TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC — April 4, 2025 — Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has unveiled a sweeping proposal to confront Canada’s rising levels of intimate partner violence, pledging the toughest sentencing laws in Canadian history and aggressive reforms to how the justice system handles domestic abuse cases.
Speaking in Trois-Rivières, Poilievre outlined a plan he says will prioritize victims, restore public safety, and end what he called a “catch-and-release” justice culture. The announcement comes amid renewed national concern about the alarming rate of partner violence and femicide in Canada.
New Offence, No More Loopholes
At the heart of the plan is the creation of a new Criminal Code offence: “Assault of an Intimate Partner”, which would carry harsher penalties than standard assault charges and signal a targeted legal response to the domestic violence crisis.
In addition, a Conservative government would:
-
Mandate strictest bail conditions for anyone accused of intimate partner violence, including GPS ankle bracelet monitoring;
-
Enforce immediate incarceration for any breach of bail conditions;
-
End the reduction of partner murder charges to manslaughter on the grounds of “crime of passion,” reclassifying such killings — including those of a partner’s child — as first-degree murder.
The Numbers: A National Crisis
Poilievre cited stark data:
-
A woman is murdered every 2.5 days in Canada;
-
In over 50% of these cases, the perpetrator is the victim’s partner;
-
In 2023, 123,319 Canadians aged 12 and older reported intimate partner violence to police.
While family violence had been on the decline from 2009 to 2014, Poilievre claims the trend reversed after 2015. Since then, intimate partner violence is up 19%, while sexual assaults and sexual offences against children have surged by 75% and 119%, respectively.
Politics 2.0: Justice Reform as Campaign Battleground
Poilievre linked the rise in violence to what he described as “soft-on-crime” laws introduced by Liberal governments. He pointed to a justice system that he says increasingly favours offenders over victims, citing policies that allow repeat violent offenders to re-enter communities while awaiting trial.
“Those who abuse their partners or their children should be off the streets and behind bars,” said Poilievre. “We will restore the safe Canada we know and love — a country that protects peace, security, and opportunity for all.”
The Conservative campaign is one of stark contrasts. First off the Conservative leader has been quick off the mark to drop four candidates who had made social media posts that put the party in a bad light. This is a sharp contrast to Mark Carney who stood by a Liberal candidate until calls for the RCMP to investigate came forward. The contrast here is that Poilievre is a little more politically savvy and ruthless than Carney.
An Edmonton candidate for the Liberals was forced to step down after a Juno News indepth investigation revealed domestic violence charges from ten years ago. The upstart Juno News has the piece behind a paywall, and are complaining that CBC took their work and ran a far less severe story.
At question of course for both the Liberals and Conservatives who are facing some issues with candidates is that the vetting procedures appear not as effective as they should be in today’s social media era of politics.
The Conservatives are positioning public safety as a cornerstone of their 2025 platform, with a particular focus on women, children, and vulnerable communities.
What It Means for Northwestern Ontario
For communities like Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario, where access to services for domestic violence survivors can already be limited, Poilievre’s proposed reforms could represent significant changes.
Advocacy groups in the region have long called for stricter enforcement, faster protective measures, and more funding for shelters and trauma services.
While some legal experts caution against mandatory sentencing models and call for a broader approach that includes prevention and mental health, the Conservative message appears clear: swift justice, visible accountability, and prioritizing victim safety.
