Quicker access to Canada’s justice system is coming with more streamlining reforms.
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould points to less use of preliminary inquiries for more serious offenses, such as rape, to help criminal cases proceed to trial more quickly.
“This change will reduce re-victimization of witnesses by ensuring speedier trials, and reducing the need for vulnerable witnesses to testify twice.”
Wilson-Raybould also wants improvements to the jury selection process, making juries more representative of Canada’s population.
She promises these reforms will help reduce over-representation of Indigenous people and a number of marginalized groups in the criminal justice system, including those with mental health issues and addictions issues.
She says the changes represent consultations with First Nations leaders, community activists and other levels of government.
