Act Now IPVNL

03/03/2026

A big thank you to C&S Unique Gifts and Newfoundland souvenirs for hosting the petition to have ankle monitoring implemented for serious or repeat intimate partner violence accused on bail.

They’ll be hosting the petition from Tuesday to Thursday.

Every signature counts! Plus a great reason to get out and support a local business😊

02/17/2026

Family Violence Leave
Worker Rights

In 2019, the Labour Standards Act was amended to recognize family violence and intimate partner violence (IPV). This leave may be used by those who are directly impacted, or who are the parents or caregivers of children affected by family violence.

Employees are entitled to 3 days of paid leave and 7 days of unpaid leave. These days may be used to seek medical attention or counselling, move house, enter a shelter, seek legal counsel, or access the justice system or other professional services.

You must be employed for more than 30 days to be eligible for this leave. You may be asked to provide a note to confirm the purpose of this leave. Your employers are legally bound to keep all information regarding IPV leave confidential. An employee cannot be fired for asking for or receiving this leave

IPV leave qualifies as “protected leave,” meaning you must be returned to working conditions that are not less favourable

Unused days expire at the end of each year and do not accrue

Posters on Workers’ Rights and Employer Obligations have been circulated with stakeholder organizations.

Want one for your workplace?
Email us at: [email protected]

Or print using the link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG_Eu2kEs4/A8LxAS5NqeCzMjxEvzGuzQ/view?utm_content=DAG_Eu2kEs4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h058dbf46ba

02/17/2026

Family Violence Leave
Employers’ Obligations

Under the Labour Standards Act, employees are entitled to 3 days of paid leave and 7 days of unpaid Family Violence Leave. These days may be used to seek medical attention or counselling, move house, enter a shelter, seek legal counsel, or access the justice system or other professional services.

An employee must be employed for more than 30 days to be eligible for this leave

You may request a note to confirm the purpose of this leave

You are legally bound to keep all information regarding IPV leave confidential

An employee cannot be fired for asking for or receiving this leave

IPV leave qualifies as “protected leave,” meaning you must return the employee to working conditions that are not less favourable

Unused days expire at the end of each year and do not accrue

Relevant managers in your company are aware of this important benefit and know how to respond to requests for this leave.

Does your workplace have a policy to address IPV? Organizations such as Violence Prevention Avalon East offer Workplace Bystander Awareness training, and the St. John’s Status of Women’s Council provides individualized Equity at Work consultations.

Posters on Workers’ Rights and Employer Obligations have been circulated with stakeholder organizations.

Want one for your workplace?
Email us at: [email protected]

Or posters can be printed here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG-gZmOwCc/nKet4jb0PMV-l71-FLZdOQ/view?utm_content=DAG-gZmOwCc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hb6f6035ad5

02/16/2026

House of Assembly Petition
Ankle Monitoring for Intimate Partner Violence Accused Released on Bail

Background
Our court dockets are full of breaches relating to conditional release orders (bail), and many of those breaches relate to intimate partner violence (IPV).

Real-time (active) GPS ankle monitoring has a proven track record of reducing all breaches, including violent breaches, when used with IPV accused.

Active GPS monitoring can place virtual zones of exclusion on homes, schools and workplaces, which automatically sound an alarm when the person fitted with an ankle monitor is about to violate conditions of release.

Mobile zones of exclusion can be placed on survivors who carry small, key chain-like devices, giving them the security to move freely when out in their communities.

Therefore, we, the
undersigned,
Call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to implement an active GPS ankle-bracelet monitoring program immediately as an option for the courts when those accused of seriously violent or repeat IPV offences are released on bail conditions.

To ensure its efficiency, the program should include GPS-based zones of exclusion around dwellings, workplaces and schools and GPS mobile zones of exclusion for victims who request this.

How to Support?
Petitions can be signed at Food For Thought, 84 Gower Street, St. John’s.

Or, petitions can be printed and signed using the link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uD4Ma7jyg9Luj9vD1a3YZMMUgS-YCHXvllCWSWnDFK8/edit

The House of Assembly only accepts wet signatures.

06/26/2024

On June 13th, our committee met with Justice Minister John Hogan. We brought forward our concerns regarding the explosive rates of Intimate Partner Violence in Newfoundland and Labrador, rates which are much higher than the national average.

Our group is committed to advocating for survivors, those surviving, and those who have lost their lives to IPV.

Our main objectives are:
- Electronic monitoring for those given bail and face serious IPV-related charges
- Use of a standardized risk assessment that is transferable between the RNC, courts, and community organizations
- Legislative continued education for judges and police that focuses explicitly on IPV. This training would focus on non-lethal strangulation and recognizing the signs of IPV

Our objectives have been implemented in provinces across Canada and have been proven to work. These are vital and potentially lifesaving measures that need to be enacted now.

06/26/2024

Check out Angie and Olivia's CBC St. John's Morning Show interview regarding a new committee calling for changes within the legal system, these changes are lifesaving measures and are tried and true in other provinces.

Click the link here to listen:

A new committee is pushing for changes to the legal system to help prevent intimate partner violence. Olivia Lynch is the executive director of Violence Prevention Avalon East. Angie Brenton is a Family Services Counsellor at Iris Kirby House. They told us all about the new committee pushing for ref...

06/26/2024

One of our committee members, Angie, was a guest on the Tim Powers show discussing our objectives. Fast forward to mark 22:00, to hear more.

An hour long discussion on the news of the day.