Sexual assault survivors blast Ontario government for delays in passing key bill

The proposed private members bill was labelled Lydia’s Law, named after a young Ontario woman who was sexually assaulted and embroiled in lengthy and difficult court proceedings.

Cait Alexander, an advocate and survivor of sexual assault, flew from Los Angeles to Toronto to watch a debate on Tuesday inside the Ontario legislature.

Motivated by a burning desire to reform Ontario’s ailing court system, after battling through it as a victim for much of her 20s, she came to see elected officials debate a proposed law she believed could finally make a difference.

When she arrived in Toronto, and as MPPs headed into the chamber to debate the legislation, however, the government changed course and sent the bill to be considered by a committee without giving it any time for debate.

“Games are typically for children… it’s bewildering that I have to say this: human suffering and human lives are not a game,” Alexander said on Wednesday morning. “Yet, here we are, playing a dangerous one with the Canadian injustice system.”

The proposed private members bill was labelled Lydia’s Law, named after a young Ontario woman who was sexually assaulted and embroiled in lengthy and difficult court proceedings.

“Lydia was denied her voice in the justice system and then she was denied her voice in Ontario’s legislature,” Ontario NDP MPP Catherine Fife, who is behind the legislation, said. “That is cruel, it truly is.”

Lydia’s Law would have forced the Attorney General to prepare a report to show how much progress has been made on key recommendations by the auditor general, and set up a working group to monitor it.

Among other measures, it would also make the government review its Victim Quick Response Program and report the results of that review.