The main frustration, I think, in our context when we are coming upon survivors is.... It's all part and parcel, like the chicken and the egg. There is a fear of reporting, because there is a lack of confidence that the system will actually provide them the protection they're seeking. What I think goes through everybody's mind is this: Is this phone call to the police actually going to compound my situation and make it worse? I think our ability to provide the confidence to survivors that we will do our best and the Crown attorneys will do their best....
We have realized—and this is why the other witnesses here are really doing yeoman's work—is that the ability to do service provider advocacy to strengthen their ability to fill those spaces that we can't is really where it is, Mr. Lewis.