The provincial government has announced a slew of new initiatives aimed at ending gender-based violence.

First, Women and Gender Equality Minister Pam Parsons will chair a ministerial committee to end gender-based violence.

The committee will include ministers across several other government departments.

But, as Parsons explains there will also be room for community input into the committee’s work.

She says they will be talking to people with lived experience and experts from various organizations, which will be happening consistently.

Justice Minister Bernard Davis has also announced more resources for the RNC’s Intimate Partner Violence Unit, as well as three other policy changes:

The RCMP will adopt a new policy to allow for the anonymous storage of sexual assault nurse examiner kits, The RNC will adopt the national Violence Against Women Advocate Case Review model, and both of those police forces will establish a joint committee to oversee intimate partner violence matters.

Davis says the recommendations for the changes came from the Policing Transformation Working Group’s consultations with stakeholders.

He says the recommendations are things people have been asking for, and they are now in a position to move on them.