The landscape of family law and survivor support in Ontario has fundamentally shifted. After years of advocacy from frontline workers, legal professionals, and survivors, the provincial government has passed Bill 55, the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025. This landmark legislation officially declares intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic across the province, unlocking new legal avenues and resources for those seeking safety and justice.

For survivors in Toronto, where the need for support is often most acute, this Act is more than just a declaration—it's a powerful new tool. This article will break down what the Act is, its key timelines, and, most importantly, how it can be used in court filings.

At its core, the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025 is a formal recognition by the Province of Ontario that IPV is a pervasive and critical public health and safety issue. This declaration is not merely symbolic; it triggers a series of legal and systemic responses designed to protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

The key provisions of the Act include:

• Official Declaration of an Epidemic: The Act legally defines IPV as an epidemic. This allows judges in family and criminal court to take what is known as "judicial notice" of the crisis, meaning the widespread and serious nature of IPV is an accepted fact that does not need to be proven in individual cases.

• Mandatory Training on Coercive Control: The Act mandates specialized training for all provincially appointed judges, Crown attorneys, and police officers on the dynamics of intimate partner violence, with a specific focus on coercive control. This ensures the justice system is better equipped to recognize and respond to the non-physical patterns of abuse that are often precursors to violence.

• Streamlined Access to Protection Orders: The legislation simplifies the process for obtaining restraining orders and exclusive possession orders (granting a survivor sole use of the family home). The burden of proof is adjusted to reflect the power imbalances inherent in abusive relationships.

• Increased and Stabilized Funding: Bill 55 allocates dedicated, multi-year funding to shelters, sexual assault centres, and community legal clinics, with priority given to high-volume urban centres like Toronto.

The Act will be rolled out in phases. Understanding these dates is crucial for survivors and the legal professionals who support them.

• Royal Assent & Immediate Effect (June 2025): The Bill officially became law. The declaration of IPV as an epidemic took immediate effect and can be cited in court proceedings now.

• Phase 1 - Funding and Resource Allocation (Summer-Fall 2025): The first wave of new funding is being distributed to frontline organizations across Ontario. Toronto-based services will begin expanding their capacity for intake, legal support, and counselling.

• Phase 2 - Mandatory Training Rollout (Beginning October 2025): The new training modules for justice sector professionals will begin. Full implementation and certification are expected by mid-2026.

• Phase 3 - New Court Forms and Procedures (January 2026): The Ministry of the Attorney General will release updated court forms that specifically reference the Act. These forms will guide applicants in framing their requests for protection in the context of the IPV epidemic.

For a survivor in Toronto heading to the Superior Court of Justice on University Avenue, the Act provides concrete advantages. Here’s how it can be used:

When you draft your affidavit (your sworn written statement to the court), you or your lawyer can now directly reference the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025.

• What to write: A powerful opening statement in your affidavit could be: "I am bringing this motion for protection in the context of the provincially declared intimate partner violence epidemic, as recognized by the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025."

• Why it matters: This immediately frames your personal experience within a broader, recognized crisis. It tells the judge that your case is not an isolated incident but part of a systemic problem that the legislature has directed the courts to address with urgency and severity.

The Act strengthens arguments for specific types of court orders. When filing a motion, you can use the Act to bolster your request for:

• An Urgent Restraining Order: Argue that the recognized "epidemic" nature of IPV necessitates an immediate order to prevent escalation, even if the other party hasn't been served with court documents yet (an ex parte motion).

• Exclusive Possession of the Home: Connect the need for stable housing to your safety. You can argue that in light of the IPV epidemic, removing the source of harm (the abuser) is more critical than the inconvenience to the other party.

• Supervised Parenting Time: If children have been exposed to the abuse, cite the Act and the known impacts of the IPV epidemic on child development to argue that all contact between the other parent and the children must be professionally supervised to ensure their physical and emotional safety.

With the Act’s emphasis on coercive control, you can more effectively present evidence of non-physical abuse. This includes:

• Financial abuse (controlling all access to money)

• Isolation (preventing you from seeing friends or family)

• Technological abuse (monitoring your phone or social media)

• Threats and intimidation

Previously, it was challenging to make a judge see the severity of these patterns. Now, you can state that this behaviour is a recognized form of abuse under the new legislative framework, and the judge will have been trained to understand its significance.

In a city as large and dense as Toronto, the demand for survivor services consistently outstrips supply. The dedicated funding from Bill 55 is expected to help organizations like the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, Assaulted Women's Helpline, and WomanACT to reduce waitlists and enhance their legal, counselling, and housing support programs.

The Toronto Police Service will also be under increased scrutiny to implement the new training and protocols effectively, hopefully leading to more informed and trauma-aware responses to domestic calls.

The Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2025 is a monumental step forward for Ontario. It provides survivors in Toronto and beyond with a stronger voice in the justice system. However, legislation alone is not a cure. It is a tool that must be used effectively by lawyers and understood by survivors.

If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, know that this new law is on your side. Reach out to a qualified family lawyer or a local Toronto support service to understand how you can use it to build a safer future for yourself and your family.

---

The Act has two main goals: First, to legally require the Government of Ontario to recognize intimate partner violence as an epidemic. Second, to create a special committee to ensure the 86 recommendations from the Renfrew County inquest are acted upon, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Declaring IPV an epidemic elevates it to a public health crisis. This is not just symbolic; it is intended to unlock more significant and stable funding for shelters and support services, mandate better training for police and healthcare professionals, and shift the focus from solely crisis response to long-term prevention strategies.

This committee will be a formal body created by the Attorney General, made up of ministry officials and community experts on domestic violence. Its sole job is to review the 86 recommendations made following the 2015 Renfrew County femicides and create a concrete plan for the government to implement them. The committee will publish annual reports to hold the government accountable for its progress.

For a survivor in Toronto, this Act means that the systems they turn to for help—from police to courts to healthcare—should become more integrated and better funded. The focus on implementing the inquest recommendations could lead to more effective safety planning, better-informed court decisions, and more resources for community organizations that provide direct support like counselling, legal aid, and housing assistance.

That is the explicit hope of advocacy groups supporting the bill. By officially declaring IPV an epidemic, it strengthens the argument for sustained, long-term investments in the chronically underfunded gender-based violence sector. This could lead to more available shelter beds, shorter waitlists for counselling, and expanded support programs in Toronto.

As of August 2025, the bill (known as Bill 55) has been introduced and re-tabled in the Ontario Legislature. It has strong support from community organizations and opposition parties. However, it still needs to pass through the full legislative process, including debates and votes, before it receives Royal Assent and becomes law.