Mr. Speaker, I have another enormous petition which conforms to Standing Order 36. It is signed by literally thousands of residents in the Edmonton, Sherwood Park, northern Alberta area and by many other people across Canada who are talking about the dreadful murder of Susan Klassen of Yukon.
This petition comes from her sister, Brenda MacDonald, in my constituency and from deeply concerned citizens. They believe that the provocation defence as it is currently used in femicide and wife slaughter cases inappropriately and unjustly changes the focus of the criminal trial from the behaviour of the accused to the behaviour of the victim who, from then on, is identified as the one responsible for the accused violence. It is shameful and it is not right.
More specifically, it is not consistent with the constitutional rights of women, including their right to equal protection and benefit of the law and the right to life, liberty and security.
Thousands of people pray that the defence of provocation be dealt with in the Criminal Code just as soon as possible. I urge the justice minister to do that.