Discussion · Government Orders
David McGuinty Liberal
“Victims should not have to choose between civilian courts and military courts. Making them choose is unfair, stressful, and military leaders could interfere with the case. We are following the advice of a former Supreme Court judge.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are taking our lead from Madam Justice Arbour, one of our most distinguished Supreme Court of Canada justices. Here is really what is at stake: Victims and survivors deserve legal clarity, transparency and trust in the process. Justice Arbour herself called a victim’s choice between military and civilian courts “a false choice”. This is because we would be placing a burden on a victim in a time of high stress, trauma and in fact duress to choose between two unequal options. Asking victims and survivors to choose between two unequal options, one of which has the potential for chain-of-command interference, in a Criminal Code case does not provide victims with clarity, transparency or certainty.”
-
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 100 of 100
Of this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.
See full analysis -
A repeated line
“Asking victims and survivors to choose between two unequal options, one of which has the potential for chain-of-command interference, in a Criminal Code case does not provide victims with clarity, transparency or certainty.”
Said 3 times by 2 members since May 4.
Every time it was said
Mr. Speaker, we are taking our lead from Madam Justice Arbour, one of our most distinguished Supreme Court of Canada justices. Here is really what is at stake: Victims and survivors deserve legal clarity, transparency and trust in the process. Justice Arbour herself called a victim’s choice between military and civilian courts “a false choice”. This is because we would be placing a burden on a victim in a time of high stress, trauma and in fact duress to choose between two unequal options. Asking victims and survivors to choose between two unequal options, one of which has the potential for chain-of-command interference, in a Criminal Code case does not provide victims with clarity, transparency or certainty.