At the Council meeting on Nov.21 2023, Madawaska Valley unanimously passed a Resolution about Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence epidemic. Introducing this item, Mayor Mark Willmer pointed out that Madawaska Valley had received a number of Resolutions about the topic from other municipalities but instead of merely supporting those, he said MV has put together its own Resolution. Despite its length, he asked CAO Suzanne Klatt to read it aloud. Acknowledging the importance to our local community of this topic, The Current reproduces the Resolution here in full below. Above from left: Councillor Shelley Maika, Councillor Mary Blank, Mayor Mark Willmer, CAO Suzanne Klatt, Councillor David Shulist, Councillor Joseph Olsheski.
Re: Gender Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence an Epidemic
WHEREAS the Township of Madawaska Valley supported the County of Renfrew resolution March 2023 declaring gender-based violence and intimate partner violence an epidemic; and
WHEREAS the jury that adjudicated the Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam Inquest issued 86 recommendations on to the Province of Ontario on Intimate Partner Violence; and
WHEREAS the safety of our community and its members is of extreme
importance to every Madawaska Valley Township resident, and Council; and
WHEREAS The Townships of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan; Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards, Madawaska Valley, South Algonquin and Bonnechere Valley have passed resolutions making community safety and well-being a priority and are committed to working collaboratively on a regional plan; and
WHEREAS gender-based violence and intimate partner violence (IPV), often referred to as domestic violence, means any use of physical or sexual force, actual or threatened in an intimate relationship, including emotional and/or psychological abuse or harassing behaviour; and
WHEREAS on August 16th, 2023, Justice Minister Arif Virani described gender-based violence as “an epidemic” in the federal government’s formal response to a coroner’s inquest, also stating that his government is committed to ending the gender-based violence epidemic “in all its forms, and is working to address any gaps in the Criminal Code to ensure a robust justice system response”; and
WHEREAS by declaring gender-based violence and intimate partner violence an epidemic, the Township of Madawaska Valley can join the growing number of municipalities and regions in demanding action from all levels of government to address this growing epidemic; and
WHEREAS the incidences of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence have increased exponentially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and has not decreased, while funding to provide the growing demand of services and support for victims and survivors has not kept pace;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The Township of Madawaska Valley declare intimate-partner violence an epidemic, as per recommendation #1 from the Culleton, Kuzyk, and
Warmerdam (CKW) Inquest; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
THAT the Township of Madawaska Valley supports the Town of Orangeville, City of Thunder Bay and West Lincoln Township resolutions and all future calls for municipal support recommending that gender-based violence and intimate partner violence be declared an epidemic in the Province of Ontario; and
THAT the Township of Madawaska Valley requests that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and all municipalities and regions in Ontario declare gender-based violence and intimate partner violence an epidemic; and
THAT the Township of Madawaska Valley request that the provincial and federal governments enact the additional 85 recommendations from the CKW Inquest, which provides a roadmap to preventing intimate partner violence from escalating to femicide; and
THAT the Township of Madawaska Valley supports the Town of Orangeville requests that the federal government starts this enactment by adding the word “femicide” as a term to the Criminal Code of Canada; and
THAT the Township of Madawaska Valley supports the Town of Orangeville requests that the provincial and federal governments provide the necessary support to municipalities, regions, and their emergency and social services to meaningfully address the gender-based violence and intimate partner violence epidemic; and
THAT the Deputy Clerk be directed to send a copy of this motion of support to the City of Thunder Bay, Town of Orangeville, and West Lincoln Township, the County of Renfrew, the Community Safety Well Being Plan municipal partners, the Honourable Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, The Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and our local representative Member of Parliament, Member of Provincial Parliament.
Click HERE to go directly to a downloadable list of all 86 recommendations.
Our township mayor and council are to be commended for this thorough resolution concerning gender based violence. It is an epidemic in our area and many other places. The only way this violence will stop is by many of us “spreading” the word, breaking the deep silence that surrounds this issue, and demanding change in our society and in our laws and judicial system. Good work !!