moved for leave to introduce Bill C-315, an act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of witnesses).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to amend the Criminal Code. The purpose of this bill is to protect witnesses and complainants in proceedings in which the accused is charged with a sexual offence, sexual assault or where violence has been used, threatened or attempted.
This bill is designed to prevent the accused who represent themselves from cross-examining the victims in such proceedings. Victims and witnesses under the age of 14 will also be covered by the provisions allowing them to testify in camera. This bill is part of a larger strategy to eliminate violence against women. I hope it will meet with the approval of this House.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)