TORONTO -- Ontario is launching a $1.7-million program to train bartenders and servers how to identify and intervene in instances of sexual violence and harassment among employees and customers.

Women's Issues Minister Tracy MacCharles said the training programs will be designed and delivered by organizations in the hospitality sector as well as by experts in violence prevention.

"Research shows that not everybody knows what sexual violence and harassment looks like, and I think the less than the most obvious cases are the difficult ones for bystanders to respond to," MacCharles said Wednesday. "So it's our hope that through this training people will feel clearer about what sexual violence and harassment looks like, and then (know) how to intervene in a safe way."

The majority of the 450,000 servers in Ontario are young women, but MacCharles said the training will also be provided to restaurant and bar owners, managers and operators.

"After this training, workers in the hospitality sector will know how to intervene safely and where to go for help when they need it," she said. "We know more and more Ontarians want to do the right thing and step in when they witness sexual violence and harassment."

New regulations that take effect Thursday require Ontario employers to have a policy that makes it clear who would investigate if an alleged harasser is the owner or supervisor, and they must provide written results of any investigation. They also have a duty to review their sexual harassment policies on an annual basis.

Labour Minister Kevin Flynn said the range of possible responses to sexual harassment is huge, and he believes the training programs will "empower" people to know how to deal with each situation.

"Maybe it's just reporting it to the boss or the supervisor," he said. "Maybe it's stepping in. Maybe it's saying something across the bar to somebody, just tell them: 'Look, that's pretty inappropriate. You want to stop that."'

The Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association said it was committed to an action plan of initiatives aim at stopping sexual violence and harassment in the hospitality sector.

"Harassment is present in every industry and the hospitality industry is not immune to it," said spokeswoman Fatima Finnegan. "We will work with our partners ... to create awareness and through training provide the necessary tools to ensure a safe workplace, respectful for all."

The New Democrats like the idea of taking steps so bar and restaurant staff can better deal with sexual harassment, but wondered if it would be mandatory or voluntary.

"To be effective, the measures announced today will depend on the quality of the training that is developed, and who receives the training," said NDP women's issues critic Peggy Sattler. "Will the training help stop harassment or violence before it begins - with a focus on those who are likely to be perpetrators - or is it purely reactive?"

MacCharles said society is quickly coming to grips with the need to deal with sexual harassment.

"Attitudes are changing but changing behaviour, I think we'd all agree, takes longer," she said.