Question Period Note: Gender-based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence

• Gender-based violence, including family violence and intimate partner violence (IPV), has long-lasting negative effects and has been increasing. Despite a general decrease in intimate partner homicides, women remain disproportionately affected, and firearms significantly heighten the risk and lethality of IPV.
• The Government of Canada is taking significant actions to combat these heinous crimes.

• The Government of Canada is unwavering in its commitment to eliminate violence against women and girls, and is taking actions to combat these heinous crimes.

• The Government is implementing the Federal Gender-Based Violence Strategy and the National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence. The Government is also working with provinces and territories on the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

• For its part, Public Safety has introduced legislation to remove firearms from those who pose a danger to themselves or others. This is a vital step to reducing firearms-related family violence and self-harm.

• We are ensuring the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) participates in provincial Clare’s Laws, which give people information about potentially harmful intimate partners. Public Safety is also funding projects that prevent cyberbullying, violent extremism, and violent misogyny.

• Our government supports victims and survivors and is taking concrete actions to create a Canada free of gender-based violence.

Former Bill C-21

• In December 2023, former Bill C-21 received Royal Assent with significant new measures to strengthen the firearms regime and help keep communities safe, including a suite of harm reduction measures.
• “Red flag” laws, which have been in effect since Royal Assent, allow any individual to apply to the courts for an order to prohibit someone from possessing or accessing firearms when they pose a risk to themselves or others. The order would remain in effect for up to 30 days.
• In April 2025, enhanced licence revocation and ineligibility measures came into force to address the risks that firearms pose in situations of intimate partner violence and family violence.
• Individuals are not eligible to hold a licence if they are subject to a protection order or have been convicted of an offence in which violence was used, threatened or attempted against their intimate partner or any member of their family. A firearms licence will also be revoked if the licence holder is subject to a protection order, and Chief Firearms Officer is also required to revoke a licence if they suspect domestic violence or stalking has occurred.
• Efforts continue to implement the new measures, including proposed regulations to define protection order. Until protection order is defined in regulation, those two elements will not be operative.

Federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence / National Action Plan to End Gender-Based

• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, launched in November 2022, is a comprehensive 10-year plan aimed at creating a Canada free of gender-based violence (GBV). It focuses on prevention, support for victims and survivors, and systemic change, engaging all levels of government and communities across the country.
• It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (the federal Strategy) was launched in June 2017 and coordinates federal initiatives across three pillars: preventing gender-based violence, supporting victims and survivors, and promoting a responsive justice system.
• The federal Strategy is a component of the larger national effort to address GBV, with the National Action Plan serving as the overarching framework and the federal Strategy as the Government's specific actions and investments within that framework.
• Cyberbullying is a form of gender-based violence and disproportionately affects young girls and vulnerable communities.
• Public Safety Canada receives $1 million annually through the federal Strategy, to support community-based projects that prevent and address bullying and cyberbullying.

Canada Community Security Program (CCSP)

• In response to concerns raised by a number of communities across Canada regarding their vulnerability to hate-motivated crime, the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP) was created in 2007.
• Eligible recipients are Canadian private, not-for-profit organizations. 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations that meet this criteria are eligible to apply.
• Shelters serving victims of gender-based violence are eligible to apply, which assists those affected by gender-based violence and intimate partner violence.
• The CCSP replaces and enhances the SIP to support communities by providing financial assistance to private and non-profit organizations to enhance the security of community gathering spaces that serve communities at risk of being targeted by hate-motivated crime.
• The federal government has designed the CCSP to be more responsive to the evolving security requirements of communities. Under the CCSP:
o Eligible recipients now include office and administrative spaces, cemeteries, and child care centers.
o Funding for time-limited security personnel is now a permanent feature.
o Up to 70% of a project's eligible costs may be covered under the CCSP, an increase from 50% of the cost under the SIP.
o Application requirements have been changed to reduce administrative barriers.
o Organizations can now apply for funding at any time throughout the year through a continuous intake application.
• Since its creation, the CCSP has provided more than $30 million in funding to over 770 projects across Canada.

Clare’s Law

• Clare's Law, often known officially as a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, is a policy originating in England and Wales. It was created as a guide for individuals to obtain information from the police regarding the risk of interpersonal violence posed by their current or former domestic partners. It was named in memory of Clare Wood, who was killed in 2009 by her former domestic partner, who had a record of violence against women of which she was unaware.
• In Canada, several provinces have adopted Clare's Law in the form of a statute, authorizing a police service to disclose certain risk-related information to a current or former intimate partner, where such information could assist the current or former partner in making informed decisions about their safety and the relationship.
• Clare's Law has been enacted in Saskatchewan and Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador
• These efforts are part of a broader commitment to address gender-based violence, especially against Indigenous women, through Canada's GBV Strategy.

Countering Radicalization to Violence

• Established in 2017, the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (Canada Centre), leads the federal government’s efforts to counter all forms of radicalization to violence in Canada. It complements national security and criminal justice efforts, addressing hate and gender-based violence, including violent misogyny. Through the Community Resilience Fund, it supports research and prevention initiatives.
• Budget 2024 allocated $19.5 million over three years to enhance the Canada Centre’s capacity to prevent violence, and to work with stakeholders in Canada and internationally to increase capacity to address radicalization to violence.

If Pressed
Q1 - Red Flag, Yellow Flag Laws, and Licence revocation
• Former Bill C-21, which received Royal Assent on December 15, 2023, brought forth some of the strongest gun control measures in a generation to improve public safety, including reducing intimate partner violence and gender-based violence.
• The “red flag” laws, which are in effect, help victims and individuals to engage the courts to temporarily prohibit anyone that poses a risk to themselves or others from possessing or accessing firearms.
• Effective April 4, 2025, individuals will have their firearms licence revoked where it is suspected that they’ve been involved in domestic violence or stalking.
• Also, individuals are automatically ineligible to hold a firearms licence if they have been convicted of an offence in the commission of which violence was used, threatened or attempted against their intimate partner or family member.
• These measures complement existing protective tools and will help to reduce the risks associated with intimate-partner and gender-based violence involving firearms.
Q2 -Clare’s Law
• No person should need to fear being abused by their partner.
• Clare’s Law protects Canadians by allowing police to disclose a person’s prior intimate partner violence information to a current or former intimate partner.
• The Government encourages provinces and territories to adopt Clare’s Laws and has taken steps to ensure RCMP participation, including amending regulations.
• Clare’s Laws are enacted in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador; other provinces like Ontario, BC, New Brunswick, and Manitoba are considering them.
• Supporting Clare’s Laws is part of Canada’s broader commitment to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women.

Q3-Countering Radicalization to Violence
• We know that gender-based violence can express itself as violent extremism and violent misogyny.
• That is why Public Safety’s Canada Centre for Community Engagement & Prevention of Violence (Canada Centre) leads our government’s efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism, including extreme forms of hate such as violent misogyny.
• Through the Community Resilience Fund, it supports research and frontline prevention and intervention initiatives aimed at addressing all forms of violent extremism.

Q4- Canada Community Security Program (formerly the Security Infrastructure Program)
• There is no place for hate in this country. All Canadians deserve to be safe where they work, live, and worship.
• The CCSP provides vital support to communities at risk of hate-motivated crime by helping to enhance the security of community gathering spaces.
• This includes support for protection against gender-based violence directed towards the 2SLGBTQI+ community and for shelters serving victims of gender-based violence.
• We consulted with stakeholders and the program is now more responsive to community needs, and provides more flexibility to organizations seeking financial support, including that organizations can now apply at any time throughout the year.