New Democrats push to prevent and address gender-based violence

HALIFAX –The NSNDP is forcing debate today on their bill to provide stable, core funding for gender-based violence prevention. The debate will begin following Question Period.

“Seven lives have been lost to intimate partner violence in a matter of months. The time for piecemeal solutions is over,” said NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender. “The organizations working on the front lines to support survivors and prevent future violence need stable, long-term funding. This is an epidemic, and it requires an epidemic-level response.”

The NDP’s Gender-Based Violence Prevention Funding Act would legislate a recommendation from the Mass Casualty Commission and ensure organizations receive continuous core funding rather than relying on inconsistent short-term grants.

“Community organizations that address gender-based violence in our province are too often operating in survival mode. It’s really hard for them to do this important work when they’re not sure what their funding is going to look like next year,” said Kristina Fifield, a social worker and trauma therapist who represents the gender-based advocacy sector on the Progress Monitoring Committee of the Mass Casualty Commission. “It’s crucial that these organizations and their staff are properly supported so they can provide vital services to survivors of gender-based violence.”

NDP Leader Claudia Chender will also reintroduce legislation to restrict the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of harassment and discrimination.

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