Niagara South MP Fred Davies chaired a roundtable on Parliament Hill last week to allow survivors of sexual violence and their family members from Niagara Region to testify about their experiences and call on the federal government to introduce new legislation to strengthen offender accountability, victim protection, and pursue criminal justice reform.
Advocates from Our Heart on Our Sleeve, a local organization founded following the sexual assault of a three-year-old girl last summer, participated in the roundtable. The delegation was led by Alicia Googoo of St. Catharines, who presented testimony on the lifelong impact of crime. The group called on lawmakers to pursue systemic changes, including bail reform, stricter sentencing, and the establishment of a publicly accessible national sex offender registry.
Above all, advocates called on the government to pursue preventative protections to guard against future abuse and additional victims of sexual violence.
“It’s not about revenge. It is not about punishment,” said Melissa Googoo, another participant at the roundtable. “This is about protection, awareness, and prevention. Parents have the right to know who may pose a risk near their children. Communities have a right to take precautions.”
Members of Parliament from both sides of the House praised delegates for their bravery.
“This is probably one of the hardest things you could do,” said Davies. “I think we’ve heard what you’ve had to say, and we are all committed to changing things.”
Davies recalled how the assault on the three-year-old girl, known as “Little E,” had a profound effect on him, with the assault having occurred soon after he was first elected. Davies shared that the experience made him passionate about reforming the Criminal Code.
Liberal MP Judy Sgro echoed the need to take victims’ rights seriously.
“You’re paying the price for your entire life, while the offender paid a price for a short period of time,” said Sgro. “We mustn’t forget that.”
Conservative MP Larry Brock, who represents the riding of Brantford-Brant-Six Nations and is also the shadow minister of justice and himself a former Crown attorney, also commented on the testimony, calling for national standards regarding victim notification and intergovernmental cooperation on victims services. He said the Liberal government needs to do more on victims’ rights.
“Think about the victims who will be living a life sentence of trauma,” said Brock. “There has to be a professional standard. Here’s an opportunity for the federal government to step up and lead the way.”
“This is only the start of your advocacy,” Davies concluded at the end of the roundtable. “This is just day one for change.”
Jay Goldberg is the Canadian Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center. He previously served as the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
