Evidence of meeting #35 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was survivors.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Monsieur Fortin.
Last, we have Mr. Garrison for two and a half minutes.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Earlier, Ms. Khan, I think you made reference to the Ndhlovu decision on Friday with regard to mandatory registration of sex offenders. I wonder if you see the same kind of fear and misinformation that we saw with the previous decision spreading through the same channels.
12:55 p.m.
Executive Director, Possibility Seeds
Yes. I wish I could put my DMs on display right now on Twitter, because so many survivors are messaging me in a place of fear. I actually wrote to Justice today to say that I need better information to be able to explain the decision in plain language and why the sky isn't falling. The thing is, I'm ready to go back to school to get my law degree at this point, but I shouldn't have to get it.
When these decisions are made, if the government knows they're coming, then we need a communications plan that's in plain language, that really speaks to folks and speaks to young people who are doing the work and who can communicate to their peers. It's not enough.... Pam and I are not young enough. Sorry, friends, we may look it, but we're not, and we need to have young people—like 18 or 16 years old—talking about this in plain language.
It's really too bad, because in this moment we need stronger provisions around this, and we've again failed the public, I think. I know that Justice is doing so much and has low resources itself, so this is no blame or shame. This is just another thing to think about.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
I would direct the same question to Ms. Hrick.
Are we committing the same fault here, on this second Supreme Court decision?
12:55 p.m.
Executive Director and General Counsel, Women's Legal Education and Action Fund
I'd say that we do need to have better education and information sharing about this. I know that the Supreme Court, in cases like this, of course gives a bit of a heads-up that the decision is coming so the implications of it can be thought through and plans can be made in advance where there are enough resources to do so.
I think it's important to dedicate the resources to doing this so that it's not again—to your earlier point—left on the shoulders of women, predominantly, and gender-diverse-led not-for-profit organizations to do the public education that is so urgently needed to ensure we are providing accurate information about what the law is.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Again, I thank both of you for being here today. I think you've had very important things to say that will inform our report, I hope.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Thank you, Mr. Garrison.
I want to thank both Ms. Khan and Ms. Hrick for their great testimony today.
That concludes our meeting for today.
I just want to remind our members that this Thursday's meeting will be cancelled because there's the fall economic statement at four o'clock, so I think all committees are—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Randeep Sarai
Maybe one day.
I will adjourn the meeting and see you guys next Monday.
Thank you.
