Gender-based violence spikes 5 years after Nova Scotia mass shooting

Five years have passed since the worst mass shooting in modern Canadian history, a tragic event that began with a brutal assault on Lisa Banfield by her common-law husband, Gabriel Wortman. This heinous act of violence set off a chain of events that resulted in the deaths of 22 people in rural Nova Scotia before Wortman was shot dead by police.

In the aftermath of this horrific event, an inquiry was launched to investigate the murders and to make recommendations aimed at preventing a similar tragedy from occurring in the future. The inquiry issued 130 recommendations, including several that called on governments to do more to address the epidemic of gender-based violence in Canada.

However, nearly two years later, little progress has been made in implementing these recommendations. While there has been more discussion and increased funding for programs supporting survivors of gender-based violence, experts in the field say that not enough has changed on the ground.

Recent data from Nova Scotia police shows a disturbing spike in the number of deaths resulting from intimate partner violence, with seven women killed in the province in just six months. This rise in violence is deeply concerning, especially given the strong link researchers have found between intimate partner violence and mass shootings.

A 2021 study of mass shootings in the United States found that a significant number of perpetrators had a history of domestic violence. Similarly, data from Statistics Canada shows that two-thirds of gender-related homicides in Canada are committed by an intimate partner.

One key recommendation from the inquiry was to appoint an independent gender-based violence commissioner to lead a coordinated national approach to addressing gender-based violence. However, this recommendation has yet to be acted upon by the federal government.

Advocacy groups like the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) are calling on political parties to commit to appointing a commissioner and to provide epidemic-level funding for gender-based violence prevention and intervention. While some parties have made promises to address intimate partner violence, more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of women and children affected by gender-based violence.

The daughter of one of the victims of intimate partner violence, Tara Graham, spoke out about the persistent victim-blaming that continues to overshadow discussions about domestic violence. Graham’s mother, Brenda Tatlock-Burke, was killed by her husband in a tragic murder-suicide, highlighting the need for a shift in the way we talk about and respond to gender-based violence.

As the anniversary of the Nova Scotia mass shooting approaches, it is clear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of gender-based violence in Canada. Implementing the recommendations of the inquiry and appointing a gender-based violence commissioner are crucial steps towards creating a safer and more equitable society for all.