I think it's a real issue. There is existing research. Complainants have had standing in section 278 hearings on the production and disclosure of confidential records. That's existed since that provision came into effect in 1997. The problem is the patchwork of approaches across the country as to whether or not complainants are provided with publicly funded legal representation. In some provinces, legal representation in section 278 hearings is provided through legal aid. Crown attorneys take this very seriously, because this is a state-authorized search and seizure. It's very important that complainants have representation.
We would like to see the federal government work in collaboration with the provinces to ensure publicly funded legal representation for complainants in section 278 record hearings and in the new provisions on the admissibility of sexual history evidence and the admissibility of confidential records in the hands of the accused. It's really critical that we ensure public funding for that legal representation.
I'll echo something that Amanda was saying, that in addition to concerns about providing publicly funded counsel to complainants when they have standing, complainants also require more general legal advice about even the very basic question of making a police report and about the progress of a trial. I know that the federal government now has a number of pilot projects in collaboration with the provinces across the country whereby complainants are being provided with three hours of independent legal representation. We need to make that more extensive. That should be something that exists across the country.