Mr. Speaker, my party has begun by trying to establish some guidelines to support victims in a victims' bill of rights.
We all agree that the rights of people need to be respected and that the rights of those who have been charged and convicted need to be looked at carefully. However, the rights of those who have been caught up in circumstances of other people's criminal intent or action, through no fault of their own, have received no support from the government.
The victims are there for the charge, the trial, the appeal and the re-appeal if that is the case. The scabs are opened and re-opened. They are continually reminded of their pain.
The Reform Party of Canada is absolutely determined that wherever there is a choice to be made between the rights of the victim and the rights of the criminal that the rights of the victim will always come first.
With regard to the subject of the ombudsman, that is something that I believe should be duly considered after we have come to a decision on the rights of the victim. At this point, how can an ombudsman act when we have no idea how the government will respond to legislating the rights of victims? I think that is the first step. Following that we should then look at the means for providing those rights and ensuring that they are secured for victims.