My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights is a federal law that gives fundamental rights to victims of crime, in particular the right to participate. No government or federal institution can disregard those rights.

Since the start of the pandemic, the government has repeatedly claimed that it is protecting the health and safety of Canadians. However, it has forgotten about one class of citizens, the victims of crime, who still do not have proper access to the Parole Board of Canada. Allow me to remind you that the Minister of Public Safety, Mr. Blair, promised three times in April that victims could attend the meetings of the Parole Board of Canada by video conference.

To date, the only thing victims of crime and their families have been offered is the opportunity to testify by telephone, and I have seen this first-hand. Last Monday I was supporting some family members of Brigitte Serre, who was murdered in Montreal in 2006, as they participated in the proceedings over the phone. Four victims testified by telephone while the offender was supported by a parole officer, a correctional officer, a lawyer and a psychologist. The victims were left to fend for themselves, over the phone. Mr. Leader, despite Minister Blair’s many promises, why did it take the government eight months to promise once again to victims last Tuesday in the House of Commons that, as of November 9, these hearings will be held by video conference?

Thank you very much for the sympathy you have shown for the victims. This is the fourth time the minister is promising that the victims can attend these deliberations by video conference.

This is the fourth time the minister is giving hope to the families. Will you commit today to ensuring that, if the families still cannot attend the hearings by video conference by November 9, the government you are part of will apologize to them?