September 30th, 2015

Premier’s reductions to offender intervention programs put woman and children at risk: NDP

NDP Women’s Issues critic Peggy Sattler called on the Premier to stop ignoring experts and community leaders who are sounding the alarm about recent changes to the Partner Assault Response (PAR) Program. 

“Will the Premier stop ignoring the advice of experts and community leaders? Will she place a moratorium on any further cuts to PAR and instead start listening to the voices of survivors, PAR providers, community service agencies and criminal justice professionals in reviewing the PAR program?” asked Sattler, MPP for London West.

The 2009 report of the Domestic Violence Advisory Council recommended that PAR be strengthened, not watered down. The report also recommends differentiated responses to intervention instead of a one-size-fits-all to help screen out violent offenders who shouldn’t be in the program, and provide access to abusers who voluntarily want to change. 

“These changes were made without any meaningful consultation and are putting women and children at risk,” said Sattler. “Why did the government choose to completely ignore the advice that was received in 2009 from experts and community leaders on making PAR an essential part of a co-ordinated and integrated response to violence against women?”