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This enactment amends the Criminal Code to enhance the protection
and participation of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system.
The amendments included in this enactment
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(a) expand the availability of protection from personal
cross-examination by a self-represented accused for victims and
witnesses of sexual offences and personal violence offences, up to
the age of 18;
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(b) clarify the application of publication bans, and provide a
discretion to order, in appropriate circumstances, a publication ban
on information that could disclose the identity of victims or
witnesses;
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(c) ensure that the safety concerns of victims and witnesses are taken
into consideration in judicial interim release determinations and in
the imposition of conditions in any undertakings given by the
accused for judicial interim release;
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(d) revise the victim impact statement provisions to, among other
things, require the judge to inquire whether the victim has been
advised of the opportunity to prepare a victim impact statement, and
permit a victim to present a victim impact statement orally;
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(e) provide that all offenders must pay a victim surcharge of a fixed,
minimum amount, except where the offender establishes undue
hardship, and provide for increased amounts to be imposed in
appropriate circumstances;
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(f) require a judge, at the sentencing of an offender to life in prison,
to provide information, for the benefit of the victim, regarding the
operation of the provisions governing judicial review of parole
eligibility; and
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(g) make a number of procedural and consequential changes.
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