Regarding delay and victims' rights, we had a situation in Quebec that caused me some concern. I am interested in organized crime issues. So what is happening at the Gouin Judicial Services Centre worries me. Judge James Brunton ordered a stay of proceedings in some 40 cases involving biker gangs.
I will use proof by contradiction here. If victims' lawyers in these types of cases were recognized in the justice system, they would be extremely important collaborators for the Crown. Biker wars produce many victims. We are talking about hundreds of victims. I am thinking of the SharQc and Printemps 2001 operations.
In Quebec, certain groups have started wars against other groups. A family may have a black sheep, but this does not mean all family members are black sheep. So there are victims and victims' families. In my opinion, if lawyers could represent victims in the justice system, additional pressure would be placed on defence lawyers and criminal organizations. This would help secure a conviction more quickly, instead of having to charge individuals suspected of serial murder again. The victim's lawyer would become an important player in such cases.
I am not quite answering the question, but I want to clarify that, when it comes to the complaint mechanism—the proposed administrative mechanism—I recommend a much more active operational approach. That would ensure that the crown prosecutor and police officers would no longer be alone. They would have a new ally in the victims' lawyer.