The Macdonald-Laurier Institute will host the Ottawa stop on Perrin’s nationwide book tour, which starts this week
VANCOUVER, March 10, 2017 – UBC law professor and MLI Munk Senior Fellow Benjamin Perrin is launching a national tour to improve policy for victims of crime at a time when charges as serious as murder and sexual assault are being stayed by the courts for “unreasonable delay”.
The tour immediately follows Justice Robin Camp’s resignation after the Canadian Judicial Council recommended his removal for his conduct during a sexual assault trial. The Council found he showed “obvious disdain” for measures in the Criminal Code related to sexual assault cases.
“The justice system is failing too many victims of crime,” said Professor Perrin. “There is an urgent need for action to protect the rights of victims and ensure that they receive the support, protection and compensation that they deserve.”
An estimated 2.2 million Canadians are victims of violent crime every year, yet only one-third of crimes are reported to police. The total cost of crime has been projected to be $100 billion per year, with most costs borne by victims. There have been recent judicial complaints and commissions of inquiry into allegations of a failed response to victims of crime.
“The justice system is failing too many victims of crime” -Benjamin Perrin
The seven-city national tour coincides with the publication of Professor Perrin’s new book Victim Law: The Law of Victims of Crime in Canada (Thomson Reuters, 2017), which is a resource for judges, police, lawyers and victims’ groups. A portion of the proceeds will go to frontline victim services agencies.
The tour will include events across the country: March 10th (Vancouver); March 13th (Victoria); March 14th (Calgary); March 27th (Halifax); March 28th (Montreal); March 29th (Ottawa) and March 30th (Toronto).
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute will host the Ottawa event on at the Cardus offices at 45 Rideau Street in Ottawa. Media are invited to attend.
Professor Perrin was a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada, and was special advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister where he was one of the architects of Bill C-32, the Victims Bill of Rights Act. The Governor General of Canada and U.S. State Department have recognized his advocacy and volunteer work with victims of crime in Canada and overseas.
Reviews of Victim Law:
“In the wake of the adoption of the Victims Bill of Rights Act, this timely work will be a go-to reference for police, Crown attorneys, defence lawyers, judges and policy researchers. An indispensable tool.”
– The Hon. Marie Deschamps, former Justice, Supreme Court of Canada
“Victim Law is a masterwork that will define a whole new legal discipline for a generation in Canada.”
– Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director, Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy
“My gratitude on behalf of victims to Benjamin Perrin for writing this book and helping us all better understand these critical issues within our justice system.”
– Sheldon Kennedy, Lead Director, Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre; Co-Founder, Respect Group; Author, “Why I Didn’t Say Anything – The Sheldon Kennedy Story” and former NHL Hockey Player
***
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is the only non-partisan, independent national public policy think tank in Ottawa focusing on the full range of issues that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
For more information, please contact Mark Brownlee, Communications Director, at 613-482-8327 x103 or email at mark.brownlee@macdonaldlaurier.ca.
