Late last week the Conservative government of Ontario tabled a budget titled “Protecting What Matters Most”. Unfortunately for survivors of violent crimes, “what matters most” does not appear to include compensation for the harms they have suffered as the victims of crimes like sexual assault. Through a schedule to the current budget, the Conservative government […]
Members of Quebec’s three main opposition parties met with the justice minister recently to discuss how to reform the way Quebec adjudicates sexual assault cases. The meeting came amid debate about the merits of creating a special tribunal in Quebec to handle sexual assault cases. Premier Francois Legault has said he is open to the […]
The number of sexual assault complaints filed with police and classified as founded increased sharply in Canada after the #MeToo movement went viral in October 2017. The increase was most pronounced in Quebec, a study published by Statistics Canada says. Researchers compared two periods — before #MeToo from Jan. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017, […]
People accused of sexual assault in Ontario are once again allowed to use excessive intoxication as a defence against criminal charges, a judge has ruled, finding that a federal law preventing such an argument is unconstitutional. Superior Court Justice Nancy Spies’ ruling relates to a Supreme Court decision established in the early ’90s that drew […]
Sexual assault victims may soon be able to report attacks anonymously to police through third parties in Newfoundland and Labrador — part of a growing trend among provinces trying to find ways of protecting victims. The province’s Committee on Violence Against Women and Girls is leading the development of a project that would allow a […]
The Canadian Judicial Council has launched a new website showcasing the training courses it is offering to federally appointed judges — including seminars to help judges handle sexual assault cases. In a statement on the site, council chair Richard Wagner, who is also the Supreme Court’s chief justice, says so-called social context education gives judges […]
Dear Anna, I found you to be very kind, genuine, considerate and compassionate. You have a wonderful, natural way about you to talk to victims. I always felt you truly cared about how I was feeling. I would like to express my gratitude for your services. I am hoping that once I start to receive […]
It’s encouraging to see provinces create legislation to deal with the issue of non-consensual online sharing of intimate images, Toronto civil sexual abuse lawyer Anna… Read the full article on AdvocateDaily.com
Newfoundland and Labrador will target so-called revenge porn with new legislation to crack down on those who share intimate images without consent. Justice Minister Andrew Parsons says it’s a move to deter harassment that can be especially devastating and humiliating. He says legislation to be introduced by this fall will allow victims to sue in […]
Lawyer Anna Matas explains compensation to family members for loss of guidance, care and companionship following sexual abuse or sexual assault of a loved one.