April 29, 2010

DRIEDGER RENEWS CALL FOR ACTION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

NDP cut domestic violence unit at Headingley jail; refuse to pass innovative legislation

After cutting the specialized domestic violence unit at Headingley Correctional Centre, the NDP government today refused to pass innovative legislation to help curb domestic violence.

A Private Members Bill was introduced today for the second time by Progressive Conservative Status of Women Critic Myrna Driedger, requiring domestic violence deaths in Manitoba to be reviewed every year. The NDP government refused to allow the bill to proceed. 

Driedger said, if passed, The Domestic Violence Death Review Committee Act would establish a review committee to examine trends, risk factors and gaps in programming and resources available for victims of domestic violence. The multidisciplinary committee would report their findings to government.

“Any clues we can derive from incidents of abuse can help experts develop more effective prevention and intervention strategies,” said Driedger, noting that a similar committee has existed in Ontario since 2003 and has made numerous important findings and recommendations.

Driedger added that because inquiries are costly and often take years to complete, this committee will be a more effective way of gathering evidence to tackle the root causes of the problem and hopefully help prevent future tragedies.

In 2005, a Statistics Canada report found that Manitoba had the highest rate of spousal homicide in the country – a statistic that Driedger says means more needs to be done in our province.  Despite these troubling statistics, the NDP government cut the specialized domestic violence unit at Headingley Correctional Centre and has made no further progress towards establishing the recommended death review committee.

“Domestic violence is an ongoing problem in our communities, and the NDP government is dragging its feet,” said Driedger.  “Action is needed now.”

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For more information, please contact:

Rochelle Squires, Acting Director of Media Relations

Manitoba Progressive Conservative Caucus

Tel: (204) 945-5519  Cell: (204) 791-8221

Email: rochelle.squires@leg.gov.mb.ca