Green Party MP Atwin calls out misogyny, calls for a national action plan to address gender-based violence

April 30, 2020

OTTAWA – The Green Party is calling on the government to do more to counter misogyny amid reports of increasing rates of domestic and gender-based violence across the country.

This week the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Maryam Monsef, said that front-line organizations are reporting a 20 to 30 per cent increase in rates of gender-based violence and domestic violence in some regions of the country. This comes on the heels of the tragic killings in Nova Scotia that began with the assault of the killer’s intimate partner.

“We have a misogyny problem in this country,” said Green MP Jenica Atwin (Fredericton), the Green caucus critic for women and gender equality. “It is deeply-seeded in the fabric of our communities and to counter it we are going to need to call it out at the highest levels. We need a national action plan to address intimate partner and gender-based violence.”

Earlier this month the government announced $50 million dollars in funding to assist women's shelters, sexual assault centres and similar facilities in Indigenous communities during the pandemic. The Green Party is also urging the government to maintain predictable funding after the pandemic so that community organisations can provide consistent support to their clients.

“Fighting the pandemic has meant we have all been asked to stay at home,” said Green Party Interim Leader Jo-Ann Roberts. “For many of us, home evokes warmth and security. But for a significant part of the population, the home is a place of violence and danger, where the day-to-day experience is a waking nightmare. For these Canadians, we must do better. We have the tools and resources to do better, now we need the leadership.”

Help is available at:

Crisis Services Canada, 1-833-456-4566: https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/

Or get in touch with your local Women’s Shelter: https://www.sheltersafe.ca/

Mental Health Helpline:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/m...

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For more information or to arrange an interview:

Rosie Emery

Press Secretary

613-562-4916x206

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Shannon Carmont