Remanding the Victim

This week the CBC's Janice Johnston shed light on a horrifying courtroom injustice - the victim on a brutal sexual assault was remanded into custody because she had difficulty answering questions. The victim was a vulnerable indigenous woman. She had committed no crime. She showed up to court. But she found herself in jail - beside the man who attacked her. 

The accused - Lance Blanchard - was convicted of his crimes but there can be no justice for the victim of his offence. This week we take a look at this tragic and horrible situation.

We also take a look at the justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould's new bill to 'modernize' the criminal code. The bill is numbered C-51 (not that C-51) and it is again a half hearted attempt to reform the justice system by grabbing the lowest of the low hanging fruit. Oh - there is also a major change to sexual assault law in the bill that is probably unconstitutional - but the Liberals were not really talking about that.

Is C-51 another missed opportunity for the justice reform we were promised - the short answer is yes.