Many people still believe that violence against women is an individual problem.  However, violence against women actually costs the Canadian people more than $4 Billion each year.  Also, according to Statistics Canada, women and girls are most likely to face violence at home from an intimate partner, spouse or family member and 71% of spousal homicides are caused by long-guns or rifles (2006). When a woman (and often her family) have to flee from life threatening situations at home, shelters and safe options are not always accessible; which increases the likelihood of danger and abuse. The accessibility and affordability of shelter can lead to homelessness in women and children. For more information, YWCA Canada has devised a backgrounder on VAW & Homelessness and VAW & the Long Gun Registry.

These aren't the only problems linked to violence against women; click on a link below to see what the Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Green party stances are for these connected issues.