First off, victims need to know that it's legislated. Let me quote from the former victims ombudsman, who said in iPolitics:
...it's important to legislate this right if we believe victims are entitled to have their voices heard and respected.
He was commenting on the fact that it was already the policy of the Parole Board of Canada for a victim to give a victim impact statement, but he was saying nonetheless this is important to legislate, if this is to be a right we believe victims are entitled to.
For me, policy can change. Management of institutions can change. Legislation tends to be a little bit more concrete. It sends a very clear message. I would hope that, if anything, it would give positive encouragement to the Parole Board of Canada to go even farther than they are right now toward a mindset of being conscious of the victim being part of the process.
I go back to your comment that it's still an evolution with regard to understanding that the victim is part of the whole process, and it's a real recent evolution. It's not something that has been around for 50 years, as you rightly said, from your experience as being a police officer 44 years ago.