SELECT COMMITTEE ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT TABLES FINAL REPORT

QUEEN’S PARK – Progressive Conservative Critic for Women’s Issues Laurie Scott (MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock) and MPP Sylvia Jones (Dufferin-Caledon) are pleased that the Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment tabled the final report today.

“After months of hard work, listening to survivors, family members, advocates, and health care, justice and social support workers across the province, the committee has come out with a report that presents many important recommendations for Ontario,” said Scott.

On November 24th, 2014, MPP Scott, who also served as the Vice-Chair of the Committee, introduced a motion in the Legislature to create a Select Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment. Over a year later, the Committee’s final report has presented 67 recommendations that touch on several ministries, including: Attorney General; Education; Training, Colleges and Universities; Francophone Affairs; Aboriginal Affairs; and Health and Long-Term Care.

“I would like to congratulate all members of the Committee for coming together to combat these issues that affect many Ontarians,” said Scott. “Together we have accomplished something that will hopefully benefit our province for years to come.”

Scott was also pleased that the Committee provided recommendations on combatting human trafficking. Human trafficking as a form of modern slavery is an underground and fast growing crime that affects girls and women all across Ontario. MPP Scott’s motion – which received unanimous support from all members back in May 2015 – called for the creation of a province-wide anti-trafficking task force.

The taskforce would create a unit in which police officers, Crown prosecutors, and social workers would work collaboratively to apprehend criminals and assist survivors.

The Committee’s final report recommends that the government work on a province-wide strategy to combat human trafficking and promote more collaboration between services in order to help trafficking survivors.

“I will continue to work hard to try and abolish human trafficking in Ontario,” said Scott. “With these new recommendations in hand, I will move forward with this issue and do what needs to be done to make sure that combatting this heinous crime is a priority for this government.”

To read the full report, click here