Annette Francis
APTN National News
Over the past few days, Sen. Lillian Dyck sat as a witness in a Senate committee.
Dyck first introduced Bill S-215 a year ago to amend the Criminal Code and sentencing for violent offences against Indigenous women.
“We can send a message to denounce such crimes which may also act as a deterrence,” said Dyck. “We can send a message that indicates that Aboriginal women and girls are as worthy of protection as taxi driver, police officers and others who we have protected in the Criminal Code in a similar manner.”
Dyck told the Senate committee that given the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, the amendment is a response to a societal need.
Newly sworn in senator, Kim Pate agreed.
“If we weren’t in a situation where we had such clear reality that Indigenous women in particular are more likely to be victimized and less likely to have their victimization be to taken seriously would you have brought forth this bill?” Pate asked Dyck.
She responded there wouldn’t be a need.
But all the data from the Native Women’s Association of Canada, later confirmed by the RCMP, shows the country is in a crisis and has been for a long time.
The committee adopted the bill without amendments and move to the entire Senate, possibly before it breaks for the holidays.
