THUNDER BAY – Local northern MPPs from the New Democratic Party have issued a joint statement denouncing the systemic violence against Indigenous women and gender-diverse people of Ontario.
This comes following the death of Jenna Ostberg on Dec. 30 and the Special Investigations Unit's inquiry into the Thunder Bay Police Service's response to 911 calls connected to the incident.
"For over a year, we've been urging the Conservative government to take decisive action, including declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic to draw attention to the seriousness of the situation," Vaugeois wrote in a release.
"Unfortunately, their refusal to act leaves us with more tragic stories. Every domestic violence call should receive immediate attention. When the system fails, lives are lost."
Although Vaugeois does not downplay the seriousness of Ostberg’s death, especially due to the mystery surrounding the investigation, in an interview, Vaugeois makes it a point to highlight how the circumstances around the investigation into Ostberg's death show systemic gaps for women and gender-diverse people in the justice system.
"We know, in this case, there was a problem with 911, perhaps with the lack of uptake. We don't know exactly what happened, but we do know that many women do not feel safe in their interactions with police. We know that that is still an outstanding issue.
“We know that there are gaps in the legal system, for example, it's still very difficult for women to get restraining orders. Women need to be believed. People who are victims of gender-based violence or domestic violence need to be believed. They need to be supported where this spills into a political issue now,” Vaugeois continued.
She referenced the Renfrew inquest, which recommended the Ontario government declare gender-based and domestic violence an epidemic.
On a municipal level, the City of Thunder Bay has made a declaration, but Vaugeois believes that much of the work in the justice system needs to be done by higher levels of government.
“The province for whatever reason refuses to do it. Now, it's a symbolic gesture but money can follow symbolic gestures. We know that we've lost two support, community-based organizations in Thunder Bay in the past year. We also know that the funding is very, very tight for the organizations who are providing support for victims of violence and that does come down to a political issue,” said Vaugeois.
When asked why people might not feel safe calling the police, Vaugeois explained that she heard a specific case when a young Indigenous woman had an altercation with some intoxicated neighbour who cut down a tree in her backyard, “and the response was this is not a police matter.”
“Well, if it's not a police matter what does that mean? I mean, I believe the response was she should go outside and ask them not to do it. That's not an appropriate response. Nobody should have to go speak to somebody who's wielding an axe in their backyard. So, we know that there are problems,” said Vaugeois.
Vaugeois believes a solution is to create mechanisms for police and legal services to understand coercive control.
For example, she cites women who do not have financial independence or have children who struggle to leave an abusive relationship.
“When there is a domestic violence call, we need to make sure that everyone in policing is aware of that policy and acts on it," said Vaugeois.
MPP Sol Mamakwa also offered his condolences for Jenna Ostberg's family while addressing the lack of a system and equal system to protect Indigenous women across Ontario.
Mamakwa said, “we are witnessing a pattern of neglect within a system designed to perpetuate the struggles of First Nations. Unfortunately, it has reached a point where communities can't rely on the police's word, and families are forced to open separate investigations for justice.
“This is the Ontario Ford is comfortable with - institutional racism perpetuating a never-ending cycle. It's time for our elected leaders to change the status quo in a province built on colonialism," Mamakwa added.
Newswatch has reached out to PC Thunder Bay – Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland for comment. He has yet to respond to Vaugeois and Mamakwa’s joint statement.
