QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Parole Review--Audio Recordings
June 17, 2019
My question is also for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Las week, Senator Ngo proposed an important amendment to Bill C-83. That amendment sought to implement important measures for victims of crime as recommended by the federal ombudsman for victims of crime. The amendment had to do with audio recordings of parole hearings. May I ask why you voted against that amendment?
I thank the honourable senator for his question. I think the vote I undertook with respect to this amendment is obvious in that I didn’t support it.
Senator Harder, if I may, when you voted against the amendment, did you consider the fact that it can be traumatizing for victims to hear their offender’s voice and that having access to the transcripts might then be a very important option for victims of crime to have?
I weighed all the important aspects of the question and came down the way I did.
