Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out on the injustice in how women are treated by the justice system. Mr. Speaker, last week a prominent Inuit leader was given an absolute discharge after being found guilty of sexual assault. Mr. Speaker, whether the sexual assault was deemed to be sexual touching, or whatever, the point I want to make is the fact that a woman was subjected to a gesture that she did not consent to, and a gesture that is totally unacceptable to today's society.

Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, giving an absolute discharge after being found guilty of sexual assault sends out a message that there is a double standard in the justice system. It sends out a message that prominent leaders are not subjected to the justice system even though they are found guilty. This appears to say that leaders can be considered above the law, and I do not agree with that.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the Minister of Justice ensures that he makes every effort to ensure that women are treated more fairly through our system of justice than we are now subjected to in our society today. Thank you.

---Applause