Michael Cooper MP Michael Cooper MP Michael Cooper MP Michael Cooper MP
  • ABOUT
  • ST. ALBERT-EDMONTON
  • CONSTITUENCY SERVICES
  • NEWS
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • PHOTO GALLERY
    • VIDEO GALLERY
  • OPPORTUNITIES
  • CONTACT
Michael Cooper MP Michael Cooper MP
  • ABOUT
  • ST. ALBERT-EDMONTON
  • CONSTITUENCY SERVICES
  • NEWS
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • PHOTO GALLERY
    • VIDEO GALLERY
  • OPPORTUNITIES
  • CONTACT
Sep 28

Junior Mental Health Bill to become law after passing final vote unanimously

  • September 28, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa September 28, 2022 – Bill S-206, legislation to support juror mental health, sponsored in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Michael Cooper (St. Albert-Edmonton), is set to become law. This afternoon the Bill passed third and final reading stage in the House of Commons with unanimous support. The Bill, introduced by Conservative Senator Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu, had passed the Senate last December, also with unanimous support.

The Bill carves out a narrow exception to the jury secrecy rule under section 649 of the Criminal Code. It will allow former jurors suffering from mental health issues to disclose all aspects of their jury service with a medical professional bound by confidentiality. Currently, jurors are prohibited from disclosing any aspect of the deliberation process with anyone, even a medical professional.

This was identified as a major impediment to the wellbeing of former jurors in a House of Commons Justice Committee study on juror supports. The Bill implements a key recommendation of the Committee’s 2018 unanimous report, which is modeled after a law in the Australian State of Victoria.

The Bill will now be sent to the Governor General to receive Royal Assent.

MP Cooper issued the following statement:

“Jury service can have a significant impact on one’s wellbeing and mental health. “The jury secrecy rule makes it difficult for former jurors suffering from mental health issues to get the help that they need. That is because it is a Criminal Code offence to talk about what is often the most stressful aspect of jury service, the deliberation process, with anyone, even a medical professional.

“This Bill will help former jurors get the help that they need by being free to confer with a medical professional, bound by confidentiality, about all aspects of jury service. At the same time, the Bill protects the integrity of the jury secrecy rule.

“After five years, four bills and three Parliaments, I am pleased that this legislation has finally passed all legislative stages and will become law. This minor amendment to the Criminal Code will have a major impact in supporting juror mental health.

“I am grateful to my parliamentary colleagues for their unanimous support.”

Senator Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu issued the following statement:

“I am pleased that the House of Commons voted to pass this important bill. The Canadian Parliament finally recognizes the essential role played by jurors in our justice system. “This new law will allow jurors to perform their civic duty with confidence.”

Mark Farrant, Founder and CEO of the Canadian Juries Commission, issued the following statement:

“Jury duty is essential to the administration of justice in Canada. Jurors perform a vital service and without them there would be no justice. For some jury duty is extremely rewarding, but for others it can be distressing and traumatic.

“Bill S-206 is a small amendment to the Criminal Code that will make an enormous difference in the lives of jurors post trial, allowing them to talk freely with a mental health practitioner. We applaud and support this long overdue legislation!”

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Tweets

Tweets by @Cooper4SAE

Facebook

Michael Cooper

Video Gallery

The Liberals Only Do The Right Thing After They Get Caught Failing Canadians
Staggering Liberal Incompetence Puts Our National Security At Risk
Liberal Fall Economic Statement: More Inflationary Waste
If Trudeau Had Nothing to Hide, He Would Answer My Straightforward Question
Trudeau Has Created a Smokescreen Around Beijing's Election Interference
Does the Prime Minister Have Something To Hide?
Was the Prime Minister Briefed in January on Beijing's Interference in the 2019 Election?
The Prime Minister Refuses to Answer a Simple Question About Beijing's Election Interference
Chrystia Freeland Scoffs at Canadians
Another Liberal Cover up
Did Trudeau Report Chinese Communist Party Election Interference to Elections Canada?
Why is Justin Trudeau Covering Up Foreign Election Interference?
MP Cooper

ST. ALBERT OFFICE

20 Perron Street (Main Office)
Suite 220
St Albert, AB T8N 1E4
Phone: 780-459-0809 Fax: 780-460-1246 E-Mail: michael.cooper@parl.gc.ca

OTTAWA OFFICE

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-996-4722 Fax: 613-995-8880 E-Mail: michael.cooper@parl.gc.ca

JOIN MAILING LIST

© Copyright 2023 Michael Cooper. All rights reserved.