When Justice Minister Sean Fraser unveiled the federal government's latest bill to reform the criminal justice system last December, he said Bill C-16 would confront the rise in coercive control and intimate partner violence, and “keep kids safe from predators.”

But will it actually live up to that goal?

The bill includes new mandatory minimum sentences, creates new criminal offences, and increases penalties for sexual crimes. It also seeks to avoid situations where charges get stayed due to excessive delays, but in a way that critics say could make delays even worse.

For a discussion about the pros and cons of Bill C-16, Alison is joined by Melanie Webb, Chair of the CBA Criminal Justice Section and a criminal trial and appellate lawyer at Webb Barristers; and Simona Jellinek, senior counsel at Gluckstein Lawyers with 30 years of experience representing survivors of childhood abuse and adult assaults.

Verdicts & Voices is a legal current affairs podcast presented by the Canadian Bar Association. With her retinue of expert guests, host Alison Crawford keeps listeners up to date on news, views, and stories about the law and the justice system in Canada.

Views expressed are not necessarily those of the CBA.

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