LETHBRIDGE- The Harper government handed down a new bill on Thursday, that would force people to testify in court against a spouse—making it easier for vulnerable witnesses to speak in court.
Bill C-32 will give victims the opportunity to stay involved with their case from the time of the offence to the final disposition of the sentence. It’s a huge step forward for people affected, and will include several privileges they can use to keep themselves safe and help to move on.
Kristine Cassie with the YWCA says while the new bill sounds good on paper, the true test will be how it actually works. She adds the bill is long overdue, and shows both the government is viewing victims’ rights in a new light with a broader perspective.
“They came out with a report that said domestic violence is a $7 billion dollar cost to our country annually,” she says. “I think that goes a long way for our country to start to own what is actually happening in the homes across our nation.”
Victims will also have the right to have the courts consider making a restitution order in all cases
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