Status of Women Committee on Oct. 29th, 2025

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Mr. Michel, would you like to add anything?

[Patrick Michel]

I will very quickly give you a concrete example showing how the involvement of community organizations, such as the one Ms. Riendeau represents, is beneficial. We have close partnerships with such community organizations, especially when it comes to training prosecutors. We may not be directly benefiting from community groups, but we are indirectly benefiting from them. We're very happy about that.

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Let me suggest the following, Madam Chair.

Mr. Michel, you have a great deal of experience in the field. In a few seconds, could you tell us what survivors tell you? What are they telling you after going through the legal process? What could be improved? Especially when people file a report, how can the government better support them? In 2025, what are you still hearing from survivors?

[Patrick Michel]

That's a very good question.

Victims still have a tough time. What more could we do? While I can't speak for the entire system, I can speak for the DPCP, the director of criminal and penal prosecutions. We do a lot of work to support survivors. In fact, we have completely changed our approach. We now try to involve the victim in the judicial process. She is still legally a witness, but we want to give her some control over the proceedings. That's why we consult with her and involve her. We also develop a relationship of trust with her that will help her remain engaged throughout the process.

It's hard for me to tell you what more we could do so that victims don't emerge scarred from the legal process, as is sometimes the case. It's hard for me to say what more we could do or what more you could do as legislators.

For us, it's more about looking at things from an operational point of view every day.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

All right.

Now we're going to the final question with Madame Larouche.

You have two and a half minutes.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Mercier‑Turgeon, I see that you have raised your hand. Could you please respond in 30 seconds so that I can then ask my question?

[Audrey Mercier-Turgeon]

What we hear most often is that the delays are extremely difficult for victims. Naturally, during the judicial process, cross-examination is probably the most difficult stage to get through. However, that is how the justice system works.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Ms. Mercier‑Turgeon.

Ms. Mercier‑Turgeon, Ms. Riendeau, Mr. Michel, Mr. Brochet and Mr. Deramond, I would like to commend you on your work and your commitment to this important issue. Thank you very much for your testimony today.

The Bloc Québécois has some questions. The Criminal Code falls under federal jurisdiction, but the administration of justice is entrusted to Quebec. How can we harmonize practices on these issues without negating the specific features of the Quebec prevention model?

By recognizing the Criminal Code on the one hand and the administration of justice on the other, and without encroaching on Quebec’s jurisdiction, how could the federal government strengthen the effectiveness of section 810?

I have about one minute left of my speaking time. I now invite the witnesses to answer my questions. To do so, they could share the remaining time.

[Pierre Brochet]

I will answer you quickly, Ms. Larouche.

I must come back to the issue of funding, especially in this era of economic hardship. There is currently talk of budget cuts at several levels of government and at the municipal level. At the very least, current funding must be maintained. The risk is that funding to combat domestic violence will be discontinued or reduced.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Would anyone else like to add anything?

[Louise Riendeau]

I agree with Mr. Brochet.

In Quebec, several police services have specialized units dedicated to domestic violence. Currently, these units are under threat: We do not know if they will still exist after March 31. Funding is therefore really the key to success.

These people make a difference in the service received by victims.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I have 10 seconds left.

Ms. Riendeau, should the federal government improve existing programs or should it complicate matters and set up new ones?

[Louise Riendeau]

It is always a bit complex to see what could be done in terms of areas of jurisdiction.

I think that in Quebec, everyone will continue to say that passing a bill on coercive control would be an important step on the part of the federal government. On our side, that’s where we stand. We will also try to help our colleagues across Canada get to the same place we are. It’s part of our thinking and our practices.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you very much, Ms. Riendeau.

That concludes our panel for today.

I want to thank the witnesses very much for their testimony today. It really helped us out. That was awesome.

We're going to turn to a little committee business. If it's boring for you, you can log off. If you want to stay, that's fine too.

I understand the whips have been in discussion about a procedural motion.

Madame Vien.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Allow me to table my motion:

That, notwithstanding the usual practices of the committee concerning access to and distribution of documents, a. up to three associate members of the committee per party be authorized to receive the notices of meetings and notices of motions and be granted access to the digital binder; b. that the associate members be designated by the offices of the whips of each recognized party and sent to the committee clerk; and c. that the provisions of this motion expire as of Monday, January 26, 2026, unless otherwise ordered.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you.

It's my understanding that, in order to vote on this motion, we need unanimous consent for it to come forward.

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

(Motion agreed to)

That's wonderful.

Ms. Ménard, please go ahead..

[Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Liberal, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, QC]

Madam Chair, I toyed with the idea of raising a point of order during the last hour of the meeting, but I will not do so.

However, I would like my comment to be taken into consideration.

I felt very uncomfortable with the way a member of the committee treated one of the witnesses. We sit on the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, and in almost every intervention we make, we must keep in mind the nature of the topics being discussed. Furthermore, we value the presence of witnesses, who are not paid, and who prepare to come here and make themselves available to answer our questions.

I would like this discomfort to be noted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

I would say, especially after we had the training on the sensitivity of these matters, that we really want to have a very collegial attitude towards the witnesses. When we're having people substitute in, in the future, we should give them a little refresher on what we heard in terms of how they should question.

Madam Larouche.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I would like to add to what my colleague said.

The problem is that the substitute members who come to the committee have not all received the same training as we have. This is an interesting point: We have received this training, and we have been made aware of this issue.

I also felt a deep sense of unease. I see a lack of respect on the part of substitute members who come here to the committee without having all the background knowledge that we have. This leads me to note the importance of this training.

That is all I have to say, Ms. Ménard.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Yes, I think it's important. Perhaps when I see that there is a substitution, I will caution people at the beginning. Because of the sensitive nature of the subject we're studying, I would encourage everyone to be very respectful to the witnesses, etc. Hopefully, that will help.

Is there anything else before we adjourn?

All right, then I adjourn the meeting.