Mr. Speaker, today is the second anniversary of an agreement in the House of Commons to develop a national victims bill of rights.
Yes, it was April 29, 1996 when the Liberal government agreed with the Reform Party to put the rights of victims front and centre in this nation. Once again, however, the Liberal government did nothing. That is right, nothing. The Minister of Justice recently said that victims rights were just rhetoric.
Is the right to know the status of the criminal rhetoric? Is a person's right to know what their rights are rhetoric? Is the right to know when plea bargaining is taking place rhetoric?
I am ashamed to say that I sit in this House of Commons with those who are more concerned with the rights of criminals than the rights of victims. I am ashamed to be involved with those who say one thing and do nothing.
The fight for the rights of victims will continue and I am committed to be at the forefront of that battle, full time, now and when I leave this place of false hope.