By Jenn Watt

Published Nov. 30 3017

Local MPP Laurie Scott is celebrating after her private member’s bill on mandatory sexual assault training for judicial officers made it through second reading at the legislature earlier this month.

Bill 120 would compel currently sitting judges and justices of the peace to complete training which Scott said “will actually go a long way toward strengthening Ontarians’ trust in our judicial system.”

High profile cases of judges in Canada making inappropriate remarks while hearing cases involving sexual assault have caused many to call for change and better training.

“With so many recent stories of judges making insensitive comments while presiding over sexual assault cases there is a clear and urgent need for this training for sitting judges” Scott said in a release.

To become law the bill must go to committee and then be voted on again in the legislature.

“Survivors of sexual assault are watching closely” Scott said.

Scott a PC MPP is the official Opposition’s critic for women’s issues.