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Bill 43, Consent Awareness Week Act, 2025

Sattler, Peggy

Gilmour, Alexa

Pasma, Chandra

Wong-Tam, Kristyn

Current status:

First Reading Ordered for Second Reading

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Debates

Original

Bill 43 Original (PDF)

EXPLANATORY

NOTE

The

Bill proclaims the week beginning on the third Monday in September in each year

as Consent Awareness Week.

Bill 43 2025

Act to proclaim Consent Awareness Week

Preamble

Sexual

assault is one of the most underreported and pervasive forms of violence in

Canada. Across Ontario, students, parents, educators, unions, business leaders

and advocates call for an end to these harms of sexual assault in all sectors

and fields of work and study in the province, including but not limited to

technology and sport. A part of ending sexual assault is to foster a culture of

safety and respect that ensures that everyone, especially young people,

understands what consent means and how to practice it.

Building

consent culture requires awareness, open dialogue and shared responsibility.

Yet only 45 per cent of Canadians fully understand what consent entails. The

way people give, seek and interpret consent is shaped by a range of factors,

including gender, race, ability, sexuality and socioeconomic status.

The

consequences of not understanding and practicing consent are significant and

far-reaching. According to Statistics Canada in 2019, there were approximately

940,000 incidents of sexual assault, of which only 6 per cent were reported to

police. The majority of sexual assault survivors do not come forward due to

fear of stigma, disbelief or retaliation.

Sexual

assault is a highly gendered crime. A 2022 report from Statistics Canada found

that women and girls accounted for 90 per cent of victims in police-reported

sexual assaults, with a median victim age of 21. Youth aged 12 to 17

represented 30 per cent of all victims. Of those accused, 96 per cent were men

and boys. In most cases, the victim knew the accused. These statistics

underscore the urgent need for greater public understanding and practice of

consent.

Consent

Awareness Week invites Ontarians to have thoughtful, affirming, intersectional

and age-appropriate conversations about consent. Forty-five colleges and

universities across Ontario currently host and promote Consent Awareness Week

activities on their campuses. The Bill expands the opportunity for every

post-secondary institute to reflect on, champion and celebrate consent as a cornerstone

for all types of relationships, not just intimate ones. The week is also an

opportunity to explore valuable life skills related to consent, including

responding to rejection, articulating boundaries, respecting bodily autonomy

and actively listening to others.

Consent

Awareness Week will be held during the third week of September each year. This

week was chosen to recognize and raise awareness of the increase in sexual

violence across post-secondary campuses during the first six weeks of a new

academic year. The week will be an annual reminder that Ontarians have the

right to be respected and safe where they live, work, study and play.

Therefore,

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of

the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Consent

Awareness Week

The

week beginning on the third Monday in September in each year is proclaimed as

Consent Awareness Week.

Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

The

short title of this Act is the Consent Awareness Week

Act, 2025 .

Date Bill stage Event Outcome Committee

June 3, 2025

First Reading

Ordered for Second Reading

June 3, 2025

First Reading

Vote

Carried

First Reading

June 3, 2025

Carried

Ordered for Second Reading

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