Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, I would like your opinion on a matter that is somewhat broader than Bill C‑28.
When we study certain aspects of legislation involving criminal law, the main problem is that victims often have the impression that they were not consulted and not taken into account in the judicial process.
While reviewing Bill C‑28 on self-induced extreme intoxication, it seemed to me that the most virulent criticisms of this bill will come from victims, and probably with good reason. They will say that they have been raped, injured or something else by a person, man or woman, claiming to have been in a state of involuntary extreme intoxication. This aspect of the bill may be vulnerable to criticism by victims. Have you reviewed it?
Shouldn’t victims of these crimes, especially violent crimes, be given greater consideration in the judicial process? For example, they could be part of the process and participate in decisions if they wanted to. I know that the administration of justice falls under provincial jurisdiction, and you understand that I don’t want to lead you down that path. However, when it comes to substantive legislation in criminal law, aren’t there certain aspects that the federal government could cover, for example in the Criminal Code, so that victims have greater consideration?