Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise this morning on behalf of my neighbours in Oshawa to speak in strong support of Bill C-225, a bill that would protect victims, hold repeat offenders accountable and strengthen Canada's ability to respond to the growing epidemic of intimate partner violence.
For 10 years, Canadians have lived under Liberal hug-a-thug policies that have made our communities less safe. Crime, chaos and disorder have become a daily reality in too many neighbourhoods, including in my own hometown of Oshawa.
Intimate partner violence is nothing short of an epidemic in this country. It has been said before that, every 48 hours, a woman or girl is killed in Canada. That means, by that statistic, since the House was sitting last, a woman was killed due to intimate partner violence. By the time we sit on Wednesday, another woman will be killed by intimate partner violence, and again on Friday, and so on and so forth. It is impossible to hear “every 48 hours” and not feel the weight of what we are up against. Behind each heartbreaking news headline, real families are suffering, because Canada's broken criminal justice system is not working. The human cost of these reckless policies is devastating.
According to Statistics Canada's most recent report, intimate partner violence grew by 14% between 2018 and 2024. In 2024 alone, more than one-quarter of all victims of violent crime were victimized by a current or former intimate partner. These are not just numbers; they are lives. As a mother of two children, I think about the kind of Canada I want them to grow up in: a Canada where the justice system protects the vulnerable, where violent repeat offenders are held accountable and where no child has to witness the suffering or loss of a parent because the system failed to do its job.
Canadians have not forgotten and will not forget the tragic story of Bailey McCourt, a young woman whose life was stolen just hours after the judicial system failed her. Her husband murdered her three hours after he was convicted for assault and threats. He walked out of court and carried out a fatal attack on Bailey. This is why I am proud to stand here today in support of Bailey's law.
As a mother, I cannot imagine the grief her family carries. I cannot imagine the unimaginable pain of telling a child why their mother is gone. No family should ever live through that. Unfortunately, stories like Bailey's are not isolated. Intimate partner violence is significantly under-reported, with just 36%, one-third, of intimate partner violence cases reported. Victims are often caught in a cycle of fear, trauma and economic dependence. Far too often, they feel trapped, unheard and unprotected by the very system that is supposed to safeguard them.
In 2024, police reported 142,724 victims of family violence, which included nearly 130,000 victims of intimate partner violence. Since 2014, there have been 1,755 family-related homicides in Canada, and nearly six in 10 of the victims were women or girls. More than 25,000 children and youth were victims of family violence last year, along with more than 7,600 seniors. These numbers are disturbing, and each represents a broken home, a traumatized child or a family that will never be the same. They show that the epidemic of intimate partner violence is escalating.
Doing nothing is not an option. Bill C-225, introduced by my colleague, the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, is a serious, targeted and urgently needed response, which is why I was proud to jointly second this bill in this session. One important step that C-225 would make is that the murder of a current or former intimate partner is automatically deemed first-degree murder, whether it was planned or not. This reflects the tragic reality that intimate partner killings often follow long patterns of control, coercion and escalating violence. It would guarantee that the harshest penalties would be applied in these cases.
Bill C-225 would also create clear stand-alone offences for intimate partner violence, including assault, assault with a weapon, causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, criminal harassment and uttering threats. This legislation additionally would empower courts to order risk-of-reoffending assessments at any stage. It would allow judges to detain an accused person for a short period to complete a professional assessment when needed to protect victims. The bill also would modernize how seized evidence is handled, extending retention periods to ensure investigations are thorough and victims remain safe.
I want to take a moment to thank Victim Services of Durham Region, Luke's Place and The Denise House, all located in my hometown of Oshawa. These organizations do extraordinary work supporting survivors, advocating for safety and providing a lifeline to women, men and children in danger. I also want to thank the intimate partner violence unit of the Durham Regional Police Service, which is also based in Oshawa, for its dedicated efforts to respond to these cases with professionalism, compassion and urgency.
Oshawa formally declared intimate partner violence an epidemic this past March. The Denise House, a 33-bed shelter for women and children fleeing violence, shared with me the reality behind that declaration. Last year, it supported more than 300 women but was forced to turn away more than 600 others because there was simply no space. Most of the women seen at The Denise House have experienced repeat violence, and Durham regional police continue to see intimate partner violence calls rise by about 25% each year.
The people at The Denise House also told me that ensuring repeat perpetrators are held in custody is essential because it allows women and children to remain safely in their homes, reduces pressure on overcrowded shelters and prevents the destabilizing displacement that often follows violent incidents. They also stressed that too many offenders are released on bail or receive sentences that do not match the seriousness of their crimes or their actions, creating a dangerous disparity compared to similar offences outside intimate relationships. When weapons are involved, the risk of a woman's being killed increases five-fold. That is why stronger sentencing provisions matter.
Because a woman's risk of harm increases when she seeks help, The people at The Denise House believe that Bill C-225's risk assessment mechanism would have the potential to save lives, especially considering the 43 femicides recorded in Ontario in the past year. Ultimately, the people at The Denise House shared that Bill C-225 would be a meaningful and necessary step forward in improving safety and accountability for survivors. Their perspectives are essential. They are the ones on the front lines. Victims are falling through the cracks and legislative change is so urgently needed.
This bill should be bipartisan. It should pass swiftly through the House and through committee and on to the other House, where I would like to see this bill pass very soon so that we can see real change for women, children and families who are suffering. Victims deserve more than words and promises. They deserve action and a Canada that protects them, believes them and makes their safety a priority. As a mother, I want every child to grow up free from fear in a country where justice is real and violence is never tolerated. Bill C-225 would move us closer to that Canada.