Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today, to again comment on the need to expand the Victim Impact Statement Pilot Project. I raised this issue in late March and again earlier this month. The Minister of Justice told us that his department has not yet completed a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot project, but that a recent assessment indicates that few victims are taking the opportunity to make Victim Impact Statements.
The Minister stated that it is necessary to continue the pilot project until the end of December, in order to access what factors have kept the victims from using the program. Part of the problem seems to be routed in its initial implementation, because there was inadequate consultation with those in the helping professions, who work most closely with victims in the communities. As a result, these community professionals have been ill prepared to encourage the use of Victim Impact Statements. Generally, there is a lack of public and professional awareness about Victim Impact Statements. Although it is the responsibility of the R.C.M.P. to take the statement, they do not always inform victims of their option to fill one out. There have been very few cases when a statement has been introduced in court. This record will only improve when there are strong advocate groups in the community to encourage the use of these statements.
Unfortunately, many of the smaller communities where the pilot project is in operation do not have a strong network of advocate groups for victims. Existing groups, and shelters, are not always able to use their limited resources to work with the R.C.M.P. and the courts to raise awareness about the merit of the statements.
Mr. Speaker, I am afraid the merits of Victim Impact Statements will not be realized through a continuation of the pilot project in only nine communities in the north. I hope the Minister will consider extending the pilot project to Yellowknife. I believe this would make a difference in weighing the merits of Victim Impact Statements. Yellowknife has the benefit of having a large network of helping groups, within the city, to act as strong advocates for victims. Yellowknife also has a large number of sentencing hearings in which Victim Impact Statements could be used. This important Victim Impact Statement Pilot Project should not be deemed unsuccessful simply because it has not been widely used today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.