MCC Day 73 - Day Two of Closing Submissions

There were four closing submission presentations today, by lawyers representing the brother of Scott MacLeod, the Gina Goulet family, the Oliver/Tuck family, and a lawyer representing Women's Shelter Canada, Transition House of NS, and Be the Peace Institute. The lawyer for Lisa Banfield was scheduled to speak, but had travel delays coming from Toronto, and will instead by speaking at 9am tomorrow. This was the last day for representations from lawyers representing family members lost in the shootings. Some of the issues covered were similar to those raised yesterday. Notably, none of the lawyers for the family have called for the removal of the RCMP as the policing agency for NS, and none of the family lawyers spoke at any length about domestic violence. Certainly, none placed it as a central issue. Jamie Goodwin, on behalf of the Women's Shelter/Transition House/Be the Peace group advocated for the criminalization of 'coercive control', though did not develop the idea to the extent that I think would be required to persuade the Commissioners. Perhaps the women's organizations that are lined up to speak tomorrow will give a more thorough and compelling reasoning for that, or other related recommendations. The MCC seems determined to make an impact on the prevalence of domestic and intimate partner violence in this province, but I discuss here how there has not yet been anything substantive proposed that would accomplish that laudable goal.