Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My question is for all of the witnesses, as all of their opinions are important.
I'd like to come back to what my colleague was saying about delays.
Mr. Sullivan, perhaps you could tell us more about the delays that are, in your opinion, the biggest problem for victims dealing with the justice system.
Since the charter rights are not necessarily imperative, that is to say that there is no automatic sanction if those rights are not respected, a complaint mechanism was created.
If that complaint mechanism is adopted by the provinces, to whom will the victims submit their complaints? Should the Department of Justice adopt that mechanism and receive the complaints from victims throughout Canada, or should the complaint structure be adopted by each province? Then there would be a dual system; on the one hand the victim has the right to information on the trial — on the plea bargain — and the charge, but on the other, if the victim's rights are not respected, they must complain elsewhere while the trial continues. When the victim files a complaint, the mechanism is triggered, but if the victim's rights are not respected, the trial will continue in the meantime until the end, and the victim thus stays in the middle of it all. So it is possible that his or her rights will never be respected.
How can we balance those two things? Where should the complaint mechanism be inserted? How can we insure that the victim will be able to follow the normal trial process without having to obtain the assistance of the crown attorney or an ombudsman? The system has two tracks and dual speeds; the trial continues while the victim is trying to have their rights recognized.
How can we balance that? How do you see things?
My question is addressed to all of you, since you all have interesting things to say.