In a dramatic turn of events, a House of Commons committee hearing intended to address domestic violence took an unexpected and contentious detour, thanks to a bizarrely partisan, shocking and ignorant intervention by Ottawa West-Nepean Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld. The meeting, held in the wake of the tragic death of 17-year-old Breanna Broadfoot in London, Ont., was meant to be a critical platform to address urgent issues surrounding domestic violence and bail policies considering recent criticisms about the increase in violence against women from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Cait Alexander, an advocate and survivor of domestic violence, heads the advocacy group End Violence Everywhere and was invited to give testimony before the committee. She travelled from Los Angeles to share her harrowing experiences with MPs, which included graphic images of the abuse she endured, underscoring the severity of the issue at hand.
In response to the upsetting testimony, Vandenbeld, who is also the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of International Development, tried to deliberately derail the hearing by completely ignoring Alexandre’s testimony or showing any empathy and instead called for the committee to shift the discussion from domestic violence to abortion rights.
Vandenbeld’s intervention was widely criticized as an attempt to score political points rather than addressing the pressing issue of violence against women.
Alexandre stormed out of the meeting in tears and later demanded an apology from Vandenbeld, whom she says re-victimized her as a survivor of domestic violence.
“I am completely flabbergasted,” Alexander said in an interview after Wednesday’s meeting. “This is exactly what it felt like these last few years, where I’m literally showing my bludgeoned, bleeding, bruised body, and the people who have authority and power in this country are saying, ‘Well, we care about you.’ But then they silence you.” Alexander’s frustration echoed the sentiments of her family, who were present and expressed their disapproval of the meeting’s abrupt change in direction.
Megan Walker, another witness and advocate for ending male violence against women, lives in London and was directly affected by the recent tragedy. She was equally dismayed by Vandenbeld’s comments, saying, “This is the problem. Did she listen to anything that was said this morning?”
As tensions escalated, NDP MP Leah Gazan and Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri also voiced their discontent, highlighting the procedural chaos and the apparent disregard for the victims’ voices. Ferreri criticized the Liberals for effectively silencing those who sought to bring about real change, while Gazan expressed her frustration at not being allowed to suggest additional witnesses.
The session ended prematurely, with Alexander’s emotional departure underscoring the trauma that was exacerbated by the committee’s handling of the situation. In a statement, Ferreri condemned the Liberals for their actions, accusing them of undermining the important discussion on violence against women.
While Vandenbeld did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the fallout from the hearing is raising significant questions about the handling of critical issues in parliamentary settings. As Alexander and Walker continue their advocacy, they remain determined to push forward with their work despite the setbacks they faced on Parliament Hill. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for genuine commitment to addressing domestic violence, free from political distractions.
Vandenbeld was elected in 2015. In 2019, federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion found Vandenbeld violated federal ethics laws by using “her position as a Member of the House of Commons to influence the decision of voters in Bay Ward to further the private interests of her spouse in Ottawa’s 2018 municipal election.
