Georgina's Law passes Senate, moving one step closer to intimate partner violence strategy

A private member's bill calling on Canada to create a national strategy to prevent intimate partner violence passed on the floor of the Senate Tuesday night, largely thanks to the work of two Newfoundlanders.

Bill S-249, also known as Georgina's Law, would give Canada two years to create the strategy if passed into law. It would also require the government of the time to give an update on the strategy and how work is progressing every two years.

The bill's namesake, Georgina McGrath of Branch, N.L., cried in the viewing area as members of the Senate applauded her.

"That moment was surreal. Very emotional," Branch told CBC News from Ottawa on Wednesday. "Last night was just amazing. [It's] something that we've worked through for such a long period of time. But we got there last night."

McGrath told the Senate in April she faced constant physical, mental and emotional abuse for years. A beating on Sept. 25, 2014 nearly took her life, she said.

"The bruises, they go away. But even last night in the Senate, after 10 years, it's still just as fresh as it happened yesterday," she said.

WATCH | From a personal and harrowing experience to a standing ovation in the Senate:

An abuse survivor, N.L.’s Georgina McGrath sees bill that bears her name pass in the Senate

3 days ago

Duration 7:37

After seven years of working together, Georgina McGrath of Branch and senator Fabian Manning saw Bill S-249 pass in the Senate and receive a standing ovation. Known as Georgina’s Law, it gives Canada two years to create a national strategy to prevent intimate partner violence. The CBC’s Carolyn Stokes spoke with McGrath and Manning about their years-long effort.

McGrath and Newfoundland and Labrador Senator Fabian Manning have been working to move the bill toward the House of Commons since 2017.

"I didn't think that it would take this long, but, you know, the Chinese philosopher said that, you know, 'Every great journey starts with a single step,'" said Manning. "The single step was when I sat down with Georgina, and last night we completed a major hurdle."

Manning said he sees great value in naming the bill after McGrath.

"It personalizes the bill. It gives a personal story that people can relate to, that is the story of many, many women in this country," he said.

Manning hopes the bill can move into the House of Commons in short order, but knows it could take time given a period of government gridlock..

McGrath said she hopes other advancements can spawn from the bill, like education and more resources for survivors.

"Intimate partner violence victims need resources. They need to know that there is something out there for them. They need so many support systems," she said. 

"But for me personally, the most important thing that I think that they need to know, and one of the reasons that I started this in the beginning, is that they're not alone."

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.