SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 229

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
October 4, 2023 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 229 - Oct/4/23
Mrs. Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville, CPC)
  • Oct/4/23 4:01:43 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have an e-petition presented by a victim of violence. His name is Jeff Durham, and he lost his wife and daughter. He was able to gain over 500 signatures. It is well established that the risk of violence against women increases when they are pregnant. Currently, a woman's pregnancy is not an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes in the Criminal Code of Canada. Addressing this legal void through sentencing that considers the vulnerable state of the pregnant woman is necessary in denouncing such crimes, and having appropriate sentences when violent crimes are committed against pregnant women is imperative to protecting their reproductive choice to have a child. The sentence should match the crime. As such, the undersigned citizens of Canada call upon the House of Commons to legislate the abuse of a pregnant woman and the infliction of harm on her child as an aggravating circumstance for sentencing purposes within the Criminal Code.
158 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 229 - Oct/4/23
Mr. Sébastien Lemire
  • Oct/4/23 5:38:58 p.m.
  • Watch
  • Re: Bill S-12 
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Nunavut for her sensitivity to this issue. Indeed, people cannot remain silent. Being a victim a first time is a tragedy, but what we see in the patterns is that victims are often victims a second time because they lose their name and their voice. That is totally unacceptable. I think, if progress is to be made in this Parliament, it must also be possible to identify those victims. It must be possible to hear from them, to recognize them and to do all the upstream work to move toward true reconciliation. Yes, the member can count on my support and that of the Bloc Québécois because there must be justice.
122 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border