Ontario saw 30 femicides in 30 weeks, a new report says. Advocates want immediate action

Advocates are sounding the alarm on gender-based violence, calling for a clear and urgent strategy from the Ontario government as femicides continue to rise.

Ontario saw 30 femicides in 30 weeks from Nov. 26. to June. 30, according to a report by the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH) released Wednesday. Last year, the organization's statistics showed 52 deaths in 52 weeks.

"It's very frustrating," said Marlene Ham, executive director at OAITH. Five femicides occurred in June alone and there have been another three already in July, she said.

"It's impactful and consuming to know that every single week, we can expect another woman to be killed by a man closely known to her."

The report comes after Ontario chose not to declare gender-based violence an epidemic after a coroner's inquest last year into the 2015 murder of three women recommended the province do so as part of 86 recommendations. Some 25 municipalities in Ontario have opted to declare gender-based violence an epidemic, including Peel Region, Durham Region, and Halton Region. 

In its response, the province argued "epidemic" is a term used for the spread of disease and therefore does not apply to intimate partner violence (IPV).

Advocates say while rates of IPV increased during the pandemic and haven't gone back down, funding hasn't kept pace with the growing demand for services.

Ham says the provincial government needs a clear gender-based strategy. It already has a roadmap with the recommendations made in the Renfrew County murder inquest, she says.

Those recommendations include that the province establish an independent IPV commission, encourage IPV to be integrated into every municipality's community safety and well-being plan and create an emergency fund for survivors seeking protection.

Ontario rejected the idea of a commission and funding safe rooms to be installed in survivors' homes in high-risk cases.

"Many [recommendations] have not been enacted, but they continue to show up when there is an inquest," said Ham. "What that tells us is those same gaps continue to exist."

Ham says the problem of intimate partner violence stems from men using violence and harassment to control women, adding Indigenous and woman of colour are disproportionately affected.

Ontario says it is taking action on 59 of the 86 the recommendations.

In a statement to the CBC News, the province says it has already invested over $250 million for victims of violence and violence prevention initiatives that include enhancing transitional housing, supporting survivors, expanding sexual assault services and funding crisis hotlines.