Closing out the first week of the spring sitting at the Legislature, deputy leader and Corrections and Policing critic Nicole Sarauer questioned the Sask. Party’s ability to fund a growing problem in the province, women fleeing domestic violence.
“Reports this morning show that each month 600 Saskatchewan women fleeing interpersonal violence are turned away from shelters because there isn’t enough space. We know women are at the greatest risk of domestic homicide in the days and hours after leaving their abusers, and to have these women turned away at the door is frankly unacceptable,” said Sarauer.
The report Sarauer is referring to was one published by CBC.
The report also said Saskatchewan shelters say the 600 turnaways in November are representative of most months and the number may actually be higher but many shelters only document cases of women and don’t count their children.
Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, said during question period that they are aware of the numbers of women being turned away from shelters and would like to explore opportunities to make changes.
“We need to prevent violence from happening in the first place. And that is all of our responsibilities, not just our emergency shelters but each one of us sitting in this great assembly,” said Beaudry-Mellor.
She added the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation has a number of social housing units that are primarily vacant and they have a policy to ensure that women fleeing domestic violence have access to that housing.
Sarauer relayed the fact even though federal dollars are on the table to build more of these spaces, operators can’t build them because Saskatchewan is one of only two provinces that does not provide operating funding for second-stage housing for survivors of domestic violence.
“I unfortunately, wasn’t aware that we were leaving money on the table and that we aren’t applying for some of those particular programs. That is something we’ll have to explore further,” said Beaudry-Mellor during a media scrum.
Beaudry-Mellor also said there needs to be more creativity when thinking about the issue of interpersonal violence and abuse.
“I would like to see it become a men’s issue, not a women’s issue because men unfortunately are the overwhelming perpetrators of violence and women are unfortunately the overwhelming number of victims,” said Beaudry-Mellor.
“We keep kind of making this a women’s issue, which in my mind seems to continue to burden women with the issue and the fact that they are victims of domestic and interpersonal violence. I think we need to reframe that conversation a little bit,” she added.
Sarauer said in a media scrum that there are opportunities for the Sask. Party to put their money where their mouth is in terms of taking this issue seriously.
“This is a challenge with this area when we see ministries only taking portions of an issue and pointing fingers at other ministries when they are feeling like there are shortcomings. This is the Sask. Party’s responsibility and it’s the Sask. Party’s fault if dollars are being left at the table and people are suffering as a result,” said Sarauer in a media scrum.
Beaudry-Mellor also said she is worried that no amount of money will change behaviours unless everyone starts having a different conversation.
“Of course, those investments are important, and of course we have to do everything we can when opportunities to present that are made available to us. I also think we need to have a different conversation about this. We need to turn the lens away from women being victims and amplify and highlight the number of women in our communities who are doing amazing things and are amazing partners in our communities.”
Jordan Stricker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Estevan Mercury