April 7, 2014 – Ottawa, ON – Justice Canada
Today, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven Blaney launched the ninth annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (Victims Week) by welcoming victims, victim advocates, victim-serving organizations, criminal justice system professionals and policy-makers to a Federal Symposium held in Ottawa, Ontario.
For the first time in the Symposium's existence, the opening remarks for the Federal Symposium, provided by Minister MacKay and Minister Blaney, were available over a live webcast to allow a greater number of Canadians the opportunity to hear how the federal government is listening and delivering on its commitment by taking action to address issues of importance to victims of crime. The live webcast also included a Moment of Reflection from Sheldon Kennedy, Board Member of the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre in Calgary, and a keynote address from Glen Canning, who became a victim advocate after the tragic death of his daughter, Rehtaeh Parsons, in 2013.
During their remarks, Minister MacKay and Minister Blaney discussed the rights proposed for victims of crime under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. The legislation to create the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights was introduced last week by the Federal Government. It would transform the criminal justice system by entrenching rights, at the federal level, for victims of crime - a first in Canadian history. An online version of the legislation can be found at www.parl.gc.ca.
- Paloma Aguilar
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
- Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207
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