According to Statistics Canada, in 2019, firearms were used in more than 40 percent of homicides in Canada. There were over 107,000 victims of police-reported intimate-partner violence in Canada in 2019; of 660 of them, a firearm was present. Women accounted for almost 8 out of 10 victims of all incidents and were more likely to be the victim in the 660 incidents where a firearm…

Prior to the pandemic, we saw a worsening opioid epidemic that has devastated lives and communities across Canada, especially in Ontario and here in Waterloo Region. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the ongoing opioid overdose crisis in Canada. Isolation, stress, toxic supply, and reduced access to services have contributed to the epidemic. Canada suffered a 74 percent increase in…

The pandemic has made access to early learning and child care a universal issue that is resonating across sectors, regions, and income brackets. We know that during this pandemic, school and child care centre closures have been difficult for parents; some have had to leave their jobs or reduce their hours significantly. Without access to child care, parents – especially women, cannot…

Our government remains committed to the health and safety of Canadians as we combat COVID-19, and we’re doing everything we can to get Canadians vaccinated as quickly as possible. Now more than ever, it’s important to follow local public health guidelines like wearing masks and practicing physical distancing, avoiding all non-essential travel, and using the…