Mr. Speaker, in the time it takes to deliver this statement, another survivor of intimate partner violence will call for help. IPV is happening now, and 106 Ontario municipalities, including Guelph, have declared it an epidemic. It is pervasive, and we must end it. During the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, let us acknowledge our shared responsibility, work to change the norms that allow violence to persist, and ensure support for survivors.
I thank everyone leading Guelph's 16 days campaign: the CFUW, Guelph Public Library, the Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Diversity and Empowerment, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation, Out on the Shelf, Queer Night Out, the student wellness centre at the University of Guelph, Thrive HIV Prevention & Support and Zonta Club of Guelph. I thank all the frontline organizations that support survivors and work toward prevention every single day.
Everyone deserves safety, justice and dignity.