Louis Sebert

Thank you, Mr. Chair. All regular members will be required, as I understand it, to complete the Consent Law and Common Sexual Assault Myths course, which was specifically created to address the issues identified in the RCMP's sexual assault review and victim support action plan. As of January 21, 2019, 139 members, or 71.2 percent, have completed the course. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there are about 65 emergency protection orders that are judicially confirmed each year. I don't think, and I'll stand to be corrected if I'm wrong, that we're planning a change in the legislation in this area. We do recognize that this is an important way that we can support victims, so it is very important, the so-called EPOs. I don't think we're contemplating changes in the legislation in this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are working with our partners in the RCMP with respect to this important matter and, of course, once we determine the path forward, we likely would require further funding, if such funding is required, which would seem likely. Thank you.

I understand that our officials have reached out to their counterparts in the federal government regarding this work. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left is Mandi Bolstad, director of corporate services. To my right is Martin Goldney, the deputy minister of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure whether we have that information available. I don't think that we do. I mean, that would be important. I do understand the importance of the question, because it does take considerable effort to get through the program, and there are, over the years, not that many completions. It would certainly be discouraging to know if there had been recidivism amongst those that complete it. That would be very disappointing. I don't know whether we would have the ability to access that information. Anyway, I get the point. We do not have that information. Thank you.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. This is important work, and it is shared by several departments. Mr. Goldney could perhaps give more detail, but we do realize the importance of this. It's just not our department.

Yes, thank you, I do. I am pleased to present the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of just over $3 million, or 2.4 percent, over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include:

$1.389 million in forced-growth funding to provide the RCMP with increased capacity to cover the costs of officer participation in new and existing training initiatives and related administrative costs;

$179,000 in forced-growth funding to enable the Legal Aid Commission to add a new full-time criminal defence...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Of course, this is a voluntary program that people have to agree to enter into. I understand that they can, while on remand, enter into the program. Of course, one of the problems with remand is that their release date, if that is the right word, or the date that they will no longer be in remand is sometimes not known because they have upcoming court dates. I don't know whether that might be a discouragement to them from entering into the program, but they do have the ability to enter into the program. Sometimes they are on remand for a very long period of time and...

My understanding is that the pilot was a three-year program ending in 2020, March 31st, I assume.