REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck responded to Statistics Canada’s latest report. It shows that Saskatchewan has the worst levels of intimate partner violence in Canada at double the national average.
“I think what we’ve seen from this government is a consistent pattern of turning a blind eye to this serious issue,” said Beck. “Intimate partner violence has gotten considerably worse under Scott Moe. Actions speak louder than words, though we have not had much of either from this government. It’s time to take real action.”
Data released today by Statistics Canada indicates that Saskatchewan has the worst rates of police-reported intimate partner violence among Canadian provinces: 732 per 100,000 population. The national average is 346 and the second worst province is Manitoba at 633.
Documents obtained by the Opposition through written questions also indicate that not nearly enough is being done to fix the issue. At the government’s last count, 291 people were waitlisted for seeking to access sexual assault counselling services. The average wait time to see a counsellor in the north of the province is three to six months.
The Moe government has recently committed to providing operational funding for second-stage shelters, something the Opposition has long called for. Saskatchewan was the second last province in Canada to commit to providing such funding.
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