The federal government is currently considering its options to set up an independent commission to review criminal cases to determine possible miscarriages of justice, federal Justice Minister David Lametti said Monday.
The Minister has not been able to provide a complete timeline of when this commission will see the light of day, as it is necessary to do the job properly, he indicated.
I can confirm to you that this will happen and that we are moving forward in connection with this project, the Minister was mentioned at a press conference at federal residential schools for Aboriginal children.
The independent commission will look into issues of racism, misogyny and class bias experienced by Indigenous women, which can lead to miscarriages of justice, she said.
A new report from a group of senators released Monday called on the federal government to make changes to the judgment review process that better reflect the challenges facing Indigenous women.
The report by Senators Margaret Dawn Anderson, Yvonne Boyer and Kim Pate calls for an approach that recognizes discrimination of indigenous women in the justice system.
The report details the experiences of 12 indigenous women, who say they were made criminals for trying to survive and face their marginalization in society.
He also called on the government to re -examine the cases to determine possible miscarriages of justice.
Mr. Lametti recalled that these women can currently use the judgment review process offered by the Department of Justice.
He added that, according to his information, two of the women named in the report have already started screening procedures.
The death of David Milgaard, the victim of one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice in Canada, has drawn attention to the minister’s plan to create an independent commission to examine criminal cases.
I was very sad to learn that he was no longer there to be seen [la commission]said Minister Lametti.
Source: Radio-Canada
