The Nova Scotia government is adding two new special prosecutors, focused on handling sexual assault cases in the province, to the Public Prosecution Service.
The government announced the two new positions, along with other changes to the prosecution service, as part of a number of initiatives aimed at improving “support of women, children and other victims of sexual assault in the criminal justice system.”
“We know there’s deficiencies, we know it’s not what we would like it to be,” Justice Minister Diana Whalen told reporters Tuesday afternoon. “It’s very important that we demonstrate that we understand that this is a really important issue.”
READ MORE: NS justice system in the spotlight, amid low rate of sexual assault cases leading to charges
Adding two new prosecutors will cost $265,000, Whalen said. The special prosecutors were requested by the prosecution service.
In addition to the new prosecutors, the government announced a slate of other measures. An audit of how police handle sexual assault cases will start this summer and a new domestic violence court will open in Halifax.
The province announced last year it would expand the domestic violence court from the one location in Sydney. Whalen told reporters the Halifax location will open in the coming budget year. Once the court is open, the department says it’s expected to cost $700,000 annually.
The announcement comes on the same day the Crown filed an appeal of Judge Gregory Lenehan’s not-guilty verdict in the sexual assault case involving Halifax taxi driver Bassam Al-Rawi.
WATCH: Hundreds marched through Halifax Tuesday protesting the acquittal of a taxi driver accused of sexual assault.
Whalen said her department has been working on improving how the justice system handles sexual assault cases, and it has been a focus of hers long before joining cabinet. She said it’s important to be “focused and listening to the public.”
The government has also applied to the federal government to help pay for a program that would give free legal advice to victims of sexual assault and training for Crown attorneys. Whalen said she’s “very hopeful” Ottawa will approve the funding request and that the service can be provided this year.
READ MORE: Halifax cabbie found not guilty of sexually assaulting woman who was drunk
Since 2014, the government has invested $6 million over three years in Nova Scotia’s first Sexual Violence Strategy.