Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

NDP Criticises Andrew Wilkinson For Characterizing Domestic And Sexual Violence As ‘A Tough Marriage’

13 Feb, 2020 09:22 PM

    The NDP on Wednesday stated that, BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson referred to individuals fleeing domestic and sexual violence as “people who are in a tough marriage.”


    In yesterday’s Throne Speech, the BC NDP government pledged to provide five days of paid leave to people leaving domestic and sexual violence.


    Asked about the speech, Wilkinson said:


    “Well it’s a huge disappointment because there is absolutely nothing in it… they talked about rural policing, and they talked about five days pay for people who are in a tough marriage and that’s it.”


    Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity Mitzi Dean says Wilkinson’s comments show that he doesn’t understand the realities of the people facing this violence.


    “Andrew Wilkinson should know that people who live the reality of domestic and sexual violence are not just experiencing a tough marriage,” says Dean. “His out of touch comments diminish the devastating violence that too many people in our province face every day.”


    Dean is calling on Wilkinson to apologize and retract his statement.


    “Hearing Andrew Wilkinson dismiss this violence is disturbing,” says Dean. “He should apologize immediately to the people who have experienced domestic and sexual violence.”

     

    Here are the facts about domestic and sexual violence:


    IPV is the most common kind of violence experienced by women (45 per cent of all female victims aged 15 to 89).


    Of the 945 intimate partner homicides which occurred between 2008 and 2018, a large majority (79 per cent) involved female victims. Most female victims of intimate partner homicide were killed by a current or former legally married or common-law husband (73 per cent), and boyfriends were responsible for the other quarter (56 per cent) of female victims’ deaths.


    Indigenous women in Canada experience higher rates of DV compared to non-Indigenous women and disproportionate rates of domestic homicide. Domestic homicide rates among Indigenous people were twice the rate among non-Indigenous population.


    There were more police-reported sexual assaults in Canada in 2017 than in any year since 1998, with the number of reports peaking in October 2017, when the #MeToo social media movement went viral.


    In 2016 and 2017, over half (55%) of sexual assault victims were females under 25 years of age.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Former Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen Accused Of Harassment In Earlier Calgary Jobs

    A former Alberta fire chief hailed by many as a hero for his role in battling the massive 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray has been accused of sexually harassing a female subordinate during previous jobs in Calgary.

    Former Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen Accused Of Harassment In Earlier Calgary Jobs

    Friends, Family Say Goodbye To 4-Year-Old Girl Found Dead In Conservation Area

    Several hundred mourners have gathered at a Toronto funeral home to celebrate the life of a four-year-old who died at a conservation area.

    Friends, Family Say Goodbye To 4-Year-Old Girl Found Dead In Conservation Area

    The Latest On Protests Across Canada In Support Of Anti-Pipeline Demonstrators

    Here is the latest news on protests across Canada over a natural-gas pipeline project in British Columbia:

    The Latest On Protests Across Canada In Support Of Anti-Pipeline Demonstrators

    Desmond Inquiry Judge Says Veterans Affairs Did Not Share Key Information

    The judge overseeing an inquiry into a triple-murder and suicide carried out by an Afghanistan war veteran says Lionel Desmond faced a large gap in treatment for a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder.

    Desmond Inquiry Judge Says Veterans Affairs Did Not Share Key Information

    Ontario Coroner Calls Inquest Into Suicide Of Indigenous Teen Near Group Home

    Ontario Coroner Calls Inquest Into Suicide Of Indigenous Teen Near Group Home
    A provincial coroner has announced an inquiry into the death of an Indigenous teen who killed himself near his southern Ontario group home and went undiscovered for seven months.

    Ontario Coroner Calls Inquest Into Suicide Of Indigenous Teen Near Group Home

    Federal Minister, B.C. Premier Try For Meetings With Chiefs Over Blockades

    The federal and British Columbia governments are working to arrange meetings with Indigenous leaders in an effort to halt blockades of rail lines that have choked Canada's economy.

    Federal Minister, B.C. Premier Try For Meetings With Chiefs Over Blockades