New legislation allows victims of abuse to end lease early

A change to the Ontario Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan and the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act will allow victims of sexual and domestic violence to end their lease earlier than before.

This will allow tenants facing abuse to end their lease in 28 days notice, down from 60, according to the legislative change.

This change will allow the victims to be able to get out of the area they are living in where the violence is occurring.

These changes are in part with Bill 22, Escaping Domestic Violence Act, 2011 and Bill 132, Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2016.

This also follows the Ontario government releasing the “It’s Never Okay: An Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment”, in March 2015.

According to Leah Marshall, Fanshawe’s sexual violence and prevention advisor, Bill 132 deals with a number of topics of not only the agreement between tenants and landlords, but also what colleges and universities need to do in terms of sexual violence.

Schools are supposed to have a stand-alone Sexual Violence Policy, which includes the school believing survivors, accommodating and supporting the students without having to disclose the information about the violence and making sure students have access to confidential support.

In terms of the legislative change, Marshall is happy that it’s happening, but feels like there is still a long way to go.

“I feel as though the changes are a step in the right direction, but I also feel that there are other pieces that can go along with that,” Marshall said. “I think part of that is just knowledge of resources too.”

Marshall said that though she would have liked to have seen these changes occur earlier in time, she does not want to discount those who fought to make these changes actually happen.

Marshall also said that although these steps are opening up the conversation of abuse, all the steps taken in the action plan are just singular steps, and that society needs to take it one step further.

Marshall said just because people can get out of the lease that does not mean the victim will know where to go afterwards and how they will be supported.

In terms of the London area and students who are new to the city, Marshall said she feels that they need to be educated on places where they can go if they need help, and the next steps that have to be taken once they are out of the lease agreement.

“The focus of moving in that direction is a positive change, but it’s one step, there’s always other steps and things that we need to do to create a safer process for individuals who have experienced this kind of violence,” Marshall said.

Marshall said the Fanshawe community wants students to know what options are available to them, and where these options are located.

Such examples include the London Abused Women’s Centre.

“We think it’s a very important piece of legislation, and we are completely supportive,” Megan Walker, executive director for the London Abused Women’s Centre, said

Walker said the centre deals with women and girls starting at 12-years old, and so they have seen students come in as well.

Walker said that this legislative change is good for safety reasons because at the time when victims of abuse have to leave their current house, they are more likely to have serious injuries or become victims of a homicide throughout the separation.

Walker also said that this change will allow individuals to not have to stay in their current living arrangements they are in; therefore, their abuser will not be able to necessarily have access to them.

“This is a really important safety measure for all women and girls,” Walker said.

Walker said she could always say she wished these changes happened earlier, but what she really wants to do is celebrate that these changes are actually happening.

“I believe it will make a huge difference in the lives of women in future generations and that’s really important to us,” Walker said.

As an agency, the centre has a specific saying they go by.

“The actions that we take locally must have a positive impact on our sisters across the world,” Walker said. “No women is free until all women are free and that we all cross that finish line together.”

Walker said the legislation is a sound and safe one.

Walker acknowledges that the legislation is not one that will necessarily change the world, but will “help those women and girls that need to change locations and have the ability to do that”.

“I’d like to see a much more concerted effort on behalf of everybody in Canada in addressing the systemic issues that lead to women’s oppression,” Walker said. “This is not a systemic issue, but rather a reactive one.”

Walker would like to see a shift in attention to address women’s oppression and liberate them worldwide from violence.

Marshall said the legislative changes shows that the government is actually recognizing that individual safety is important and that steps need to be taken forward to ensure students are specifically able to live in a safe environment.

The action plan shows that changes have to be made so we can change the culture that we live in, Marshall said.

“As someone that is an advocate for survivors and their rights, I believe that it’s important as a community to understand that change is good but is always pushing one step forward and educating the public about why these steps are really important,” Marshall said.

The Interrobang would like to acknowledge that London has a variety of support and shelters available for gender identities and non-conforming gender identities, including the Salvation Army and the Mission Services of London.