06-23-2006, 07:00 AM
Private member's bill to remember Theresa Vince
Canadian Press
TORONTO â Ten years after Theresa Vince was shot to death by her boss in 1996, a member of the Ontario legislature is trying to mark her memory by establishing Sexual Harassment Awareness Week.
Legislation from Chatham-Kent-Essex member Pat Hoy that would dedicate the first week of June to raising awareness of sexual harassment passed second reading Thursday in the legislature.
Hoy drafted the legislation in memory of Vince, who was shot to death at work by her boss Russell Davis on June 2, 1996.
Passing its second reading, the bill now goes to the Justice Policy Committee before a final reading in the legislature.
Getting it passed would be an important first step towards preventing such tragedies in future and is a "positive step to keep the dialogue going'' on sexual harassment awareness, Hoy said.
All three parties voiced support for the legislation during debate Thursday. Conservative environment critic Laurie Scott said it "not only makes good moral and legal sense, it makes good business sense.''
Passing second reading in the Ontario legislature is considered approval in principle, although private member's bills rarely become law.
Michelle Schryer of the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre said the bill is important because it would increase the political will to further protect women from sexual harassment.
Until society can "genuinely recognize'' sexual harassment and take it seriously, "it will be extremely difficult to have any other work accomplished,'' Schryer said.
Vince had been sexually harassed by Davis for more than a year before he killed her, then took his own life.
The Ontario Women's Justice Network says 80 to 90 per cent of Canadian women will experience sexual harassment during their working lives.
Hoy said work is being done to raise awareness on other issues such as bullying in schools, and it's time sexual harassment was raised as well.
The public needs "to understand that this is not tolerable, that it should not happen,'' he said.
Canadian Press
TORONTO â Ten years after Theresa Vince was shot to death by her boss in 1996, a member of the Ontario legislature is trying to mark her memory by establishing Sexual Harassment Awareness Week.
Legislation from Chatham-Kent-Essex member Pat Hoy that would dedicate the first week of June to raising awareness of sexual harassment passed second reading Thursday in the legislature.
Hoy drafted the legislation in memory of Vince, who was shot to death at work by her boss Russell Davis on June 2, 1996.
Passing its second reading, the bill now goes to the Justice Policy Committee before a final reading in the legislature.
Getting it passed would be an important first step towards preventing such tragedies in future and is a "positive step to keep the dialogue going'' on sexual harassment awareness, Hoy said.
All three parties voiced support for the legislation during debate Thursday. Conservative environment critic Laurie Scott said it "not only makes good moral and legal sense, it makes good business sense.''
Passing second reading in the Ontario legislature is considered approval in principle, although private member's bills rarely become law.
Michelle Schryer of the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre said the bill is important because it would increase the political will to further protect women from sexual harassment.
Until society can "genuinely recognize'' sexual harassment and take it seriously, "it will be extremely difficult to have any other work accomplished,'' Schryer said.
Vince had been sexually harassed by Davis for more than a year before he killed her, then took his own life.
The Ontario Women's Justice Network says 80 to 90 per cent of Canadian women will experience sexual harassment during their working lives.
Hoy said work is being done to raise awareness on other issues such as bullying in schools, and it's time sexual harassment was raised as well.
The public needs "to understand that this is not tolerable, that it should not happen,'' he said.