Justice committee  Yes, I would see that as protected elsewhere, as for example, in the provisions between 265 and 268, which deal with assault. It would depend on the manner in which an individual is seeking to prevent the priest from administering those rights. If it's a physical blocking of the

Justice committee  Again, that is a provision that we have suggested is no longer required under the Criminal Code. It's partly with respect to the history of our country that we have to acknowledge, in terms of the unfortunate complicity and participation of people who were engaged—and had authori

Justice committee  We consulted with our board, and we asked for input in advance of this presentation. We received no objection to the suggestion, which, yes, I did make, that section 176 should be included in this list.

Justice committee  Certainly our focus on compassion for every person as a human being as a member of the community leads us to a particular focus on the fact that a person must freely and fully give consent, and the notion of autonomy being codified and a positive obligation to seek consent are th

Justice committee  In our submission it's in a list of provisions. It's not alone. It's been the focus of a lot more discussion than some of these other provisions. But in all the provisions in which section 176 is included, there's an effort being made in this bill to rationalize the Criminal Code

Justice committee  Yes, I would. We would support an expanded version provided the expansion was significant and not just a cosmetic change to language, but rather a change to protect sacred ceremony using language that is not exclusionary and does not make exception or give priority to any particu

Justice committee  If I may respond to that, Martin Luther, of course, did that one thing on that one day on October 31. However, there was a period of several years during which he was engaged in lively debate within the context of sacred spaces. I would argue that there were certainly times durin

Justice committee  My name is Rebecca Bromwich. I am appearing on behalf of the CCJC, the Church Council on Justice and Corrections. My colleague Melanie Younger is here with me. I'd like to thank the honourable members of this committee for providing us the opportunity to appear this afternoon.