TORONTO, ON: Andrea Hazell, MPP for Scarborough—Guildwood and Ontario Liberal critic for Women’s Issues has released the following statement in response to the Conservative government’s procedural stonewalling on Bill 189, Lydia’s Law.
“It is unconscionable that the Ford Conservatives would use procedural tactics to avoid debating and voting on a Bill that would provide transparency on the government’s progress on addressing delays to sexual assault trials.”
“Delays in bringing these cases to trial are excruciating to victims, and often result in the charges being dropped as these delays can mean the constitutional right to a speedy trial is violated.”
“This should be a non-partisan issue. The government committed five years ago to addressing this issue, but it has only gotten worse. The Ford Conservatives should focus on bringing those accused of sexual assault to trial, not on blocking accountability on their failure to do so.”