Ontario’s colleges join together to fight sex assaults on campus

WATCH ABOVE: Ontario colleges have come up with a unified framework for dealing with sexual assaults. They are asking the province to take action as well. Christina Stevens reports.

TORONTO – A unified framework dealing with sexual assaults has been announced by Colleges Ontario that covers all 24 of the province’s publicly funded colleges.

Linda Franklin, CEO of Colleges Ontario, said they want to make it easier for victims to have all the information they need online at their fingertips.

“Our most important concern is if you’ve been sexually assaulted or witnessed a sexual assault that you have a document and resources that gives you exactly what you need quickly,” said Franklin.

WATCH: An in-depth look at what the sexual assault policy of Ontario’s colleges does and does not do

The colleges are calling on the province to establish a 24 hour hotline for all victims of sexual assault. They also want a change in regulations to allow police to share more information with the colleges during ongoing investigations.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said her government will consider the recommendations as they prepare to release their own plan next month.

“At the beginning of March I will be bringing out an expectation, and will delineate that, in terms of what we expect universities and colleges to do,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Suzanne Kernohan, a former Toronto police officer with the Sex Crimes Unit, said the colleges are off to a great start with their unified policy.

However, she is concerned with the notion that victims can skip police and opt to have just the college investigate if they choose. She said whoever is investigating should have specialized training.

“I don’t think at this point colleges are equipped to do proper investigations. It is crucial and it’s going to make the difference of whether a person continues along the path of reporting, ” said Kernohan, who now runs a consulting business.

READ MORE: University of Ottawa to follow task force report on sexual harassment

She said if the investigation isn’t done right at the start critical information can be mishandled.

The colleges have said they are increasing training.

“We’re already doing some training ourselves at Seneca College, but the college system is going to work together, to look at next steps,” said Joy McKinnon, academic vice president at Seneca College.

The Council of Ontario Universities does not have a similar uniform policy, but said they have a research group looking into dealing with sexual violence,

College students have welcomed welcome the news of a framework, but wonder why it wasn’t done sooner.

“I’m actually a little surprised that now they are coming out with this, considering there have been several issues in the past with it,” said college student Jackie Kates.

Premier Wynne also said she has talked to many students who told her about the need for this framework.

“That’s something that could have been said in 1970, it’s being said in 2015 so it’s time, it’s over time.”