Private member’s bill seeks to cut sex attacks on B.C. post-secondary campuses

VICTORIA – The leader of British Columbia’s Green party is tabling a private member’s bill he says responds to increasing numbers of sexual attacks at universities and colleges in the province.

Andrew Weaver estimates that up to 25 per cent of female university students will be sexually assaulted on campus.

He says the Post-Secondary Sexual Violence Policies Act would require B.C.’s universities and colleges to write and maintain policies to prevent sexual violence.

The bill sets a legal requirement for the rules, and Weaver says it also orders institutions to support victims and educate students about sexual assault.

He says he chose International Women’s Day to table the bill, but adds sexual violence affects people of all gender identities.

Student advocates say only about two dozen post-secondary institutions in Canada have stand-alone sexual assault policies, although some, such as the University of B.C., are developing policies after high-profile allegations of assault.