Our Canadian laws are quite good around sexual violence and consent. I think the challenge is how they play out in court, so I think we need to look at that. That includes better training for lawyers and strongly encouraging that lawyers, judges and everyone who is part of the criminal legal system be trained about sexual violence, including on this provision.
I think one of the other things that we really need to see is that the independent legal advice, although I think we can change it.... I think survivors really need to talk to someone they have as an independent person, who is just for them during that process. The respondent gets that and the defence gets that, but the survivor doesn't through that process. That's why the independent legal advice pilot projects are so important. They shouldn't be pilots; they should be permanent.
Pam, I think you're better to speak to this than I am, because I am not a lawyer.