Two Witnesses Storm out of House Committee in Tears, Decrying Liberal Politicization

Published on August 1, 2024

Two witnesses stormed out of a parliamentary committee meeting on July 31, after Liberals tried to steer a planned discussion about violence against women towards the topic of abortion rights. The rare summer hearing of the House of Commons status of women committee was organized so MPs could hear from advocates and a deputy chief of the Peel Regional Police. Though witnesses set out to sombrely argue that the current justice and bail system is failing victims, the session quickly derailed into a mess of political bickering. During an opening statement, Cait Alexander, who heads up the advocacy group End Violence Everywhere, shared her personal story as her family looked on in a public seating area....