Justice Committee on Sept. 24th, 2018

Evidence of meeting #107 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was inquiries.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-75

Committee Business

Election of Vice-Chairs

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Tony Clement Parry Sound—Muskoka, CPC

Arif Virani Parkdale—High Park, Lib.

Laurelly Dale Criminal Defense Counsel, Dale Law Professional Corporation, As an Individual

Michael Spratt Criminal Lawyer, Abergel Goldstein and Partners, As an Individual

Rosellen Sullivan Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers

Richard Fowler Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers

Lisa Silver Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, As an Individual

Daniel Brown Lawyer, Daniel Brown Law, As an Individual

Howard Chow Deputy Chief Constable, Vancouver Police Department, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police

Rachel Huntsman Legal Counsel, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police

Daisy Kler Transition House Worker, Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter

Kathryn Smithen Barrister and Solicitor, Child and Family Advocacy Services, Smithen Law, As an Individual

Elizabeth Sheehy Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, As an Individual

Joy Smith Founder and President, Joy Smith Foundation Inc.

Maria Mourani Criminologist and Sociologist, President of Mouranie-Criminologie, As an Individual

Marie-Eve Sylvestre Full Professor, Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa, As an Individual

Megan Walker Executive Director, London Abused Women's Centre

8:45 p.m.

Executive Director, London Abused Women's Centre

Megan Walker

I can actually respond to that really quickly. Very few women do come forward, because of fear. They're fearful of the police. They're fearful of being killed, because they've been threatened with murder. Also, the criminal justice system is not a woman-centred system. It has numerous systemic failures that discriminate against women and question women's stories.

We know that the average number of times women will be abused before they even go to the police is sometimes 30 to 40. Women do appreciate mandatory charge policies, because they are fearful that if they have to say, “Yes, charge him”, they'll be beaten after for doing that.

What we really need, in my opinion, is to develop a system whereby we can charge people and lead to convictions without relying on the victims' testimony all the time, because of fear. We've seen the enhanced investigations in San Diego and we've also seen interviewing of witnesses being very successful.

8:45 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

You're referring to.... You and I have talked in the past about the Philadelphia model.

8:45 p.m.

Executive Director, London Abused Women's Centre

Megan Walker

That's a different situation. That's about sexual violence cases.

8:45 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

Okay, fair enough. Thank you.

Thanks to all of you for the work you're doing.

8:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather

I'd like to thank this panel of witnesses.

Your testimony has been very useful and we thank you for the patience you have shown.

Thank you again, and have a wonderful rest of the day.

The meeting is adjourned.