Women in Ontario have long faced barriers to their success, including gender bias, discrimination and the undervaluing of female-dominated work. For generations, women have found ways to overcome these barriers — through collaboration, persistence and incredible tenacity. But barriers still exist. Far too many women have limited choices for the kind of work they do; or face limits on how far their careers can go. And in turn, they don't benefit equally from the economy and the economy doesn't benefit from the many and varied skills, qualifications and experiences that women have to offer.
Ontario's economy is performing well. This is largely due to the businesses and entrepreneurs who create jobs and to the women and men who get up each morning to go to the plant, or the office, or another place of work to make Ontario a more prosperous province.
At the same time, the government has made strategic investments to support growth. Enhanced education, skills and training, new infrastructure, a competitive business environment and support for startups and small businesses are helping create good jobs.
A Better Way Forward: Ontario's 3-Year Anti-Racism Strategic Plan is the province's commitment to change the way we do things and break down barriers to advance racial equity. This means reviewing government policies, programs and services to find ways for everyone to have better opportunities and outcomes. It's about making sure government is here to serve and support everyone.
Significant and important progress was made in the plan's first year – including the launch of the award-winning #WhoWillYouHelp campaign, which received more than 85 million views worldwide, raised awareness and shifted attitudes. In addition, an updated Health and Physical Education curriculum was implemented in all publically funded schools; stabilized and increased funding was provided to community-based sexual assault centres and additional investments were made in hospital-based Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres.
Ontario is committed to ending all forms of violence against anyone based on their gender, gender expression or gender identity. Investments as part of It's Never Okay: Ontario's Gender-Based Violence Strategy will help survivors and families get the support they need, when and where they need it—while helping to prevent violence by intervening early.
This guide explains what every worker, supervisor, employer and constructor needs to know about workplace violence and workplace harassment requirements in the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It describes everyone's rights and responsibilities, and answers in plain language the questions that are most commonly asked about these requirements.
LEAF seeks a legal approach that addresses the equality rights of women both as accused persons and complainants in HIV non-disclosure cases and protects women's equality rights in the law of sexual offences more generally.
The following summarizes LEAF's position, which we explain further below:
- HIV non-disclosure should not be treated as a sexual offence.
- Where HIV non-disclosure results in actual transmission of the virus, prosecution may be appropriate under non-sexual Criminal Code offences, ensuring that those who contract HIV from irresponsible partners receive protection from the criminal law.
- However, even where transmission takes place, prosecutorial guidelines should ensure that HIV positive women who are victims of violence, coercion or sexual assault are not prosecuted for their failure to disclose their HIV status when that failure is itself a product of the violence or threats of violence committed against them.
- The law of sexual assault is intended to promote women's equality. As explained below, this requires affirming the broad scope of consent in sexual assault law and ensuring that the approach to fraud in the context of sexual assault prioritizes and protects women's bodily and sexual autonomy.
We the Jury, on behalf of the citizens of Ontario, wish to express our sincere condolences to the families of Arlene May and Randy Iles. The effects that this tragedy has had on their families is well understood and has been held in high priority during this inquest.
As we approach the millennium we are faced with the reality of the violence occurring to women and children in our society. Until we as a country stand up and declare a 'Zero Tolerance', this problem will not only continue, but in this jury's opinion, will escalate.
It is our belief that every person has an equal right to be protected from abuse. A combined effort must be made by our Government and Communities in order to put an end to family violence. The myths attached to family violence must be dispelled. Domestic violence is a Criminal Offence and must never be viewed as a 'private matter'.
The General Assembly, Recognizing the urgent need for the universal application to women of the rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of all human beings, Noting that those rights and principles are enshrined in international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment