Province plans to tackle sexual violence

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The province has produced a disturbing new TV ad, as the first part of Kathleen Wynne’s multi-pronged approach to tackling sexual violence. It’s a 41-million-dollar commitment over three years. The plan is called “It’s never okay”.

Of the TV ad itself, Kathleen Wynne admits “parts of it are hard to watch, I know, but as hard as it is to watch, it’s much harder to experience. It’s unacceptable.”

The video encourages bystanders to speak out. “Many women in our province do not feel safe. That’s the reality. But as a woman, as a mother, a grandmother, the Premier of the province, I have a problem with that”

The Premier’s solution includes legislation that would change the way sexual assaults are dealt with in court, and give victims free legal advice. Universities and Colleges and other workplaces will have to report and act on complaints.

The recently updated sex ed curriculum in schools is part of the plan too. “Sexual violence is rooted in misogyny, which is deeply ingrained in our culture, often in unconscious or subtle ways…but these are learned behaviours, which means they can be unlearned or better yet – never learned in the first place”

There will be more training for front line workers in health, education, justice and community service, and more money for victim support services like SACHA (Sexual Assault Centre) in Hamilton. “It’s a really important day, we’ve never seen this kind of response to the issue of harassment” says Lenore Lukasik-Foss from SACHA.

Back in December Premier Wynne said she’d accelerate this plan. Assault charges against former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi and similar stories kicked off a massive public discussion. “One of the things that was most telling for me was the degree to which people were saying…I can’t believe this happens…and I can believe it.” said the Premier today.