Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I agree that it is difficult to be against Bill C-32, but some criticism has been expressed, particularly about the bill's enforceability.
There seem to be quite a number of good statements of principle. Some things already exist in some provinces, where there are already victims bills of rights. In 2003 the federal government was a party to a sort of bill of rights with its provincial and territorial partners.
The question people often ask me is the following. You must have been asked it often as well, and I would like to hear your answer.
How is the Canadian victims bill of rights provided for in Bill C-32 enforceable? This 60-clause bill includes four very important sections: the right to information, which you talked about, the right to protection, the right to participation and the right to restitution.
Which of these provisions are really enforceable, formal, firm? There are not many; that is what victims are telling me. They say that there is something missing. It is good to project a certain image, but something actually has to be done. There are not many definitive things in this bill.
People are worried about funding. My colleague talked about this earlier. How many programs that helped victims have been eliminated in recent years? I have met with first nations groups that submitted projects or programs to help victims in their communities, but they were all refused. People have a hard time believing that this will change things. They are a bit distrustful, and I can understand why.
How do you react to that? How will this change things when many provinces already take this approach and they will have to enforce the law?