SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 4, 2023
  • 04:14:47 p.m.
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Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm a little confused. If I read this correctly, it's going to read “the Criminal Code is replaced by”. Is that what we're changing? Are we taking out, “Act is amended by adding the following”?
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  • 04:15:00 p.m.
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We're taking out all of this part right here. That entire section is removed. That “Consulting intimate partner” part is the key part that would be removed in the clause she's referring to.
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  • 04:15:12 p.m.
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It's all the way down to 1(3).
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  • 04:15:14 p.m.
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That's correct. Do you have another comment before I move on?
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  • 04:15:34 p.m.
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No.
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  • 04:15:35 p.m.
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We have Andréanne followed by Anita, followed by Leslyn, followed by Marc.
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  • 04:15:43 p.m.
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Madam Chair, you said that if we adopt amendment G‑1, we can't vote on amendment NDP‑1. Personally, I would prioritize amendment G‑1 over amendment NDP‑1.
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  • 04:16:01 p.m.
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Thanks very much. It's a little different from a study with the recommendation, but I really do appreciate that insight. Are there any further comments? I'm looking at Anita, Leslyn and Marc.
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  • 04:16:15 p.m.
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Thanks, Madam Chair. To answer Anna's question, we're removing that proposed subsection because right now the courts do have to take into consideration safety, and it's really victim services that does the communicating. This would make it the prosecutor who would have to communicate with the victim. In that case, if they can't reach the victim, it could lead to very long delays, so it's a major change, and that's why we're putting forward this amendment. Thank you.
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  • 04:16:48 p.m.
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Go ahead, Leslyn.
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  • 04:16:52 p.m.
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In removing that proposed subsection, you would essentially be removing the entire context of the bill, which focuses specifically on ensuring the safety of intimate partners and preventing further recidivism, acts of violence and criminal acts. If you remove that consultation part, it makes the bill generic, and it takes it out of context.
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  • 04:17:26 p.m.
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We have Marc and then Michelle.
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  • 04:17:28 p.m.
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I want to follow up on this. Right now the proposed subsection takes it away from the prosecutor and puts it back on victim services, so that will be in place. I'm also in favour of G-1 versus NDP-1. The reason, as Sonia mentioned, is that it's important to put it onto victim services versus the prosecutor, and a blanket impact on indigenous, Black and racialized people would happen if we didn't take this out. I'm in favour of G-1 versus the NDP one, and it doesn't take away from the spirit of the bill. Thanks.
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  • 04:18:17 p.m.
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Go ahead, Michelle.
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  • 04:18:18 p.m.
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Just to clarify, if I understand this correctly, we're saying we want to remove this. The whole foundation of this bill is that victims feel included and know what's going on. I think that was the whole purpose, from the testimony that we heard that there is no control. There is no feeling of knowing where their attacker is. This way, in that very vulnerable time following a bail hearing, which we know statistically is the most dangerous time for victims of domestic violence, the victim is given the choice to know where their attacker is. They get to be consulted, and they feel like they're part of the process. In bringing this forward right now, what I see happening in the public safety committee with the Paul Bernardo transfer and having the family and friends of victim Kristen French, like Laura, who testified, the biggest piece is that they were not consulted or included. It is retraumatizing to wake up in the morning and have this news smeared in your paper or in your local media. Without victim consultation and without the victim having their rights, I'm not sure what the intention is of removing that.
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  • 04:19:38 p.m.
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We'll have Leah and then go back to Leslyn.
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  • 04:19:42 p.m.
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Thank you, Madam Chair. My understanding of that in the criminal justice process is that victims can do one of three things. They can choose not to participate; they can send in a statement, or they can testify in person. Right now, the way it's set up, victims have a lot of choice. Some people don't want to testify, and some people don't want to see their abuser for whatever reason. This limits, in the way it's worded, the power of victims to assert themselves in the way in which they choose. That's the way I understand the Liberal amendment. I want to be clear that I do support the Liberal amendment over my amendment. I'm happy to not debate my amendment, because I do think that the intent was good—
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  • 04:20:45 p.m.
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We can't. Let's not talk about debating yours.
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  • 04:20:48 p.m.
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I know we can't do that yet. I know the intention was good, but I think it actually does the opposite of its intent by amending it. Thank you.
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  • 04:21:03 p.m.
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I see Leslyn and then Michelle.
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