Minister MacKay Holds Roundtable in London to Discuss Criminal Justice Legislation

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 13, 2014) - Department of Justice Canada

Today, Minister of Justice Peter MacKay met with victims, justice system advocates and members of the legal community to discuss several recent measures taken by the Federal Government to keep Canada's streets and communities safe. Minister MacKay was joined at the roundtable by Susan Truppe, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Status of Women.

In line with its commitment to holding violent offenders accountable and enhancing the rights of victims, the Federal Government has introduced legislation to protect those who are exploited through prostitution and Canadian communities from the harms that flow from prostitution. The Federal Government has also taken a historic step by introducing legislation to create, at the federal level, clear rights for victims of crime for the first time in Canada.

Minister MacKay outlined the Government's ongoing commitment to strengthening the criminal justice system's response to impaired driving. Building on the tough measures against impaired driving included in the 2008 Tackling Violent Crime Act, the Federal Government continues to discuss with its provincial, territorial, and non-governmental partners other effective measures to protect citizens against the violent and dangerous crime of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Quick Facts

• Bill C-36, the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, is a "made-in-Canada" model which would:
  
  
  • Criminalize those who purchase sexual services;
    
    
  • Continue to criminalize those who financially benefit from the exploitation of others or sell the sexual services of others;
    
    
  • Prohibit advertising the sale of sexual services in print or online; and
    
    
  • Protect our communities by criminalizing communicating for the purpose of selling sexual services in public places that are near school grounds, playgrounds or daycare centres.
    
    
• Bill C-32, the Victims Bill of Rights Act, would create the following statutory rights to ensure victims of crime are heard and considered in our criminal justice system :
  
  
  • Right to information;
    
    
  • Right to protection;
    
    
  • Right to participation; and
    
    
  • Right to restitution.
    
    
• In 2008, Parliament passed the Tackling Violent Crime Act. This legislation provided the police with better tools to detect and investigate drug- and alcohol-impaired driving and enhanced penalties for impaired driving.
  
  
• To better protect our families and our communities, the Government of Canada is engaging in a dialogue across the country to get their views and input on steps going forward.
  
  

Quotes

"Our Government continues to take action to keep our streets and communities safe, and to protect Canadians, especially our most vulnerable. I am pleased to be here in London to discuss significant issues of concern for victims, legal professionals and justice system advocates, and to inform them of the advances our Government has made to the criminal justice system for the benefit of all Canadians."

Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"Today's meeting is an important exercise to better understand the needs of our community here in London, and to ensure our Government is taking the appropriate action to keeping our families and streets safer. It is truly an honour to have Peter MacKay, Canada's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, here to engage us in our Government's strong criminal justice agenda, which seeks to better protect all Canadians, especially women and children, who are all too often marginalized."

Susan Truppe, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Status of Women

Related Products

- Backgrounder: Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act

- Backgrounder: Overview of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights

- Backgrounder: Right to information

- Backgrounder: Right to protection

- Backgrounder: Right to participation

- Backgrounder: Right to restitution

- Backgrounder: Victim surcharge

Associated Links

- Parliament of Canada LegisInfo

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