This discussion, which was fruitful in Quebec, was notable because it went beyond the law’s traditional framework. Normally, we look at who is the victim and who is the alleged aggressor, and we make sure the alleged aggressor is held responsible for their acts. That’s good, but it falls far short.
To actually achieve redress in such a case, and avoid other similar cases in the future, a complete culture shift has to happen. We’re talking about overhauling governance and training, and reconsidering values.
In short, no matter what elected officials decide, it’s essential to go beyond the binary limitations of traditional justice, which opposes the accused and the complainant. We need a much more comprehensive review of the parameters of justice and trust in an organization.