More protection needed for victims of crime: Minister of Justice

VANCOUVER – The new federal Justice Minister says many victims of crime continue to feel re-victimized by the courts, and more needs to be done to help them get on with their lives.

Peter MacKay was in Vancouver today, meeting with police, lawyers and victims of crime to discuss the government’s plan to introduce a victims’ bill of rights this fall.

MacKay, a former crown prosecutor, was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice in the cabinet shuffle last week.

The minister says that although the government has already made a lot of progress addressing the needs of victims, a bill of rights will help those operating within the criminal justice system to better protect those rights.

Although he wouldn’t comment on specific cases where victims have not been served by the court, MacKay says there are certainly instances where he questions whether justice was done.

MacKay says the rights bill would give victims some comfort and a louder voice in the justice system by putting those rights into laws.