Ontario works toward ending sexual violence
The Ontario government has
proposed the Sexual Violence and
Harassment Action Plan Act, legislation
that would build a province
where people are free from the
threat of sexual violence and harassment.
It would also strengthen the supports for survivors.
The legislation comes from an action plan released last March called “It’s Never Okay”.
“There was a lot of proposed ideas put forward in the action plan and now we are seeing them come to fruition… I think it shows we are moving forward,” said Leah Marshall, sexual violence prevention advisor at Fanshawe College.
The Act, put forth on Oct. 27, laid out five key areas that Ontario would be improving on.
The Act would require every publicly assisted college, university and private career college to have a stand-alone sexual violence policy, something that has already been implemented on campuses across Ontario, including Fanshawe.
“Fanshawe has taken the policy, they have operationalized it, they have created a safe place for students to come and review their resources, as well as implement two initiatives a month which is a big undertaking,” Marshall said.
The following sections of the Act deal with sexual harassment in the work place and the statute of limitations surrounding civil cases.
The Act would enhance requirements for sexual harassment prevention programs and create specific employer duties to protect workers.
It would remove the limitation period for all civil proceedings based on sexual assault so that survivors can bring their civil claims forward whenever they choose.
The limitation period for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to make a compensation application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board would also be eliminated.
Finally, the time it takes to end a tenancy agreement for people experiencing sexual or domestic violence would be shortened.
“Many women in Ontario do not feel safe, and that is unacceptable,” said Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario. “These legislative proposals would put the strength of the law behind our roadmap to end sexual violence and harassment in this province.”
And to make sure that the proposed legislation will work, the government has committed $41 million over three years.
On top of the $41 million, the government also announced a $2.25 million Creative Engagement Fund to challenge rape culture through artistic projects.
“We know with sexual violence people’s voices are silenced and it is really stigmatized to come forward,” Marshall said. “Art can be used to spread awareness and can be a way of showing what has happened to you.”
As for ending sexual violence and harassment, Marshall believes with a cultural change, it will become more of a possibility.
“Part of changing the culture is not silencing the issue, but bringing it to the forefront and making sure that people know that this is something we are going to change,” Marshall said. “We are not going to sit by and allow it to happen on our campus anymore.”
It would also strengthen the supports for survivors.
The legislation comes from an action plan released last March called “It’s Never Okay”.
“There was a lot of proposed ideas put forward in the action plan and now we are seeing them come to fruition… I think it shows we are moving forward,” said Leah Marshall, sexual violence prevention advisor at Fanshawe College.
The Act, put forth on Oct. 27, laid out five key areas that Ontario would be improving on.
The Act would require every publicly assisted college, university and private career college to have a stand-alone sexual violence policy, something that has already been implemented on campuses across Ontario, including Fanshawe.
“Fanshawe has taken the policy, they have operationalized it, they have created a safe place for students to come and review their resources, as well as implement two initiatives a month which is a big undertaking,” Marshall said.
The following sections of the Act deal with sexual harassment in the work place and the statute of limitations surrounding civil cases.
The Act would enhance requirements for sexual harassment prevention programs and create specific employer duties to protect workers.
It would remove the limitation period for all civil proceedings based on sexual assault so that survivors can bring their civil claims forward whenever they choose.
The limitation period for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to make a compensation application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board would also be eliminated.
Finally, the time it takes to end a tenancy agreement for people experiencing sexual or domestic violence would be shortened.
“Many women in Ontario do not feel safe, and that is unacceptable,” said Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario. “These legislative proposals would put the strength of the law behind our roadmap to end sexual violence and harassment in this province.”
And to make sure that the proposed legislation will work, the government has committed $41 million over three years.
On top of the $41 million, the government also announced a $2.25 million Creative Engagement Fund to challenge rape culture through artistic projects.
“We know with sexual violence people’s voices are silenced and it is really stigmatized to come forward,” Marshall said. “Art can be used to spread awareness and can be a way of showing what has happened to you.”
As for ending sexual violence and harassment, Marshall believes with a cultural change, it will become more of a possibility.
“Part of changing the culture is not silencing the issue, but bringing it to the forefront and making sure that people know that this is something we are going to change,” Marshall said. “We are not going to sit by and allow it to happen on our campus anymore.”
