If you’ve followed the news over the past couple of years, you will know that your Conservative government has been pushing for major changes to the criminal justice system.

In general, we have been lengthening the time that criminals will spend in prison.

We do, however, have other criminal justice initiatives, one of which is our Child Advocacy Centres (CAC).

For young Canadians who have suffered through abuse, or who have witnessed a crime, it can be particularly difficult to navigate the criminal justice system. Such experiences can also be mentally and emotionally harmful to a child.

Our Child Advocacy Centres help young victims and witnesses of crime. The work of CAC staff often reduces the emotional harm to the child. It is often the case that, as a result, witnesses are better able to provide stronger evidence in court. Better evidence can lead to more charges being laid, higher numbers of guilty pleas and convictions and more appropriate sentences.

Our Child Advocacy Centres are one element of your Conservative government’s strategy to help victims of crime.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.