Members of 9 NL status of women councils are calling on NL Justice Minister John Hogan to apologize for saying in the House of Assembly that it was "actually impossible" for lawyers during court cases to retraumatize victims of sexual assault

A provincial women's organization is raising concerns about comments by Justice Minister John Hogan in the House of Assembly on March 6. NDP MHA Lela Evans presented a petition that called for a review of the K-12 school curriculum, to address gaps in learning about consent and gender-based violence. Hogan responded by addressing concerns that lawyers in a trial can re-traumatize victims of sexual assault. He said, in part: "It's a very serious issue and the lawyers in this province are not retraumatizing sexual assault victims, whether it's a Crown or a legal aid or a private lawyer in this province. It's not the way it works. It's actually impossible for it to happen." We spoke with Paula Sheppard, executive director of the Corner Brook Status of Women Council and with Minister Hogan.