I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 24 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Pursuant to the motion adopted on February 8, the committee is meeting to resume its study of the government’s obligations to victims of crime. We will also go in camera to discuss the travel plan for this fall and adopt the report on PCEPA subsequent to this first part of the meeting.
Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. For those on Zoom, you have the choice at the bottom of your screen of floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use an earpiece and select the desired channel.
Before I introduce the witnesses I just want to let you know I have two cue cards. I will raise one when you're down to your last 30 seconds. When you're out of time I will raise the red one. I ask that you conclude to respect everyone's time.
As witnesses we have Dr. Benjamin Roebuck, research chair and professor of victimology and public safety, victimology research centre, Algonquin College. We also have, from the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, Aline Vlasceanu, executive director; and from Ottawa Victim Services, Heidi Illingworth, executive director.
Witnesses, you will have five minutes to give your opening statements, and then we'll go to subsequent rounds of questions. If you don't finish your comments in your opening statement, try to flesh them out in the questions, or you're more than welcome to submit your statement or briefs to the clerk and we can add those into the report.
We will have Dr. Benjamin Roebuck for five minutes, please.