That the following actions be taken with respect to the communication from Mayor J. Morgan regarding Intimate Partner Violence and Femicide as an epidemic:
a) the issues of violence against women and girls in London BE RECOGNIZED as serious to the health and wellness of local families; it being noted that the City of London is committee to engaging with community partners to educate and support our residents about the seriousness and long-term danger of violence in our community;
b) Intimate Partner Violence and Femicide BE DECLARED an epidemic;
c) the Mayor BE REQUESTED to advocate the following:
i) that the Province of Ontario declare, in accordance with Recommendation #1 of the Renfrew Inquest, that Intimate Partner Violence is an epidemic; and
ii) that the Government of Canada be requested, in accordance with Recommendation #79 of the Renfrew Inquest, to explore adding the term “Femicide” and its definition to the Criminal Code to be used where appropriate in the context of relevant crimes; and
d) this resolution BE CIRCULATED to The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada, The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Charmaine A. Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, The Honourable Parm Gill, Minister of Red Tape Reduction, the London Police Services Board, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Ontario Big City Mayors caucus;
it being noted that the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee received a communication from J. Rodger, LCCEW Co-Chair, Executive Director, Anova and J. Dunn, LCCEWA Co-Chair, Executive Director, London Abused Women's Centre with respect to this matter.