Bill 173—Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act 2024

On April 10, 2024, OSSTF/FEESO was invited to participate in a Press Conference regarding Bill 173, Intimate Partner Epidemic Act, 2024, at Queen’s Park. Fartumo Kusow of District 9 (Windsor), Martha Hradowy, Provincial Executive, Tracey Marshall, OSSTF/FEESO staff assigned to women’s issues, and the Chair of the Status of Women committee, Kelly Bevan, were in attendance. Fartumo Kusow became a strong advocate to end the epidemic of domestic violence in Ontario after her daughter was killed by her intimate partner of 18 years in May 2023. Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Lisa Gretzky brought Bill 173 to the Ontario legislature. This bill was co-sponsored by New Democratic Party (NDP) MPP Peggy Sattler, NDP-MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, and NDP-MPP Jill Andrew. Recognizing intimate partner violence as an epidemic was one of the first recommendations that came from the Renfrew inquiry after the deaths of Nathalie Warmerdam, Carol Culleton and Anastasia Kuzyk in 2022.  The Ontario government has had two years to implement the 86 recommendations but has yet to implement even one of the recommendations that could save women’s lives. These recommendations spoke to oversight and accountability, system approaches, collaboration and communication, funding, education and training, measures addressing perpetrators of intimate partner violence, intervention and safety and were recommended to save lives. OSSTF/FEESO will continue to lobby the government and work with the sponsors of this Bill to lobby for its Royal Assent becoming law, sending much-needed support and resources to community agencies working to end intimate partner violence.