Government Fails to Address Crisis in Rural Ontario

QUEENS PARK – “There is a crisis in rural Ontario,” said Randy Hillier (MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington) today in Question Period, while discussing the lack of action from the government on addressing the issues of domestic violence throughout rural Ontario.

“This government loves to point out their $1 million of funding over 2 years for their ‘rural realities’ program,” Hillier noted. “However, the reality in rural Ontario is that $1 million is a pittance without an ounce of protection or prevention for these women and families and certainly no cure.”
The Premier responded to the question by touting her latest investment to programs that support indigenous women without addressing the question or the issues presented by MPP Hillier. Then, in the supplementary, the Premier went on to proclaim she “will not takes lessons from this member [MPP Hillier] on how to support and how to invest in the women of this province.”
“The fact the Premier refuses to not only answer my questions concerning the safety of women and their families in rural settings, but that she flat out refuses to acknowledge that I, as not only the political representative of many women in a rural area, but also as a husband and as a father of a daughter, have some insight or experience into the issues I’m raising is deplorable and not representative of the kind of leader Ontario deserve,” Hillier explained.
“This premier has indirectly shown many times she does not care for the concerns of rural Ontario, but for her to directly say it in the House and completely ignore an ongoing crisis is shameful and concerning coming from someone in her position,” concluded Hillier.
You can watch the entirety of Hillier’s question here.