Jess Gould / XFM News
NDP MPP Peggy Sattler introduced a more robust version of her Safe Night Out Act since its introduction in 2017.
With the heightened awareness of sexual violence at Western University and Fanshawe College, Sattler has dedicated a push for the Act to protect against future potential sexual violence with a requirement of harassment training for all Ontario licensed establishment staff.
Sattler was joined by Eunice Oladejo, Vice President of External affairs at Western USC; Hayden Van Neck, of the Walkout Against Sexual Gender-Based Violence; and Ricardo Souza, President of Fanshawe’s Student Union.
In her opening remarks, Sattler addressed the rise of sexual violence was not unique to the London community.
“The agonizing stories about Western and Fanshawe that rocked our community, and dredged up hateful memories for so many survivors of sexual assault, where drinking is involved, those stories are not unique to London,” shares Sattler.
With the new focus of a comprehensive provincial response to include sexual violence training with smart serve, Sattler notes the update will help prevent future assaults in licensed premises like school pubs.
“While the announcement last week that sexual violence training will be included in smart serve going forward for new certifications is welcomed and long overdue, so much more is needed. That is why the Ontario NDP, student organizations and allies against gender-based violence experts are continuing to push for a stronger response.”
To provide more protection, Sattler reflects the updated Safe Night Out act will be evidence based with a focus on consent.
The updated act will also require those who have already obtained their smart serve certification to be trained for sexual violence.
Training will also apply to both employees and contract staff such as security who are hired at bars and nightclubs.
A requirement for every licensed facility to have a sexual violence and harassment policy to clearly set how incidents will be dealt with along with a sign posted to indicate that staff is trained.
Jess Gould / XFM News
The act will also be able to eliminate sub-minimum wages for liquor servers in recognizing their increased role in responding to sexual violence and harassment for not only customers, but in awareness of vulnerability for themselves as well.
“They are forced to rely on tips. We know that 80 per cent of liquor servers are women. Ontario is the only remaining province with a lower minimum wage for liquor servers, and it is long past time for this to go.”
Vice President of Student Affairs at Western University Eunice Oladejo applause the relentless efforts for a shift in bar culture to be made.
“This is just one step, but a very important one in making our campuses and communities safer. The past few weeks have shown the need for governments, universities, and us as community members to be proactive when it comes to sexual and gender-based prevention and response,” shares Eunice. “Students have been scared, exhausted, and disheartened and our community has been heart broken and angry.”
Proud to be supporting MPP Sattler’s Safe Night Out Act, a necessary step that should be taken to provide current and future liquor servers with comprehensive, evidence-based SGBV training and protect customers and staff from sexual and gender-based harassment. https://t.co/UHLaVzAkAE
— Eunice Oladejo (@eunice_oladejo) September 29, 2021
Oladejo continues to raise student voices regarding the cultural problem needing to be addressed, with students ready to take on a change on campus and in the community.
“Many of our students are bar servers, and therefore we are happy to see the bill’s focus on eliminating the liquor server sub-minimum wage to protect servers from the harassment they may experience in return for tips.”
Fanshawe Student Union President Ricardo Souza also advocated for the protection against sexual violence within the London community.
“Sexual violence is not one institution’s issue. It is a community issue and using the bystander approach, which the Safe Night Out bill supports, takes the blame and responsibility off of individuals to not get assaulted and puts it back on the community to say something and do something when they are witness to sexual violence that we know all too often occurs in these venues.”
Jess Gould / XFM News
The Liberal and Conservative government have not accept Sattler’s Safe Night Out Act from 2017, despite having a warm acceptation from sexual violence experts.
A reintroduction of the enhanced Safe Night Out Act will be presented in October when the Ontario legislature resumes.
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