XPost: can.politics, bc.politics, ont.politics   
   XPost: ab.politics   
   From: {~_~}@nyet.ca   
      
   This is the most incompetent government we've had in generations.  Look   
   at what Harper is doing - COMPELLING spouses to testify against their   
   husbands (that will be the usual scenario).  How many women will be   
   killed by their spouses before they've had a chance to do that?  And how   
   many of them will be safe after the guy is released from jail or prison?   
      
   I don't think the Harper government could think from a female's   
   perspective if they were fed estrogen every day for 10 years.  These   
   guys are more dangerous than the Republicans under Bush.   
   And that's saying a lot.   
   _____________________________________________________   
   The Canadian Press Posted: Apr 03, 2014   
      
   Victims bill of rights would see spouses compelled to testify   
   'Victims should not have to live in fear': Harper   
   	   
      
   Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today in Mississauga, Ont., the   
   details of a long-promised bill of rights for victims of crime that   
   would force people to testify in court against a spouse.   
      
   "Our government believes that victims of crime deserve and should have a   
   right to information, a right to protection, a right to participation,   
   and where possible a right to restitution," said Harper.   
      
   Bill C-32, dubbed the Canadian victims bill of rights, would among other   
   things force people to testify in court against a spouse.   
      
   The legislation would change the Canada Evidence Act, which allows   
   spouses to refuse to testify except in certain specific cases such as   
   sexual assaults or crimes against youngsters.   
      
   The changes are part of a sweeping government bill that codifies the   
   rights of victims, makes it easier for vulnerable witnesses to testify   
   and requires that victims be given more information about cases.   
      
   For instance, victims can request a copy of a bail order, a probation   
   order or the details of a conditional release.   
      
   The federal Conservatives have long complained that too much emphasis is   
   placed on the rights of the accused, giving short shrift to the people   
   affected by the crimes.   
      
   "Victims of crime and their families deserve to be treated with   
   courtesy, compassion and respect," says the preamble to Bill C-32, the   
   Canadian Victims Bill of Rights.   
      
   It says victims have a right to be told when a criminal is deported or   
   paroled and what parole restrictions may apply.   
      
   "It is important that victim's rights be considered throughout the   
   criminal justice system," the preamble said.   
      
   Victims will also have the right to have the courts consider making a   
   restitution order in all cases and to have such orders registered as a   
   civil court judgment against the offender if the money isn't paid.   
      
      
   'Invisible damage'   
      
   Sheldon Kennedy, a former NHL player who brought to light the sex crimes   
   of former junior hockey coach Graham James, was invited by the   
   government to attend the announcement in Mississauga.   
      
   Kennedy said he spent the last 17 years trying to explain to society   
   "the invisible damage" that occurs when a person is a victim of crime.   
      
   "Victims deserve fair and equal treatment by the justice system and they   
   need to be assured that the system itself doesn't re-victimize," Kennedy   
   said.   
      
   A Calgary centre for abuse victims was renamed the Sheldon Kennedy Child   
   Advocacy Centre last May.   
      
   "Not only through my personal experience do I understand the   
   life-changing impacts that being a victim of crime has had on myself and   
   my family, but I've seen it first hand through the 917 cases that were   
   handled in the last 11 months alone at the Sheldon Kennedy Child   
   Advocacy Centre," the former hockey player said.   
      
   Harper made the announcement in the company of Justice Minister Peter   
   MacKay, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, Conservative MP for   
   Mississauga South Stella Ambler and Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu,   
   whose daughter was murdered in 2002.   
      
   MacKay said the bill is the result of "an extensive" consultation   
   process, in every province and territory, that began last summer.   
      
   "Your voice has been heard. And with this legislation a more   
   compassionate and caring Canada will emerge," MacKay said.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)