Quebec announces free consultation service for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence
The Quebec government has announced a free consultation service for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence in the province.
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette made the announcement at 10 a.m. Monday, alongside Daniel LaFrance, president of the Commission des services juridiques and Sophie Gagnon, executive director of Juripop.
The consultation service will allow victims of violence to speak to a lawyer, no matter their income, for up to four hours.
In addition, urgent services, such as child care will be provided for families who are in situations that are deemed dangerous.
The government says it will also provide aid by way of specialized lawyers and emergency legal services for victims.
These services will cost $3 million a year, Jolin-Barrette confirmed, and will include the creation of a team of 14 people, including 12 specialized lawyers across the province.
"We need to change the justice system. A change of culture, it's very important," he said. "As justice minister, what I dislike the most is when I hear victims saying 'I don't have any trust in the justice system.' My job is to be sure that each person who is a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence can say that they trust the justice system."
Jolin-Barrette also announced the government will be partnering with Juripop, an organization that provides legal information to those "forgotten by the system, those who are too rich for government legal aid, but too poor to hire a lawyer."
This will include giving Juripop a mandate to collect information on the administrative and judicial obstacles faced by victims to propose solutions to improve the system.
In order to do so, the organization will represent 125 victims free of charge each year.
The partnership has been confirmed until 2024, the minister said, and will include training for lawyers, notaries and other professionals to help them understand domestic and sexual violence in order for them to better help victims.
The Quebec government says it is prepared to invest up to $6 million in the project, which can be renewed for one more year once the original partnership ends.
This comes after a rash of femicides in the province, with at least 14 women killed in 2021 so far.
In 2020, the lives of 21 women were taken by abusers; in 2019, 11 women were murdered in cases of domestic violence in Quebec.
ADVOCATES SAY PHONE LINE DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH
Earlier this month, the justice minister tabled Bill 92, which he hoped would make it less traumatic for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to navigate the justice system.
The bill aims to create specialized courts to create a more welcoming environment for complainants, who are often reluctant to take legal action against their abusers for fear they will get away with it or the process will be too difficult.
At the time, Jolin-Barrette said he hoped the bill will restore victims' confidence in the justice system.
However, advocates for sexual assault survivors say they don't need just legal support, but mental health support as well.
"These individuals that go through domestic and sexual abuse need more psychiatrists, psychologists, we need more of those programs. That’s what we truly need. We’re not even looking at these individuals' mental health," said Svetlana Chernienko, a domestic abuse survivor and advocate.
Chernienko said she would have liked to see a new legal definition of domestic abuse to include financial and psychological abuse.
Sophie Gagnon, a lawyer and executive director of Juripop, a partner in the government's new phone line, said it's a debilitating reality.
"We represent survivors who cannot file a complaint to the police because the form of violence that they’re living isn’t criminalized in Canada," Gagnon said.
Advocates across the country say adding coercive control, such psychological abuse, to the Criminal Code would go a long way in keeping survivors and their children safe.
Until that happens, Chernienko said she would like to see the government put more of a focus on mental health resources for people who experience sexual and domestic abuse.
"There’s obviously a problem with mental health care and that is what we really need to start focusing on and putting our money into," she said. "That’s what these people truly need."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Most of the city is evacuating': Gridlock on Alberta highway after evacuation order in Fort McMurray
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Sask. police seize 1.5M pieces of evidence, lay 60 more charges in child exploitation case
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
'Inappropriate' behaviour shuts down Dublin to New York City portal
Less than a week after two public sculptures featuring a livestream between Dublin, Ireland, and New York City debuted, 'inappropriate behaviour' in real-time interactions between people in the two cities has prompted a temporary shutdown.
Oilers starting Calvin Pickard in goal for Game 4 vs. Canucks
The Edmonton Oilers will start Calvin Pickard in net Tuesday for Game 4 of their playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker rails against Pride month, working women in commencement speech
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend.
King Charles III unveils his first official portrait since his coronation
King Charles III has unveiled the first portrait of the monarch completed since he assumed the throne, a vivid image that depicts him in the bright red uniform of the Welsh Guards against a background of similar hues.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alberta announces the 4 health agencies that will replace AHS later this year
The province has released more information on its plan to break up Alberta Health Services and replace it with four sector-based health agencies.
Biden administration moving ahead on US$1 billion arms package for Israel, AP sources say
The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it is sending a new package of more than US$1 billion in arms and ammunition to Israel, two congressional aides said Tuesday.