and-so,'" a University of Toronto student told CBC News.

According to the Ontario government, one in three women in Canada will experience some form of sexual assault in her lifetime.The legislation is part of the Ontario action plan that includes increased government funding community and hospital-based sexual assault centres.

The plan also includes a province-wide education campaign called It's Never OK.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne launched the campaign last year. Its goal is to end the existing "culture of misogyny," which Wynnesays is deep-rooted in society. The government has promised $41 millionfor the planover three years.