Justice committee  I would think so. Any situation that revisits the kind of harm that has involved a death would invoke that kind of stress.

Justice committee  Yes, I would say I'm advocating. In some cases we're talking about situations that may involve some connection between the victim and the person who has been convicted of the murder, the woman. So it depends on the situation. Sometimes I've known all the parties before, sometimes not, and in a very few cases I'd be observing.

Justice committee  I've never been asked by a victim to go in in that capacity, no.

Justice committee  There's a presumption that they're there to advocate against. Some are and some are not, though. Some are there in support of the growth and what the individual has done, so it depends. In only one of the circumstances I can think of was the victim actively asking that the person not be released.

Justice committee  Yes. I'm not aware of it being an issue, but yes, that would be the process.

Justice committee  It may very well weigh on them, especially if they don't know the procedure. I think there have been increased efforts to ensure that they know those procedures and understand the process as it goes through. I have certainly dealt with some victims who have chosen not to participate in it.

Justice committee  Do you mean the application to the chief justice?

Justice committee  Yes, although if they're wanting to.... Yes.

Justice committee  Over the years I've been doing this, I would estimate probably around 20.

Justice committee  I think many people would be immediately eliminated because they couldn't meet that requirement.

Justice committee  That's right, according to legislation as it is written now.

Justice committee  Anticipating that might be of interest, I asked the question of Corrections Canada today. I was advised that there is currently only one cell double-bunked in the women's penitentiaries. I challenged this, and said that I know that in most of the housing units a room that was initially set aside to be like a living area was converted to a two-bed bedroom.

Justice committee  Yes. That certainly would be my assumption, based on what's happening now and the fact that they're not counting as double-bunking people being doubled up in the houses right now. Grand Valley alone, for instance, has 20 women. From time to time, they're putting women in groups into the private family-visiting unit, which means then you don't even have the visits that are supposed to be happening for families.

Justice committee  Yes, I have.

Justice committee  I'd say probably about a quarter of them. Certainly the last one I did was, and the last number I've done have been. It would now be the unusual one that wouldn't have victims there, since the inception of the resources to fly people in.