Vancouver Liberals on intimate partner violence: declare a crisis, push police and Province
The Vancouver Liberals say they would declare intimate partner violence a public health and public safety crisis, back a victim-survivor led action plan, work with the Vancouver Police Board on a more responsive Intimate Partner Violence Unit, and press the Province to act on Dr. Kim Stanton's review.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Intimate Partner Violence Policy: what the Kareem's Plan for a Better Vancouver says
The Vancouver Liberals set out their position on intimate partner violence, meaning violence by a current or former partner, in a one-page policy linked from their issues page. The party says it is the only party committed to treating this crisis with the seriousness it deserves. It would have the city declare intimate partner violence a public health and public safety crisis, and support an action plan led by victim-survivors, the people who have lived through this violence.
Most of the policy is about the police. The party would work with the Vancouver Police Board on a strategic plan for how the police respond, with two goals: a more responsive Intimate Partner Violence Unit, and compliance with the Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR) policy. VAWIR is the Ministry of Attorney General's set of guidelines for police and Crown prosecutors. The party wants every incident of domestic and intimate partner violence investigated thoroughly, and says the guidelines are not being followed today.
The policy also says the party supports five policy actions put forward by Battered Women Support Services, though it does not list them. It would ask the Province to act on the recommendations of Dr. Kim Stanton's review of how BC's legal system treats intimate partner violence and sexual violence, which the party says was released in June 2025. It would also ask other governments for action on child care and housing for women, children and gender diverse people who face violence.
Council can pass a declaration on its own. The police are directed by the Vancouver Police Board, so the party could only work with that board. The policy itself describes the review and the child care and housing items as advocacy to other governments, and child care licensing and funding are provincial.
THE PARTY'S NUMBERS
Figures in this chapter
When the party says Dr. Kim Stanton's review was released
The party's figure6 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Declare intimate partner violence a public health and public safety crisis
The Vancouver Liberals would declare intimate partner violence a public health and public safety crisis.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council can pass a declaration by its own vote.
Support a victim-survivor led action plan
The party would support an action plan led by victim-survivors to address what it calls this epidemic.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The policy does not say who would write or fund the plan, and health services are provincial and federal.
A Police Board strategic plan for a more responsive Intimate Partner Violence Unit
The party would work with the Vancouver Police Board on a strategic plan for the police response to intimate partner violence. The goals are a more responsive Intimate Partner Violence Unit, compliance with the Ministry of Attorney General's Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR) guidelines for police and Crown prosecutors, and thorough investigation of every incident of domestic and intimate partner violence.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The Vancouver Police Board directs the police department, so Council members can only work with the board on this.
Support the policy actions of Battered Women Support Services
The party says it supports the five policy actions put forward by Battered Women Support Services. The PDF does not list the actions.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The policy does not name the actions, so it is not clear which government would carry each one out.
Press the Province on Dr. Kim Stanton's review
The party would advocate for the provincial government to follow through on the recommendations of Dr. Kim Stanton's systemic review of BC's legal system's treatment of intimate partner violence and sexual violence, which the party says was released in June 2025.
- Who has the power
- Province The policy itself calls this advocacy to the provincial government, so the city can only press for it.
Ask other governments for child care and housing for people facing violence
The party would advocate to other levels of government for action on child care and housing to support women, children and gender diverse people experiencing violence.
- Who has the power
- Province The policy calls this advocacy to other levels of government, and child care licensing and funding are provincial.
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about intimate partner violence policy
What is the Vancouver Liberals' policy on intimate partner violence?
The Vancouver Liberals would declare intimate partner violence a public health and public safety crisis and support an action plan led by victim-survivors. They would also work with the Vancouver Police Board on a more responsive Intimate Partner Violence Unit (party intimate partner violence policy).
What would the Vancouver Liberals change about how police handle domestic violence?
The party would work with the Vancouver Police Board on a strategic plan so that the police follow the Ministry of Attorney General's Violence Against Women in Relationships guidelines and investigate every incident of domestic and intimate partner violence thoroughly. The Vancouver Liberals say those guidelines are not being followed today (party intimate partner violence policy).
Can Vancouver City Council order the police to change how they handle intimate partner violence?
The Vancouver Police Board directs the police department, and Council approves the police budget. That is why the Vancouver Liberals say they would work with the Police Board on a strategic plan, and the city can declare a crisis by its own vote (party intimate partner violence policy).
What do the Vancouver Liberals say about Dr. Kim Stanton's review?
The Vancouver Liberals would push the provincial government to follow through on the recommendations of Dr. Kim Stanton's review of how BC's legal system treats intimate partner violence and sexual violence. The party says the review was released in June 2025 (party intimate partner violence policy).
Which group's policy actions do the Vancouver Liberals support on gender-based violence?
The Vancouver Liberals say they support five policy actions put forward by Battered Women Support Services. Their policy does not list what those actions are (party intimate partner violence policy).
Do the Vancouver Liberals have a housing or child care plan for survivors of violence?
The Vancouver Liberals say they would ask other levels of government for action on child care and housing to support women, children and gender diverse people experiencing violence. The policy gives no city program of its own (party intimate partner violence policy).
ON THE BALLOT
The Vancouver Liberals candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- Vancouver Liberals: Intimate Partner Violence Policy (PDF) SAYS SO ITSELFVancouver Liberals · checked