NDP tables opposition bill to declare domestic violence an epidemic

Nova Scotia’s opposition New Democrats have tabled legislation to declare domestic violence an epidemic in the province.

Leader Claudia Chender says the bill would legislate a recommendation to all levels of government from the commission of inquiry that investigated the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting.

Chender says formally designating intimate partner violence as an epidemic in legislation would underscore the seriousness of the issue, while validating survivors.

She says it would also be an important step by the Progressive Conservative government in treating the issue with the urgency required.

A statement from the NDP says Nova Scotia has the highest rates of intimate partner violence of any province in Canada, with over 30 per cent of women and 22.5 per cent of men who have been in a relationship reporting being physically or sexually assaulted by their partner.

The New Democrats are also calling on the province to expand paid leave for employees or their children who experience intimate partner violence to five days up from three, following British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and other jurisdictions across the country.