Evidence of meeting #35 for Justice and Human Rights in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was nurse.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Founder, Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking
I think so. I just tried to attach it again.
Could you repeat your question, please?
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Okay. I'll repeat it.
Isn't it more important for victims to have a trial that proceeds quickly, that starts quickly and concludes quickly, than to know how organizations will be funded?
Founder, Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking
Absolutely, it is important that trials are done in a quick manner for the sake of survivors, but we also need quick funds to help those survivors as soon as they exit the situation.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Are you currently receiving money through the victim surcharge program?
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I wasn't at six minutes, Madam Chair.
Did you stop the clock while Ms. Scarpellini's microphone issue was being sorted out?
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I don't understand, because I was looking at my time, and right now I'm at six minutes and two seconds. In any case, it will be fine.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid
Thank you. I appreciate your understanding, Monsieur Fortin. You will have another round, of course.
We're moving on to our second round of five minutes, starting with Mr. Baber.
Please go ahead.
Conservative
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
Ms. Ali, thank you for your evidence and for your appearance today. I very much share your perspective with respect to addictions. Nobody chooses to wake up in the morning and suffer some of the consequences that our friends, neighbours, loved ones and constituents have been known to suffer from. I thank you for your efforts.
I'd like to talk about the practicality of the bill. I appreciate your sentiment that it's important to bring awareness to restitution, and I agree with you. Restitution may be a component of sentencing. While it will never make the victim or the organization whole, it certainly helps everyone involved. However, I'd like to canvass the feasibility of what is being studied by this committee.
I see that you were founded in 2020. May I ask what percentage, roughly, of your budget is geared to administration?
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
It's fair to say that organizations such as yours are rarely involved in litigious matters. My understanding is that you don't currently spend any money on any active litigation.
Conservative
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
You understand that in the event that your organization is successful in obtaining a portion of a sentence, in that a judge would sentence a criminal to provide restitution to your organization, you would then have to engage in enforcement proceedings to try to collect that money.
Conservative
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
Have you had any conversations or any considerations to see if such an endeavour would in fact yield a financial benefit or if it would more likely result in a financial loss, vis-à-vis legal costs?
Executive Director, The Go-Give Project
We have not explored it in depth at this time. What I can share is that the whole process is very similar to any process we have to go through as a non-profit or charity to access funding, especially when it comes down to the federal and provincial funds. They want everything except the blood of my first-born. This really wouldn't be news for us. We're used to having to fight for every penny. As of right now, at this stage of the bill, we don't see that being a roadblock.
Conservative
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
I appreciate your consideration. My view, respectfully, is that a litigious process when you try to collect funds from a criminal may yield not just different results; there may also be different requirements and methods in order to pursue it. This effectively amounts to an order that would be registered with the court. Then you would try to seize assets or try to garnish wages to satisfy that judgment.
Would you be so kind as to tell me what the common profile is here? I'm sure every situation is unique, but when you talk about folks who, regretfully, perpetuate crimes against some of the victims you serve, what are some of the common scenarios in which you encounter such individuals? Give me a scenario.