It was an honour to have a chance to meet with Carrie, Morrell, Elinor, and Jade from My Voice, My Choice, and listen to their personal stories and calls for advocacy.
Their stories represent so many victim-complainants, whose voices have been silenced against their wishes, by unwanted s.486.4 publication bans.
As it stands today, without their consent or, most often, even their knowledge, publication bans are imposed upon victim-complainants of sexual assault.
And, as it stands today, it is extremely arduous for a victim-complainant to have a publication ban removed from their own name.
A victim-complainant who fails to comply with a s.486.4 on their own name can be charged, convicted, and can face a fine of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment. Yes, fined or imprisoned for sharing their own story.
Of course, publication bans can be a useful tool to shield the identity of victims and witnesses and protect them from further harm. But we must recognize that victims have diverse needs, and that the criminal justice system needs to reflect this and be flexible to ensure that victims are treated with dignity and respect.
To all victim complainants who have or are subject to unwanted s.486.4 publication bans—we are listening to you.
Through Bill S-12, the government is addressing the serious problems surrounding s.486.4 publication bans. And I know Minister David Lametti is committed to making improvements to the Criminal Code, to better protect and empower victims.
#MyVoiceMyChoice