The law must put victims first

The law must put the rights of victims first.

In a speech on Bill C-16, Conservative MP Andrew Lawton cited testimony from brave advocates including Jennifer Dunn of London Abused Women's Centre, Cait Alexander of End Violence Everywhere, and Londoner Brett Broadfoot, father of 17-year-old Breanna, who was murdered by an intimate partner.

Putting victims first means understanding that serious crimes must come with serious consequences. Mandatory minimum sentences cannot be discretionary.

(Note: Andrew extends sincere apologies to the Broadfoot family for misidentifying Breanna's age as 18 in hisspeech. It's been corrected in the official transcript).