Ottawa city council declares intimate partner violence an epidemic
Ottawa city council has declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.
The motion, which council passed on International Women's Day, implements the top recommendation of last year’s inquest into the murders of three women in the Ottawa Valley.
"This motion joins our voices with voices of cities and communities across the province who are acknowledging that violence is not private, and it's not just a few bad apples," Coun. Theresa Kavanagh told council. "It's a systemic and pervasive problem. We can start by breaking the silence by naming it an epidemic."
Ottawa follows in the footsteps of Lanark County, which declared intimate partner violence an epidemic in December, the first rural county to do so.
An inquest into the 2015 deaths of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam made 86 recommendations. The first recommendation was to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic.
The women were murdered by Basil Borutski, who had a known history of violence against women.
Kavanagh, who seconded the motion by Coun. Ariel Troster, also noted that intimidate partner violence increased exponentially during the pandemic, when people were often at home without much-needed support networks.
The motion also calls on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to write to Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones to request that Ontario formally declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. And it asks city staff to look into integrating intimate partner violence into the city's community safety and well-being plan.
"We have great strides to take to make our city more safe and more welcoming for women of all backgrounds," Troster told CTV News at Noon.
Homelessness a key concern
In Canada, the number one reason for women's homelessness is intimate partner violence, Troster said.
Ottawa has 12,000 people on the waitlist for affordable housing. Last year, Interval House, a centre for abused women and children, had to turn away 940 women who were seeking safe shelter.
"There are women right now in violent relationships who feel unsafe at home and are not leaving because there's no place to go," Troster said.
"If we end the housing and homelessness crisis and we also ensure that we have appropriate funding for community services to help women, I really do think that will make a big difference in terms of improving safety and equality in our city."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.