Bill 55 Original (PDF)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill enacts the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025. The Act requires the Government of Ontario to recognize that intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Ontario. The Act also provides that the Attorney General shall establish a Renfrew County Inquest Implementation Committee to consider the 86 recommendations issued in June 2022 by the Office of the Chief Coroner’s Jury Inquest into the Renfrew County triple femicide of 2015 and determine steps for implementing the recommendations and to monitor the progress the Government of Ontario subsequently makes on implementing the Committee’s recommendations. The Committee shall publish reports to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly and made available on a website of the Government of Ontario.
Bill 55 2025
An Act respecting intimate partner violence
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
Intimate partner violence epidemic
1 The Government of Ontario shall recognize that intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Ontario.
Renfrew County Inquest Implementation Committee
2 (1) The Attorney General shall, no more than 30 days after this section comes into force, establish a Renfrew County Inquest Implementation Committee.
Composition
(2) The Committee shall be composed of members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
Same
(3) The Committee shall consist of an equal number of,
(a) senior members of Ministries connected to the prevention of intimate partner violence; and
(b) community experts on intimate partner violence.
Chair
(4) One of the experts referred to in clause (3) (b) shall serve as the Chair.
Functions
(5) The Committee shall,
(a) consider the 86 recommendations issued in June 2022 by the Office of the Chief Coroner’s Jury Inquest into the Renfrew County triple femicide of 2015 and determine steps for implementing the recommendations; and
(b) monitor the progress the Government of Ontario subsequently makes on implementing the Committee’s recommendations.
Reports
(6) The Committee shall publish reports to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly and made available on a website of the Government of Ontario in accordance with the following:
1. The first report shall be published no later than 12 months after the Committee is established under subsection (1) and shall outline the steps the Committee has determined for implementing the recommendations.
2. Subsequent reports shall be published every 12 months and shall outline updates regarding the progress made on implementation by the Government of Ontario since the last report was published.
Remuneration and expenses
(7) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may determine,
(a) the expenses of any person appointed clause (3) (a); and
(b) the remuneration and expenses of any person appointed under clause (3) (b).
Appropriation required
(8) Subsection (7) does not apply unless money has been appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of that subsection.
Commencement
3 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
4 The short title of this Act is the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025.