First, there is a need in connection with data collection, as the Ombudsman wisely pointed out in her report. Information should be exchanged more widely among the provinces and territories.
It is not reasonable that seven years after the CVBR was adopted we do not have an idea of the complaints mechanisms in the provinces and territories, and we do not know what works and does not work, or what best practices are. There should be a special committee that brings together representatives from the federal government and from the provinces and territories to look into the obstacles victims encounter along their way and see what improvements could be made, on an ongoing basis.
We have the impression that the work is being done in a vacuum somewhat. There are duplications in funding. Some programs that are already funded by the provincial government are also funded federally. We do not have enough discussion about how things are done in our respective bailiwicks so we are able to make progress in improving our practices, in enhancing rights, and in pooling research. It is our impression that this is being done in isolation, with everyone working on their own.