Niki Sharma, Attorney General; Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General; and Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, have released the following statements in response to the BC Coroners Service report Our Time to Act: A Review of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Deaths in British Columbia, 2016-2024:

Niki Sharma, Attorney General, said:

“The BC Coroners Service death review panel report is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the shape and scale of intimate-partner violence in B.C. Coupled with the government-commissioned review by Dr. Kim Stanton of how victims of intimate-partner and sexual violence are treated in our justice system, we have a clearer picture of where action is needed and how our government must respond.

“The overlap between the recommendations in the final report of Stanton and the death review panel report confirms that we are moving in the right direction. We have already identified the need for a central accountability mechanism to co-ordinate and oversee government’s response, and work is underway to determine the most effective structure for that. Similarly, both reports call for government to create a standing committee to individually review deaths related to intimate-partner violence. We will work with the BC Coroners Service to determine the best way to establish this committee.

“Two additional priority actions we identified last fall also closely align with the death review panel’s recommendations: updating guidance for all actors within the justice system responding to intimate‑partner violence, starting with the existing Violence Against Women in Relationships policy, and exploring how to improve risk-related processes, such as screening, assessments, safety planning and management across the legal system. The first roundtable on risk assessment bringing together government representatives and anti-violence sector experts will take place in May 2026, and we look forward to sharing updates about this work in the future.

“The kinds of reforms recommended by experts cannot be implemented overnight, but we remain committed to steady, meaningful progress. We continue investing in services and programs that directly help people. Just earlier today, we announced the extension of our Safe Supports Project, which supports people impacted by family and intimate-partner violence as they navigate the legal system in some northern and rural B.C. communities.

“I want to thank the chief coroner and the BC Coroners Service for producing this report and for their ongoing commitment to public safety and accountability. I look forward to providing a further update this summer on our efforts to improve the system, close gaps and strengthen public safety, as called for in the coroners report.

“We will never shy away from government’s role and responsibility in helping create a B.C. where everyone feels safe, heard and supported.”

Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said:

“I want to thank the BC Coroner’s Service and panel members for the care they brought to reviewing dozens of intimate-partner violence cases. Their thoughtful recommendations represent a commitment to learning from tragedy in order to protect lives. The recommendations complement and will be integrated into work already underway across government to enhance public safety responses, strengthen co-ordination and improve how risk is identified and addressed.

“We know that behind every statistic is a person whose life, sense of safety and well-being have been profoundly affected, and I acknowledge the pain, fear and loss experienced by survivors and their families.

“The Province recognizes the devastating impact of intimate-partner violence, and that’s why we provide more than $60 million annually to support over 475 victim service and violence against women programs, including sexual-assault services and Indigenous-led supports.

“We remain committed to working with survivors, Indigenous partners, advocates, police and front-line agencies to ensure that people experiencing violence have a clear path to safety, dignity and recovery.”

Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, said:

“Intimate-partner violence persists as a systemic issue in our society. It is reprehensible and unacceptable, which is why the BC Coroners Service death review panel report is so important. I am grateful that this work was funded under Safe and Supported, through the Canada-B.C. bilateral agreement to end gender-based violence. The panel’s recommendations strengthen our understanding of intimate-partner violence and will guide our efforts to ultimately end intimate-partner violence and build safer, violence-free communities for everyone.”

Learn More:

• To learn more about Safe and Supported: B.C.’s gender-based violence action plan and government’s work responding to gender-based and intimate-partner violence, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/gender-equity/ending-gender-based-violence
• To read more about the Safe Supports Project, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/33669
• To read government’s statement on the Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/33645