Georgina’s Law

Bill S-242, known as Georgina's Law, deals with how the federal government coordinates efforts to prevent intimate partner violence. It requires the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to continue leading national action on preventing and addressing violence between intimate partners, a term that includes current and former spouses, common-law partners, and dating partners.

The bill sets out specific consultation requirements. The Minister must meet annually with other federal ministers and provincial ministers responsible for the status of women, and must regularly engage with Indigenous partners, victims and survivors, and other stakeholders. These discussions must cover whether current programs and strategies are adequate, opportunities for partnerships, the financial and other costs involved, and any constitutional, legal, or jurisdictional issues. This consultation process must start within one year of the law taking effect.

Finally, the bill requires accountability through reporting. Within two years of the law receiving royal assent, and every two years afterward, the Minister must prepare a report on the progress of this national action and table it in both the House of Commons and the Senate. The report must then be posted publicly on the department's website within 30 days of being tabled.

This bill requires the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to lead ongoing national action on intimate partner violence, to engage regularly with other ministers and stakeholders, and to report periodically to Parliament.

• Who holds the duty — the Minister for Women and Gender Equality; no new body, office, or role is created.
• Engagement requirement — the Minister must meet annually with other federal and provincial ministers responsible for the status of women, and regularly with Indigenous partners, victims, survivors, and other stakeholders, on four listed topics (program adequacy, partnerships, costs, and constitutional/jurisdictional questions); these engagements must begin within one year of royal assent.
• Reporting — the Minister must table a progress report in both Houses of Parliament within two years of royal assent and every two years after that, then publish it on the departmental website within 30 days of tabling.
• Discretion — the Act does not define what "national action" must consist of, what programs or funding are required, or what outcomes must be achieved; the content of the Minister's engagement and reporting is left to the Minister's judgment.
• Oversight — the only accountability mechanism specified is the tabled report itself; the bill sets no penalties for non-compliance, no sunset clause, and no separate review or appeal process.