45th Parliament · Session 1
Bill S-242: An Act respecting national action for the prevention of intimate partner violence
Georgina’s Law
Introduced
December 2, 2025
Current Stage
HouseAt2ndReading
Last Updated
May 27, 2026
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Bill S-242
Wed May 27 2026
An Act respecting national action for the prevention of intimate partner violence
Impact Rating
2/5
Short Summary
This law forces the government to formally and publicly report every two years on its efforts to prevent intimate partner violence and to consult with victims.
This bill, known as Georgina's Law, formalizes and requires the federal government to continue its national effort to prevent intimate partner violence. It does not create new programs or funding, but instead focuses on accountability and consultation. The law forces the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to hold annual meetings with federal and provincial counterparts to review programs and costs. Crucially, it also mandates regular consultations with victims, survivors, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders to ensure their voices are heard in the policy process, and requires a public progress report every two years.
Why does this bill exist?
Origin (Public Outcry/Event)
The bill, named 'Georgina's Law,' is a response to the ongoing national crisis of intimate partner violence and likely inspired by a specific tragic case, aiming to ensure government action is consistent and publicly reviewed.
The law legally mandates the Minister for Women and Gender Equality to continue leading the national action to prevent intimate partner violence.
The Minister must engage *annually* with other federal ministers and provincial ministers responsible for the status of women to review the adequacy and cost of current programs.
The government is legally required to consult *regularly* with Indigenous partners, victims, survivors, and stakeholders on policy effectiveness and partnerships.
A public report detailing progress on intimate partner violence action must be prepared, tabled in Parliament, and published on the departmental website every two years.
The engagements with ministers and stakeholders must begin within one year after the bill becomes law.
Victims and Survivors of Violence
(Rights Expanded)
Their voices and experiences are legally required to be part of the government's policy review process through mandatory regular consultations.
Provincial Governments
(Harder)
Provincial ministers responsible for the status of women must now commit to attending annual meetings with their federal counterpart to discuss program adequacy and strategy.
Everyday Citizens
(Neutral)
There is no direct change to daily routines or access to services, but there will be more public information available on government efforts and spending in this area.
Provincial Impact
Provincial Impact
The bill mandates annual engagement with provincial ministers responsible for the status of women. This forces provinces to commit time and resources to these consultations and policy reviews, making it a high level of required interaction.
Benefits & Pros
It formalizes a critical national effort, ensuring that addressing intimate partner violence is a mandatory and ongoing government priority, not subject to political whims.
It guarantees a voice for victims, survivors, and Indigenous partners by legally requiring the Minister to consult with them regularly.
It increases government transparency and accountability by mandating a public progress report be tabled in Parliament every two years.
It forces federal and provincial governments to coordinate their strategies and review the financial and constitutional implications of their actions annually.
Beneficiaries
Risks & Cons
The bill is purely procedural and does not allocate any new funding for support programs or shelters.
It does not create any new criminal offences or directly change any existing support services for victims.
The language for consultation, such as 'regularly' with stakeholders and 'continue to lead national action,' is vague and open to broad interpretation by the Minister.
Affected Groups
Before & After
Currently, the government can choose how often to review its intimate partner violence strategies and whether to consult with victims. Under this bill, the government is legally required to hold annual inter-ministerial meetings and table a public progress report in Parliament every two years.
Real World Scenario
Currently: A national women's shelter organization must lobby the Minister's office every year to get a meeting to discuss gaps in service funding. Under this Bill: The Minister is legally obligated to consult with that organization and other stakeholders 'regularly' as part of the formal national action review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
House of Commons
First reading
Completed on May 27, 2026
Second reading
Not yet started
Consideration in committee
Not yet started
Report stage
Not yet started
Third reading
Not yet started
Senate
First reading
Completed on December 2, 2025
Second reading
Completed on December 11, 2025
Third reading
Completed on February 24, 2026
Abuse Potential
This bill is largely procedural and imposes more accountability on the government, thus the potential for direct citizen abuse is low. However, the requirement for the Minister to 'continue to lead national action' is an open-ended mandate that could be used by a future government to justify expansive or overreaching federal programs under the guise of this law, potentially encroaching on areas of provincial jurisdiction. Furthermore, the requirement to consult 'regularly' with victims and stakeholders is not defined; a future Minister could technically satisfy this requirement with minimal or token engagement, claiming compliance without truly absorbing community feedback.
Implementation Risk
The implementation risk is low. The requirements are administrative, involving scheduling meetings and preparing reports. The main risk is that the government may satisfy the requirement with token consultations, given the vague language like 'regularly' and 'continue to lead national action.'
Broad Economic Impact
Indirect
Everyday Life
Minimal impact
Admin Burden
Automatic
Timeline
Phased in over 2 years. Engagements must start within one year, and the first public progress report must be tabled within two years of the bill becoming law.
