Evidence of meeting #51 for Justice and Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rights.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Co-Founder, Manager of Education and Community Outreach, Canadian Parents of Murdered Children and Survivors of Homicide Victims Inc.
As I said, when the process starts, that's when you put in the information that it is under way or that it's being considered, so they know that....
Conservative
Executive Director, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
I think it's very important for crowns to inform victims as soon as possible about pleas. I think Joe did a really good job in his presentation when he talked about how it makes a difference for people. Maybe they don't necessarily agree with the decision, or with the lesser sentence that is being offered, but they will be happy that there is a conviction. If the crown takes a few minutes—perhaps an hour is not necessary, but a few minutes—to explain why this has been done, and why it's in the interests of justice to do this and to proceed this way, it makes a huge difference for people; it's positive.
I think crowns can certainly do a better job of this on a daily basis and use their victims services, for victim witnesses and people and personnel, to do this. We should expect that this is part of the job nowadays in the criminal justice system.
Conservative
Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Child Protection
I'll let Joe speak, but on the earlier point about the number of qualifications that have been built in, we're pleased to see that type of language used.
If there's an opportunity later, I might want to comment on the resource issue.
Founder and Chair, Canadian Crime Victim Foundation
As far as plea bargains go, it's been my good fortune to study, although I know it's not very popular, jurisdictions down in the United States. There are literally thousands of individual jurisdictions where plea bargains are discussed with victims prior to moving forward. The overwhelming evidence and response is that it makes the crown's job easier, because the victim now understands in many cases why a plea bargain is accepted or a plea bargain is proposed. They would rather have a conviction than see everybody walk out the door totally free.
Founder and Chair, Canadian Crime Victim Foundation
I support it. Not only do I support it, but it will save time and money.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Mike Wallace
I'm going to take some time away from the next Conservative turn on that one.
Mr. Toone from the New Democratic Party, the floor is yours.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
You're not taking time away from me, thank you very much.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Duly noted. Thank you.
I too want to thank you all for coming today. I believe you've all raised some very interesting and important points.
I'll try to keep this brief, because we don't have a lot of time, but I'll start with resources. I want to continue with that question.
Ms. McDonald, you were going to raise an issue regarding the resources. I have my own questions, but if you just want to carry on, please do.
Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Child Protection
I just wanted to reference a situation that happened with us.
Over 13 years ago, when we set up Cybertip.ca, it was at the very beginning of the whole onslaught of child abuse material on the Internet. There were no structures set up across the country. We didn't have specialized police units. We had everybody running and scrambling just to figure out how we were going to do this—and if we even needed to do something, which was the right thing.
We set up the tip line, and to date we've received over 125,000 reports and we've arrested all kinds of people.
My point is that resources will always be an important discussion, but I think we need to detangle the conversation between how we will properly support this and therefore support victims and what the bill is trying to achieve in terms of supporting victims of crime across Canada.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Ms. Illingworth, you mentioned resources as well. We know that one of the problems is victims sometimes just do not identify themselves. There are a lot of obstacles. Spousal abuse is a pretty good example of that. There would be real reasons why you wouldn't want to come forward and there are fears, and one of them is because people simply don't know what their rights are.
Is this bill going far enough? Are victims actually going to be more likely to present themselves to authorities because this bill has been adopted? Are the resources there for victims to know what their rights are going to be?
Executive Director, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
I don't know if I can answer that. I don't know what the government has allocated with regard to the educational piece around this bill.
Implementation and education, raising awareness, are really important. One of the problems I highlighted is that people who have never been victimized don't know about the criminal justice system, and they certainly don't know they're going to have rights under this bill. I don't think it is something that ordinary citizens are interested in. We don't study up on what happens to me if my house is broken into, or what rights will I have if someone assaults me at the mall or steals my purse or anything like that.
There is a huge piece around education that needs to be done once this bill is passed, and we can strengthen the awareness of people across the country about what you can do, what you have a right to, what supports you can find in the aftermath.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Were you consulted in the prior processes where we were developing this bill?
Executive Director, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
Yes, absolutely.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
I would have presumed that you're on the front lines for the victims to actually acquire that information, to acquire the resources.
Executive Director, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
We are. We direct victims. We get tons of calls from across Canada. People don't know where to get help and we direct them locally, first and foremost, to get supports where they live and try to inform them as best we can about what might be available in terms of financial assistance or other supports.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Right. In the consultations, was the idea discussed that the federal government might have some obligations to actually publicize the bill, to actually bring the rights that will be brought forward in this bill to the fore so that you can actually deliver that message?
Executive Director, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
Certainly in our briefs that we prepared we always touched on implementation of the bill. We requested that quite lot of money go into how we were going to raise awareness about this.
NDP
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
But at this point, that point still hasn't been addressed?
Executive Director, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
I don't know the answer to that.
