This is something I brought to Alberta's Minister of Justice, Kathleen Ganley. She was rather dismissive of what I brought forward, but I think it's because it's at the federal level that we need this legislation.
I'm actually going to meet with Ms. Ambrose this afternoon about this legislation. I think it's a very important first step. As I mentioned, women who go on to pursue sexual assault charges often are treated as if they're the ones on trial. I think it has to do with how we sexualize women.
I could go into a whole rant on that, but I think there's another element involving the justice system that starts at the policing level.
As I said, there's a report by The Globe and Mail, and if you haven't read it, I strongly encourage you to do it. It's called “Unfounded”. It says that on average, one in five cases of sexual assault is dismissed as baseless, or they're called “unfounded” cases, meaning that they don't have the evidence, whether it be physical or circumstantial evidence, to support their going forward with charges. Much of the time, we find that the police who are overseeing these cases aren't willing to cooperate fully, and they doubt the victim from the get go. We need provisions at that level, I think, to start off with, so as to make sure that cases even get to a courtroom.
One reason we don't see cases going as far as prosecution is that the justice system is expensive, and people don't see it as worthwhile and worth the taxpayer dollars to prosecute a rapist. This goes again back to the sexualization of women.
What people forget is that sexual assault is expensive. It costs our economy $2 billion a year. That's in medical costs, in costs for medications for sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies, counselling services, trauma, missed work, missed school. We need to look at the big picture and work to ensure that justice is an element of our ensuring the health and success of women and all people, but especially women who are victimized by sexual violence.
I'm sorry for the long-winded answer.