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During a campaign event in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre announced plans to enhance penalties for intimate partner violence should his party win the upcoming election. Poilievre was accompanied by several women who have experienced intimate partner violence, and he expressed gratitude to those who shared their testimonies at the press briefing.
The Conservative platform proposes establishing a new criminal offense targeting assault against intimate partners, along with implementing stringent bail conditions for individuals accused of such violence. This initiative includes provisions for GPS monitoring via ankle bracelets for those granted bail.
Furthermore, Poilievre emphasized that the tragic killing of an intimate partner or child would be classified as first-degree murder under Conservative legislation.
In contrast, the Liberal and New Democratic Parties have yet to disclose detailed initiatives focusing on intimate partner violence as part of their campaigns. New Democrat candidate Lauren Collins, who is campaigning for re-election in Victoria, British Columbia, introduced a private member’s bill last year aiming to criminalize coercive behavior in intimate relationships. The legislation, known as Bill C-332, seeks to amend the Criminal Code by prohibiting acts that use or threaten violence to coerce an intimate partner into sexual activities. This bill was unanimously passed in the House of Commons in July 2024.
Meanwhile, the previous Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau has also made strides to confront issues of crime and intimate partner violence. Recently, they instituted regulations preventing individuals convicted of violent offenses against intimate partners or family members from obtaining firearm licenses, a measure that took effect shortly after Poilievre’s announcement. Additionally, the Liberals launched a National Action Plan focusing on gender-based violence in November 2022, aiming to tackle these critical issues comprehensively.
Source
globalnews.ca