Status of Women Committee on Oct. 28th, 2024

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

If we continue to talk about the violence against women when every single day there's another victim, this is never going to change unless we can persuade the current government to change the bail reform act and keep these criminals in jail so that women can walk safely on the street. Would you agree with that?

[Cait Alexander]

I concur.

[Megan Walker]

I would ask the government this question: How many dead women does it take for you to recognize that there's a crisis with women in this community?

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

Exactly.

I also want to make note that your parents are here, Ms. Alexander. I have to tell you that I'm very proud of you, of your strength and of your parents' strength, because—

[Cait Alexander]

They're lucky. They're lucky I'm here.

[Anna Roberts, Conservative, King—Vaughan, ON]

We're very proud. You stand for all women. Your strength has given me strength to carry on this fight, and I will continue that fight for both of you and for all women, because we need to change the law.

I can't say it enough. We have to stop talking about it, stop researching it, and change the law to make individuals understand that in Canada we appreciate and respect women. Right now, that's not the case.

[Megan Walker]

I just want to add one more quick point about that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

If you could incorporate that into the next person's questions, into that time, that would be great.

[Megan Walker]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Shelby Kramp-Neuman]

Thank you, MP Roberts.

MP Hepfner, you have the floor for five minutes.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, genuinely, to all of our witnesses for their testimony today. It's really important.

We've been talking about bail reform and Bill C-75, so I just want to go over what's in that legislation and get your feedback on what you would change.

In 2019 we created a reverse onus, so if you've been charged with a violent offence involving an intimate partner, it's on you. The onus has reversed. The accused has to prove why they should be let out on bail. That changed.

[Cait Alexander]

It doesn't happen.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

The courts have to consider previous intimate partner violence convictions. Strangulation has to be considered. Serious forms of sexual assault have to be considered. It involves a higher maximum penalty in cases involving—

[Cait Alexander]

It's not implemented.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

It's not the law that's wrong; it's the way that it's being implemented by courts.

[Cait Alexander]

Why should we have to prove it, when it's on video? That's a huge problem in this country, because charter rights are good for good people, but they are not good for criminals.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

We have heard today that the problem is the law, so I've read out the law, but what you're telling me is that it's not the law but the implementation at the court level—

[Megan Walker]

I'm not going to go back and forth on that point. The point is that it's not being implemented, and women are being killed, so I don't want to argue about this or that.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

I think it's important to nail down where, exactly, it needs to be changed.

[Megan Walker]

It is the law, because if the law were working and appropriately drafted, I would not be sitting in a courtroom, on an ongoing basis, watching justices of the peace say, “Now, are you sure you won't do it again?” and let him go. It's rare—

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

It's how the justices of the peace are interpreting the law. Okay.

Let me move on to my next question about—

[Megan Walker]

No. Don't say that, please. I don't accept that. I think it was a poorly written law, and it needs to be changed.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

In what way, exactly, would you change it?

[Cait Alexander]

My ex is free. He was out the next day after he tried to kill me, full stop.

[Megan Walker]

I think it needs to be changed, after consultation with survivors, so their experiences are reflected in it, and that is missing. I think, if that were included, we would have a stronger piece of legislation that would potentially save lives.